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Show AACHEN DEPOSED FROM RURAL DELIVERY Jurisdiction of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General, leaving the regular regu-lar free delivery service In Its former . Jurisdiction, that of Ahe First Assistant Assist-ant Postmaster-General. Postmaster-General Postmaster-General Payne explained that any re- ' arrangement, of duties would hang , largely oa the results of the investlga---tion. ' I- - , WASHINGTON, . May 9. Investigation Investiga-tion of the affairs of the "ostof flee department de-partment -which' has 1 been dragging aiong for two months,, took ft sensational sensa-tional turn yesterday, . when, by order of Postmaster-General Payne, August W. Machen,, general . superintendent superin-tendent of the free delivery system, and one of. the most, widely .'known Government officials , in the United States, was rellevejj. from his duties and Postofflce: Inspector M. C. Fosnes wea designated' to take charge of that service. The action of the Postmaster.-General was taken on the written recommendation recommenda-tion of the Fourth, Assistant Postmaster-General, who is directing the investigation inves-tigation of the affairs of the department depart-ment that the transfer of Mr. Machen's bureau to his Jurisdiction and Us administration ad-ministration - by a: postofflce inspector would expedite the investigation. In ordering the1 change the Postmaster-General Postmaster-General gave Mr. Machen "leave - of absence until-the investigation is concluded." con-cluded." I Mr.. Machen promptly acquiesced In the decision of the Postmaster-General, j taking occasion to say that in doing I so, that he courted the fullest Investigation Investi-gation of his official conduct. Mr. Machen has been under fire ever since the investigation began. Charges of various kinds . havs been . preferred against the administration of the free delivery branch'of the postal . service. These Included allegations of collusion with ' letter-box manufacturers In the furnishing of .boxes to .postofflce patrons, pat-rons, especially on. rural .mail routes, and the appointments of carriers, etc i There also has been a conflict between be-tween Mr. Machen and First Assistant Postmaster-General Wynne ever since the latter. assumed office. Mr. Wynne charges Mr. Machen with insubordination. insubordina-tion. - The strained relations between the head of the free delivery, service and other officials resulted. in an embarrassing' em-barrassing' state of affairs, and for several sev-eral months correspondence between the general superintendents of the free delivery service and hla immdiate superior, su-perior, the First Assistant Postmaster-General, Postmaster-General, had been conducted, on the part of the former, through one of his subordinates. The Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General Postmaster-General all along has been of opinion that the best Interests of the service would be served by the relief of Mr. Machen, and has pointed out to the Postmaster-General that action was imperatively necessary to the successful success-ful conduct of the investigation. Mr. Machen came here from Toledo, Ohio, In 1893, and qualified as superintendent superin-tendent of the free delivery on May 6 of that year. Since then the office has grown Into immense, proportions and the free delivery malls service has been introduced and extended to cover all parts of the country. Mr. Machen last night was not inclined inclin-ed to talk, but expresesd confidence that he could rebut allegations made against him. He said: "I have no fear of not being able to meet any and all of the charges taat have been made under I this Investigation. I take the action of the department to be a step toward ex-, ex-, pediUng and closing up the Investigation Investiga-tion as -promptly as possible, and designed de-signed to give the fourth assistant an opportunity of getting a thorough Insight In-sight Into the free delivery service." One of the plans under consideration in connection with the reorganization of the department Is to keep the rural free 'delivery -permanently under the |