Evening star., 1904-03-18
Cali read from the Bristok report as fol-

lows.
1.-The foregoing cases refer to clerk hire in third
and fourth-class offices. A hundred ether similar
cases could be cited. The millions that have
last four Years have been used by Beavers largely
official perquisite for the peneit OF ms per-
the service and the rights Of postmasters based
upon the amount Of work performed, lave peeI
eT do not Know how many offices have
been affected replied Gen. Bristow, but
1 know there are a great many that are
not referred to there
The total amount involved was more than
s16,0s7, according to the added statement
of Mr.. BristOw.
Mr.. Mccall turned his attention to the
secret exhibits known as q and
which the committee had asked for. Mr..
Bartlett member of the committee, want
ed it understood that these exhibits did not
relate to members of Congress. Mr. NC
Call stated that the committee would oe-
termine in secret session what 1T would 90
with the reports and Mr.. Bristow said they
would be available.
AS to the establishment of fourth-class
post office. of which Mr.. Bristow said there
were 10000 in the United States, it was
brought out that the department passed
upon the question of the establishment OF
such an Office, but that the recommenda-
ton of a member of congress was taken
as to the appointment of the postmaster.
A member of Congress was not consulted
regarding rents and leases.
Mr. Mccall wanted to know If Mr.. Bris-
tow knew of any other cases than those
stated in the report where leases had ex-
pired or been Cancelled and in the renewal
of which members of Congress had been
concerned.
He replied as before that he did not
Representative Bartlett of Georgia asked
Mr. Bristow if in determining the three
cases which Mr.. Bristow had reported him
self as technical violations of the stat
utes'' he had not found it necessary to re-
view all of the cases included in the re-
port The answer was that certain in
spectors-a half dozen-in his office had
gone through the lease cases and had Sc
lected the cases where 1t appeared from
the record an excessive rental had been
paid without proper reason, and such cases
were included in a report which was itself
made the subject of an investigation.
THAT report was made to you yourself?'
inquired Mr.. Bartlett.
Mr.. Mccall interrupted to ask whether
the report before the committee was not
the work of at least some of these same
inspectors, who made up the original cases
which were afterward made the subject of
investigation. This was the case, accord
ing to Mr.. Bristow.
Mr. Bartlett Seeks Information.
do you know whether or not this report
came directly from the hands of the Post
master General without going into some
one elses hands for inspection or perusal
before it was sent to the post office commit
tee of the House?" asked Mr.. Bartlett.
II don't know. I have been told, but I
have no knowledge of it," answered Mr..
Brstow.
Have you ever had any conversation
with the President that would lead you to
believe asked Mr.. Bartlett
Il don't think you ought to ask that in
terrupted Mr.. Burton. 1T is not within the
scope of our investigation
Well broke in Mr.. Bartlett, I'VE cam
not get the President here, and there have
been hints in the newspapers about this"
"Ought we not to inquire into whose
hands it went?" asked Mr.. Richardson of
Alabama.
Il understood Gen. Bristow to say he did
not know. 1t would be only hearsay evil
dence." declared Chairman Mccall.
1t is entirely outside OF the scope of our
investigauon," remarked ar. Burton.
DO l understand the chairman to sug-
gest that l should not ash that question:
inquired Mr.. Bartlett
Mr.. Mccall intimated that without at
tempting to restrain Mr.. Bartlett he
thought the question should be considered
by the committee in executive session. He
declared the matter left open until the COM
mlttee should go into executive session.
u will not pursue 1t further at present"
concluded Mr. Bartlett
Mr.. BristoW was requested to appear
again before the committee Monday at
1870 o'clock
The committee then went into eveont;yo
session
The questions of Mr. Bartlett involving
the President were not touched on during
tne executive session of the committee
me two inspectors reports marked .'O'
ana We're examined and also were
nan nan d uozeh others. Chairman Mccall said
the committee had begun to realize that
the task before it was larger than at first
anticipa ted.
The committee adjourned until Monday.