The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
Forced to Admit Congressmen Are
Not to Blame for Clerk
Hire Increases.
DID NOT READ REPORT
And Personally Made No Charges
of Wrong-Doing Against
Legislators.
BEAVERS RESPONSIBLE,
For Most Of the Abuses in the Post
office Department-The Lease
Question.

WASHINGTON. March 21.-The Mccall
committee to-day continued consideration
of the report from the Postoftice Depart
ment concerning members of Congress.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow resuming his testimony. First Assist
ant Postmaster General Wynne also was
present.
Mr. Burton asked Mr. Bristow if the
clerk hire allowances were not made accord
ing to secret regulation in the Postoffice
Department. There is a schedule. I under
stand" replied Mr.. Bristow, 'in the first
assistants office that is confidential upon
which these allowances are based. | would
not want to say that Mr.. Beavers in the adj
ministration OF that Office made these al
lowances in accordance with those reguia-
tions. l think he made them according to
his own pleasure.
Mr.. Mccall asked if any congressman
knew what that secret rule was
II don't know anything about that" was
Mr.. Bristow's response. Il was informed
by the first assistant that it was accessible
TO members of Congress-"
Mr.. Bristow did not know whether In
actual practice members of Congress ever
had been informed about this secret test.
Rent of fourth class Offices it was ex-
planned by Mr.. Bristow, was limited by
law to a maximum of $400 a year and an
allowance of $50 for fuel and light.
Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama, took up the
case at Johnson City, Tenn. He outlined
the increase in population in the town, in
Guiding the establishment of a soldiers
home. and then asked If Mr.. Bristow did
not think the rent increase from $500 TO
s40O was justifable, and that Mr.. Brownlew
was justified in making the request for the
increase.
Does that look susplcious?" asked Mr..
1T would all depend on the facts-whether
any one else had a building that they
wanted to rent TO the government" Mr..
Bristow replied.
BURToN'S QUESTIONS.
Mr.. Burton stated that the investigation
of the committee was largely due to the
Bristow report of last October. DO you
say" continued Mr.. Burton. that in this
report to the postoffice committee coFlcern-
ing members of Congress there is no proof
of improper conduct on the part of any
member of the present Congress? First,
will ask with reference to clerk hire
well. could not say. 1 have not been
able to go over it and examine it,
Mr.. McCall-Will you go over that docu-
ment?
Il will if the committee desires me to go
through that document and state whether
in my judgment IL contains anything to
reflect on congressman" Mr.. Bristow
added that this would take him several
months.
The lease section of the report was re-
ferred TO and the same question asked with
reference TO criticism of members of Con-
gresS. Mr.. BriStow said he had not in mind
any cases outside the three cases he had
prepared. He explained further that in this
report of the postal investigation, dated
Oct. "a. he was not endeavoring TO ascer-
tain whether member of Congress had
done a proper or improper act.
Continuing, Mr. Brstow said: What |
was endeavoring to investigate was Mr.
Beavers. That report refers 10 the methods
of his administration and In discussion
that il necessitated bringing in instances
where members of Congress had made
recommendations that ne had allowed
where / considered such allowances i'm
proper. / did not consider it incumbent on
me to state whether a member of Congress
had done anything improper or not. l SIM
ply set forth the facts and drew my con-
clusions with reference to Mr.. Beavers s
administration. l think / clearly said that
on Page AS of my report" here Mr. Bris-
their constituents to have what they are
justly entitled to and no more"
DEPARTMENT TO BLAME.
Continuing this testimony Mr. Bristow
remarked: THE responsibility of these al
lowances l placed entirely on the depart
ment. If a member of Congress purposely
or inadvertently makes recommendation.
the responsibility is in the department.
There seems to be a misapprehension that
l have made an assault on members of
Congress-. continued Mr. Bristow
THAT includes both Houses" interjected
Mr.. Mccall.
well, / certainly never have" concluded