Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-12
Statement by Minority Of
Mccall Committee.
INSPECTORS SCORED
SHOULD HAVE DISCOVERED EVIL
DENCFs OF WRONG.
Fourth Assistant Censured for Omit
ting Two Kansas Cases From His
Report of Last October.

Investigating committee, submitted today.
Geal entirely with testimony elicted from
Mr. Bristow when he was before the COM
lmittee. Representative McDermott ques-
toned Mr. Bfistow closely with regard to
his connection with certain Kansas post
offices where excessive allowances were
shown. The minority report says:
1T has been found necessary to frequent
1y refer to the report of the fourth assist
ant postmaster general, dated October "A,
1903. One of the findings of that report
is that George w. Beavers. chief Of the
salary and allowance division. made allow
ances for clerk hire without proper regard
for the rules of the department. After men
Hioning eleven instances of such action by
Mr.. Beavers, the report says:
A hundred other similar cases could be
cited
House report No. 1893 and the testi-
mony taken by this committee indicate that
Mr.. BriStow first wrote this statement, and
then. with view of supporting 1t. ordered
the preparation of a list of cases in which
allowances had been discontinued or re-
duced after April !. 1903. The fact of the
dscoLtinuance or reduction of an allow
ance is. because of the constantly chang
ing condition of local post office affairs.
: of very slight value in providing the pro-
priety of the allowance at the time that 1t
made.
Hazarded a Guess.
at is clear that Mr. Bristow's assertion
that hundred other similar cases could
DE cited was not the outcome of proper in
Investigation. 1t is clear that he did not
know He haZarded a guess. and an ex-
animation of the records does not show that
guess 10 have been correst. In commenting
upon the actions of Beavers Mr. Bristow
took occasion to say that the distribution
of public money as a matter of personal ia
,Vor. regardless of departmental rules and in
violation of law. can not be condoned.
This proposition. elementary in ethics. is
beyond cavil, and its utterance shows that
Mr.. Bristow's mind was intent upon a rule
requiring exposure of facts peculiarly with
in his knowledge. That he did not make
that exposure is shown by the record in
two cases referred to in the schedules APP
pended to the report of the Postmaster Gen
eral and Included in House report, No. 1885.
These cases do not concern members of
the present House of Representatives. indi-
vidually, but their records testify to facts
of omission and commission that illustrate
MIR. Bristow's relations to the departments
that he was called upon to investigate. and
ais failure to make specific reports in these
cases seems to us a fact that may prop
erly be reported to the House.
The post offices at Kingman and Erie,
Kan. not mentioned in Mr. Bristows
report but they should have been for he is
clearly chargeahle with knowledge that the
law was violated in the payment of money
to the postmasters at those places"
Two Kansas Cases.
The report then sets forth the correspond
ence between the postmaster at Erie. Kan.
and the department and continues:
when Mr.. Bristow signed his report last
October he knew mat for several years the
postmaster at e; lie had been receiving an
Illegal allowance, and he knew that this
illegality was begun personal favor to
himself. He should have made specific
mention of this case; but it is not alluded
10 in his report.
In the appendix to House report No 1895
reference is made to certain doings of the
Post Office Department in the matter of
! allowances to the postmaster at Kingman
Kan. and the record in this case deserves
inspection and report. The postmaster at
kingman is a personal friend of Mr.. BTs-
low. and the filed correspondence shows
that when this postmaster desired a vaca-
ton he asked Mr.. Bristow's aid. The latter
responded by sending the request to the
rtirst assistant postmaster general. with this
Endorsement: Mr. Harlan is good man.
y. l.. b.
In August 1897. the allowance for clerk
hire at this office was reduced from $500
To $50 per annum. Five months later it
was restored to $500 in clear violation of
law. In March, 1901, ii was again under
discussion and report of the business
done at the office was asked from the
postmaster. II showed that while he
twas receiving 500 for clerk hire he
ientitled to only $50
Notified by Beavers.
Then follows this letter from Beavers
TO Mr.. Bristow:
! Sir: / have the honor to advise you
that the report just received from the post
master at kinsman, Kan. showing amount
al transit mail handled at that office. 1T is
found that the allowance for clerk hire
warranted by the business transacted is
SGD per annum. An allowance of 500 per
!annum, however. is standing to the credit
of that office for the purpose"
The report continues:
~ Writtpn SUGGEST
Investigation. 1t Is marked Personal and
ION the same day that Mr.. Beavers wrote IL
L1e also wrote to a gentleman who had made
Enquiry in behalf of the kingman post
master. In this letter Beavers also stated
kthat while the postmaster was entitled to
only $40 for clerks services. nevertheless
lno reduction will be made in the amount
ft$J0o per annum) now standing to the credit
of that Office for that purpose.
1T will be noticed that both these letters
were written by Beavers on the same day.
one IL personal notice to Mr.. Bristow
that the postmaster at kingman was re-
Csving over eight times his legal allowance
for clerk hire. while the other written to
ia fourth person. says that there will not be
fany reduction in the amount allowed.
COPIES of both letters were filed by Beavers.
Out Mr. Bristow testifies that he has not
fanny recollection of receiving the one ad-
dressed to himself"
Next the report refers to the contention
of Mr.. Bristow that it was not his province
ito inaugurate Investigations. The report
contends that IL was his duty to do so.
after quoting the postal regulations. closes:
with these regulations existing il is in
ytolerahle to assert that, crime being suS-
gested the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General must wait for orders to inyesti-
gate. IL these inspectors are not to keep
tsuard of the department. they are almost
useless. II they are not to be on the look
out for crime, what are they employed for?
Is 1t not clear that IL the inspectors under
the control of the Fourth Assistant Post
MISTER General had been vigllant body.
Idirected by a vigilant commander, the SER
vice would have escaped many of the scan
dals with which IL has been recently faint
ed?
inspectors Scored.
"a small army of inspectors. empowered
to enter and inspect offices at all times, and
u make such other inquiries and investiga-
tions as the interest of the service may de-
mand, should be able to prevent wanton
destruction of ink; they should not have
Laliowed to pass unnoticed the fact that
There were many excessive and unnecas-