Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-10
lSnecial to Democrat,l

tions relative to their conduct in post office matters. as set forth by the re- port just made by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow, and many things that ought to have been in that report. but were not, were fully set forth. In many instances these statements put an entirely diff ferent construction on the conduct of the members. and in all explained fully their actions.
 Congressman Lilley made a state ment in this connection, which was as follows: "Mr Speaker, I wish to add a few facts that should, but do not, appear i'll connection with the use of my name in this report Hav- ing stated these facts, am content that my fellow members, my constit- uents and tue public at large shall form their own conclusions as to whether there has been, anything re- fprehensible in my conduct.
 s"The Winsted. Station A, postof1ice was located in the Beardsley block when purchased it. When the lease expired last spring, J. M. White, thssistant. superintendent of the salary and allowance division, called upon me and stated that he was unable to find another satisfactory location and asked if I would not be willing to lease the property to a third person, c. $. Newcomb. He would then ne gotiate with him. I replied that if this was satisfactory to the govern ment. I would lease to MT Newcomb at the same price that the govern ment had heretofore paid, namely S35O.
 .Mr White corresponded with the department and then notified me that such an arrangement was satisfac- tory. Thereupon I leased the prop erty to Mir Newcomb. Afterward learned, through Mir White, that the government had negotiated with MT Newcomb for q five year lease, and that in addition to the privileges they had heretofore enjoyed, MT Newcomb entered into an agreement to furnish heat and light substantially q new equipment, and to make certain addi- tions, renovations and repairs. at N:l Ncost equal to a yearly rental or Slto for these five years"
 Quoting from MT Bristows report: ,.'The rent is practically the same as under tho former lease" Mir Bristow further says that he referred to this case not because there was. any fraud indicated in the transaction.
 .In reference to Torrington, no inn propriety is mentioned in the BristoW t report. The facts are. that during the seven and half years ending January 1, 1904, the government has paid me in gross rental S2,500, and I have furnished ill equipment, heat light more than S4.000. So that in 2 this case I have received nothing for my store, which would have rented for mercantile purposes at $1,O00 per year, but am out $1,500. In other words, I have paid the United States government for the privilege of hay ing it's postoffice in my building dur S ing those seven and a half years $3, 900.
 tsThis Torrington lease was made before ever thought of becoming q candidate for the honor of represent ing Connecticut in this house. And within -twenty-four hours of the time when I discovered that there was a clause in the statutes which might be construed as affecting my standing as a member of this body, I came to Washington. called upon First Assist ant Postmaster General Wynne, and requested cancellation of my lease Mir Wynne replied to me that he did not, think this would be necessary, but X would consult Assistant Attorney General Robb and notify me at my hotel as soon as he had obtained his opinion.
 sIn the course of one or two days I received a request to call at Mir F Wynne's office, to which I immediate Iy responded. and was told by MT wynne that this statute had no bear ing whatever on my case. This stat ute was passed in 1898. In 1909 the then attorney general of the United States the Hon c. A. Rodney ren- lered an opinion that where q lease had existed prior to a congressman's election the lease was not invalid. Tho principal basis for this opinion seems to be that there might occur cases in which it would be to the ad- vantage of man owning property, which was leased to the government at much less. than he could get from some other party, upon being elected to congress to invalidate the lease. Assistant Attorney General Robb states as his opinion that lease, legal when made, cannot be changed 8 i'll status by the lessor becoming a member of congress. And the hold ing of property by q congressman un- der these conditions is not even q
 
 .'And at my request q letter was written to me, which in closing I will read: ...-.-
 'sOctober 23, 1903. '.IIon George l.. Lilley, Waterbury,
 Conn.
 "My Dear Sir-Referring to the memorandum prepared by MT White, the assistant superintendent of the salary and allowance division. sta z toned at Boston. ill which is quoted m act of congress on contracts be- tween the government and a member of congress. find that the statute quoted has no bearing whatever OH your case as stated to me.
 ..'.The contract between the posfof- flee department and yourself for the iisa of certain quarters i'll Torringtol