The Washington times., 1904-03-07
REPORTS UPON BRISTOW CHARGES

: postohice premises at this point are
owned by George L Iiiey. Original
lease which was made before Mr.. Liiley
was elected to Congress, expired April
!, 1903. The entire block in which the
Office is located was then leased by Mr..
Lilley TO Charles :. Newcomb. and the
lease to the POstOft1ce Department was
made In his name, though the title 70
the block before mentioned appears 10
remain in Mr.. Lilley- The rent Is prac-
tically the same as under the former
lease.
Rental Not Excessive.
IN none Of the above cases does II
appear that the Government has paid
an excessive rental I referred TO these
cases in my report, not because there
was any fraud indicated In the busi-
ness transaction. but solely because such
contracts appeared 10 be in violation
OF the statute"
IN another letter to Chairman over
street of the same date, Mr. Bristow
treats Of the matter of increased allow
ances for clerk hire made at the soliCi-
tation Of members Of Congress. and
quotes the following from the regula.
tions of the department:
The Postmaster General IS not author
lied, except IN certain cases Csee sec
tons 35s and 300 to make allowances
for the employment of clerical assistant
a [ Offices Of the third nd fourth classes
Postmasters must, therefore, arrange
for the compensation OF their assistants
(see section 293). or any clerks employed
by them unless allowances are made
therefor as hereafter provided"
Section 3JS Of the statute referred to
says: The Postmaster General may
designate offices at the intersection OF
mail routes as distributing offices; and
whereby such Office IS Of the third (or)
fourth - class, he may make reason
able allowance 70 the postmaster for
the necessary cost Of clerical services
arising from such duties
Section 300 says; Whenever unusual
business accrues at any pOstOdice, the
Postmaster General shall make q spe-
cial order allowing reasonable compen-
sotion for clerical service"
For Separating Mail.
In the last appropriation bill, Mr.
Bristow says, $1,3O0,OOO was allowed for
separating mail at third and fourth
class postoHces.
Continuing he says. While there ap-
pears 10 be no appropriation for 'un-
usual business. the department has
assumed that It had the right TO expend
a part of the appropriation for 'separat-
ing purposes for the employment OF
clerks 10 take care Of unusual business
that may accrue at an Office. caused by
abnormal or extraordinary conditions.
Where there are intersecting mall
routes. a rule Of the department fixes
the amount that should be allowed FOR
the separa ton of mails by a schedule
based upon the number OF pieces Of mail
handled in transit In my recent in
yestigatlon Of certain divisions Of the
Post office Department IL appeared that
clerk hire had been allowed IN many
Instances 20 pOstmasteTs where there
were no intersecting mail routes, and
10 unusual condluons' ana such allow
ances were held 70 have been made
without legal authority. and We're.
therefore, unlawful II was not, how
ever. a violation Of any penal statute
Excessive Allowance.
1T was also learned that at a large
number Of Offices where there were in
tersectinE mail routes allowances had
been made in excess Of what the Office
was entitled to. according 70 the rule
Of the department fixing a basis for
such allowances. Such excessive allow
ances wore not regarded as violations
OF the law, but as violations Of the
departmental rule
There are a large number Of cases
where such Illegal and improper allow
ances are made In this connection II
is proper 10 say that In q large ma jOr-
ity Of the cases that have already been
examined. where the increase was made
upon the recommendation OF a member
Of Congress, the recommendation ap-
pears 10 have been simply formal, and
shows upon its face that he expected
the executive officer OF allow only what
the Office was entitled under the law
and rules Of the department"
Accompa nying this letter Mr. Bristow
submits q list OF more than 100 third
and fourth class postOdices where al
loWancCs for clerk hire for separating
service and unusual business reduced
and discontinued since April ]. 1905 Z
large majority OF these increases were
made upon recommendation 81 mem
bers Of Congress. and IN eighty-tWo cases
were from $40 70 $500 IN excess OF that