The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-18
BR|STOW EXPLAINS HIS
INFLUENCE" REPORT
AND CLEARS MEMBERS
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Testifies Before the House
Committee.
ANSWERS MANY QUERIES
And Exonerates Congressman
from Blame in the Matter of
Clerk Hire.

sistant Postmaster General Bristow, in tes-
tifying before the House special committee
on the postoffice report to-day, claimed for
himself responsibility for only the first
seven pages of the report which was sent
to the postoffice committee. and said the
other portions of the document were the
work of other officials of the department.
The clerk hire section, he said, pre-
pared in the office of the first assistant
postmaster general, and that part relating
to leases by inspectors and others in his
own department Mr.. Bristow's testimony
threw considerable light all phases of
the inquiry. He practically cleared MEM
bers of Congress from wrongdoing, touch
ing the clerk hire section of the report by
stating that ii was the duty of the first
assistants office to ascertain the condi-
ton of the work in an office where an In
crease had been recommended.
Mr. Bristow stated that he had been
fourth assistant postmaster general for
seven years. He was asked how the special
report was made UP. In reply, he said that
on Jan. % OF this year the postmaster gen.
eral referred to him the letter from Mr..
Overstreet which appears in the report. He
personally prepared the statement con-
tanned pages four and five and trans
mitted it 10 Mr.. Overstreet with the letter
appearing pages six and seven which
was sent by messenger on the forenoon OF
Jan. %. In answer 10 this Mr.. Overstreet
wrote the postmaster general asking for ad-
ditional information.
The night of Jan. 25 Mr.. Bristow said,
he was taken sick with the grip and had
been unable to be In his office until last
Monday, March IA. ~ had nothing further
personally to do with the matter" con-
tinued Mr.. Bristow. II am informed that
the postmaster general asked that the office
of the fourth assistant postmaster general
prepare the information asked for and that
ii was prepared by inspectors and turned
over to the postmaster general by the
chief inspector"
CLERK HIRE.
| AS to clerk hire. he said his information
was that the information was prepared in
the office of the first assistant postmaster
general
Have you since investigated this list OF
names?'
mo, have not, at least not until to-day
at noon," answered Mr.. Bristow. 81 was in
formed that in making it up there might
have been omissions. have not any
cases in mind, but could investigate. OF
| course"
do 1 understand that Mr. Waters, in
| charge of the office, stated that he hao
| made complete list 2" ~
| April l, 1885, answered Mr.. Bristow
Asked why the date. April l, 1903. was
used, Mr.. Bristow said it was because that
was the date of Beavers resignation
| There undoubtedly was records In the de-
| partment of such transactions that had
been closed prior to the date mentioned
4 he said.
In regard to the secret methods used by
the department to ascertain the amount OF
clerk hire to which an office was entitled
Mr.. Bristow said he had asked First Assist
ant Postmaster Wynne about this to-day
and Mr. Wynne had said that the method
was not made known to the public, but il
| a member OF Congress made inquiry he
was shown the method.
| Mr.. McDermott asked specifically as t.
the duties of the fourth assistant postmaster
general and then took up the cases of Erie
| Kan, for which II appears Mr.. BriStow Sc
| cured increased clerk hire which was after
! ward ascertained not justifiabie.
In what manner did you do that?"
MIR. HEATH'S DUTY
! Mr.. Bristow said he referred the matte,
to the first assistant postmaster genera
with the understanding that ii would be in
vestigated and allowed if warranted.
who was first assistant postmaster gen
! eral?''
Mr.. Heath
why did you not make this investigation
yourself?'
| Because 1t was not part of my duties
Wen, II you, being right in the building
| had to rely on investigation of the first as
sistant in such case, was not a membe
of Congress in the same position?'
why. certainly answered Mr. Bristow
| The was supposed to pass on these case
| on their merits.
Asked if he could not have detailed a,
inspector on such a case he replied tina
| this would not have been in accordanc
| with the courtesy and practice of the office
| Mr.. McDermott asked a line of question
to develop the responsibility for imprope
clerk hire allowances in fourth class offices
Mr.. Bristow said he was not the CUSTODIAN
of fourth class Offices as to inspection o
| allowance.
| DO you mean that 1t was no concern q
yours offcially?'
"Well. it depends upon what you meal
by concern, answered Mr.. Bristow Sue
increases are determined upon by the frs
assistant postmaster general, and he alon
was responsible for these increases.
Mr.. Mccall then turned to the table of 90
offices in which there had been a decrease
allowance for clerk hire. 1t appeared tina
the total excess allowance vas s16,OS7
General don't you think it a little hi
extravagant for you TO say'-here Mr. Nc
Call read from the Bristow report as fol
lows: The foregoing cases refer to cler
hire i'm third and foUrth-class offices.
hundred other similar cases could be cited
The millions that have been appropriate
for that purpose during the last four year
have been used by Beavers largely as a
| PSARulSilt LOT the Dtnelll Oh his per
sonar and political friends. The necessitie
OF the service and the rights of postmasters
based upon the amount of work performed
nave been given little consideration"
II don know how many offices have bee
| anected, replied General Bristow, but
know there are a great many that are no
| referred TO there" The total amount In
volved was more chan s16.0s7 according t
the added statement of Mr.. Bristow.
SECRET EXHIBITS.
Mr.. Mccall turned his attention to tn
secret exhibits known as 20" and "R
which the committee had asked for
Mr.. Bartlett, n member of the committee
wanted it understood that these exhibit
did not relate TO members of Congress. Nj
Mccall stated that the committee woul
determine in secret session what il woul
do with the reports. and General Bristo,
said they would be available
As 10 the establishment of n fourth-clas
| postoffice, OF which General Bristow sal
there were 10000 In the United States
was brought out that the departmer
passed on the question of esta biishment {
such an office. but the recommendation
member of Congress was taken as to tn
OF Congress was not consulted regardin
rents and leases.
Mr.. Mccall wanted to know IL Mr. Bri:
tow knew OF any other cases than thos
stated in the report where leases had e,
pired or had been Cancelled and in the r,
newal OF which members OF Congress Ia
: been concerned.
, He replied as before. that he did not
Representative Bartlett. of Georgia, aske
. Rrf- in afnr int, ~. ~