The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-18

| inspector on such a case, he replied that
this would not have been in accordance
with the courtesy and practice of the
office.
Mr.. McDermott asked a line of ques-
tons to develop the responsibility for
improper clerk hire allowances in fourth
class offices.
Mr.. Bristow said he was not the Gus
| todian of fourth class offices as to in
spection or allowances.
DO you mean that it was no concern
of yours officially?"
well, it depends upon what you
i mean by concern" answered Mr.. Bris-
/ tow. Such increases are determined
upon by the first assistant postmaster
general, and he alone was responsible
for these increases"
Mr.. Mccall then turned to the table of
| 900 offices in which there had been a
decreased allowance for clerk hire. It
appeared that the total excess allow
ances was $16,0S7.
General, don't you think it little bit
extravagant for you to say" here Mr.
Mccall read from the Bristow report
as follows:
1.-The foregoing cases refer to clerk
! hire in third and fourth class offices. A
| hundred other similar cases could be
cited. The millions that have been ap-
propr1ated for that purpose during the
last four years have been used by
| Beavers largely as an official perquisite
for the benefit of his personal and po-
litieal friends. The necessities of the
service and the rights of postmasters,
! based upon the amount of work per-
| formed, have been given little consider
alton"
Il do not know how many Offices
have been affected" replied General
/ Bristow, but I know there are a great
many that are not referred to there
The total amount involved was more
| than $16,0S7, according to the added
| statements of Mr.. Bristow.
Mr.. Mccall turned his attention to
the secret exhibits known as 90 and
R. )" which the committee had asked
for. Mr. Bartlett, a member of the
committee, wanted it understood that
these exhibits did not relate to mem
| bers of congress. Mr.. Mccall stated
| that the committee would determine
in secret session what it would do
with the reports, and General Bristow
said they would be available.
/ As to the establishment of fourth
class postoffices, of which General
| BristoW said there were 10000 in the
/ United States, it was brought out that
/ the department passed on the question
of the establishment of such Offices
but the recommendation of a member
of congress was taken as to the APP
pointnnent of the postmaSters. A mem
Der of congress was not consulted re-
garding rents and leases. Mr.. Mccall
wanted to know if Mr.. BristoW knew
of any other cases than those stated
in the report where leases had expired
which members of congress had been
concerned.
He replied as before that he did
not.
DO you know whether or not this
report came directly from the hands
of the postmaster general without go
ing into someone elses hands for in
spection or Derusal before it was sent
to the postoffice committee of the
house, asked Mr.. Bartlett.
Il don't know. i have boe0 tOI5
but 1 have no knowledge of it," an
swered Mr.. Bristow
sHave you ever had any conversa-
ton with the president that would
. lead you to believe" asked Mr.
Bartlett.
Il don't think you ought to ask that. >"
interrupted Mr.. Burton. ut was not
: within the scope of our Investigation .
, WELL" broke in Mr. Bartlett I'VE
) can not get the. president here, and
there had been hints in the newspapers
r about this
! Ought not we to inquire into whose
hands it went?" asked Mr.. Richardson,
) of Alabama.
t It understood General Bristow to say
D he did not know. 1t would be only
t hearsay evidence" declared Chairman
/ Mccall.
: TT is entirely outside the scope of
our investigation" remarked Mr.. Bur
. ton.
e DO I understand the chairman to
r suggest that L should not ask that
t question: inquired Mr.. Bartlett.
+ Mr.. Mccall intimated that without
attempting to restrain Mr.. Bartlett he
r thought the question should be consid-
cred by the committee in executive
session. He declared the matter left
: open until the committee should go into
executive session.
= II will not pursue it farther at pres
ent,' concluded Mr.. Bartlett.
e The committee then went into execu-
: tive session
:. The questions of Mr. Bartlett involv-
e ing the president were not touched on
during the executive session of the
= committee. The two inspectors reports
e marked 90 and r. were examined as
also We're a half dozen others Chair
n man Mccall said the committee had