Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
WHAT MR.. PAYNE SAYS
VIEWS OF PROMINENT REPUBIL.
CAN POLITICIANS.
Only Beneficial Effect Expected From
Probing Postal
Scandals.

1t is not now possible to foretell just when
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow will be able to complete his final report
on the post Office investigation. But that
that report will be made to cover every
phase of the investigation and placed in the
hands of the Postmaster General there Is
no doubt. There is also no doubt that the
report will be forwarded. with an additional
report by Postmaster General Payne, to the
President. The President has already de-
clared that the report when IT reaches him
will be given to the public.
This statement embodies the declarations
OF officials Of the Post Office Department
who are in a position to know just what is
to be done. Postmaster General Payne to-
day secuted the idea that influence has
been brought to bear any one in. the
Post Office Department with the purpose Of
preventing either a full Investigation of the
affairs of the department or the publica-
ton OF such report when it is finally COM
pleted.
Postmaster Generals Statement.
Il will repeat what 1 have said several
times before" said the Postmaster Gem
eral to Star reporter today, that no
senator. representative or other man in
public life has sought through me either
~ wi toi VI W pIcNeHt investigation
being pursued to the utmost extent. To
the best of my knowledge and belief no
such influence has been exerted on Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow or
any other official of this department The
investigation will be made complete as
1T Is possible to make it, and a report will
be made to President Roosevelt. That re-
port will doubtless be accompanied by Mr..
Brfstow's report.
1T seems useless to make this statement
again. as 1t has been made several times
before. But that course will be pursued ,
The reports that have from time to time
gone abroad to the effect that prominent
republicans fear the result of a publica-
ton of the results of the investigation into
the affairs of the Post Office Department
does not meet the views of prominent menu
bers of that party. So far as the investi-
cation itself is concerned it is declared that
| the question of it's effect on any interest
never been taken into consideration. There
| is no doubt that the department has been
benefited by the overhauling that has been
given its affairs which fact is regarded as
a sufficient answer to all criticism.
A Republican Housecleaning.
But politicians point with confidence to
the fact that the investigation has been
inaugurated and carried on by republicans
and that II the matter is referred to at
all in the next national campaign it will
have to be regarded a republican house
eieahihs: Inc ldct tiidt repupHcans nave
not heSitated to unearth wrongdoing in
| a republican administration is regarded az
a guarantee to the country that In the fu-
ture the integrity of the administration
can be depended upon.
This view of the political effect of tho
investigation is the more empha tically as
serted it is believed that when the in
vestigation has been completed no stone
will have been left unturned in order to
discover any fraudulent act. 1t is con-
hdently believed by the department that
the investigation will have been made so
complete that there viii not be the least
reason on which to base a suggestion that
Congress look into the matter of the con-
duct of the department.
The grand jury held a brief session this
morning and then adjourned until tomor-
row. Strictly local matters only We're con-
sidered today, but 1t is likely that the in
qufry in connection with the Post Office
Department investigation will be resumed
tomorrow.