The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-18

w Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow was before the postoffice
investigating committee today. Tt
committee was i'm executive session
during the time General BristOw was
present.
Mr.. BristOw was asked particularly
as how the committee was TO get
possession Of certain of the confidential
exhibits connected with his report on
the postofiice investigation. These ex-
.hibits have been kept secret because
OF their bearing on pending prosecu-
tons. They were used i'm making up
the report touching matters that VIII
be submitted to the house. Mr.. Bristow
told the committee the reports would be
submitted to it for confidential inspec-
zion
- The first open session OF the commit
ttee began this afternoon with Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General BristOW
on the stand. Mr.. Bristow was asked
how the special report was made up.
In reply. he said that on Jan. % of this
year the postmaster general referred to
him the letter from Mr.. Overstreet,
which appears In the report. He per-
sonally prepared the statement con-
tanned on pages 4 and and transmit
ted IL 20 Mr.. Overstreet with the letter
appearing on pages and Z. which was
sent by messenger on the forenoon OF
Jan. %.
Some of the Charges.
In answer 10 this. Mr.. Overstreet
wrote the postmaster general asking
for additional information.
The first Information referred TO is
that concerning the lease cases OF Rep
Tesuetatives Wadsworth Of New York.
Lilly Of Connecticut and BOwersOck OF
Kansas. The second letter recited that
there were "A number Of cases where
an inn "a
made. and that il would require time
10 make a compilation. 1t also stated
that there were many cases where tn
rents of pOs1 offices had been increased
over the amount called for in the leases.
The night of Jan. %. Mr.. Bristow
said, he was taken sick with the grip
and he had been unable to be in his
Office until last Monday, March Il.
Source Of information.
IT had nothing further personally to
do with the matter continued Mr.
BristoW. II am informed that the post
master general asked that the office Of
the fourth assistant postmaster general
prepare the Information asked for. and
that IL was prepared by inspectors and
turned over TO the postmaster general
by the chief inspector"
AS TO clerk hire, he said. he under
stood that the Information was pre-
pared I'm the office of the first assistant
postmaster general.
Have You since investigated this
list Of names
mo. / have not; at least. not until
today at noon" answered Mr.. BristOw
81 was informed that in making it up
there might have been omissions. 1
have not any cases in mind, but /
could investigate, of course
DO 1 understand that Mr.. Waters
I'm charge of the office, stated that he
had made a complete list?"
Probably More Cases.
There might have been cases prior
20 April L. 1909 answered Mr.. BristOw.
Asked why the date April 1, 1903, was
used. Mr.. Bristow said that was the
date of Beavers resignation. There
undoubtedly were records in the de-
partment OF such transactions that had
been closed prior TO the date men
toned. he said.
IN regard to the secret methods used
by the department to ascertain the
amount Of clerk hire to which an Of
fiS.. was entitled, Mr.. Bristow said he
had asked First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne about this today, and
Mr.. Wynne had said that the method
was not made known TO the public but
81 a member Of congress made inquiry
he was shown the method.
Taking up the question of leases. Mr..
Mccall asked an explanation of the
case relating to Manhattan, Kan, in
connection with which Representative
Calderhead's name was mentioned. Mr.
Mccall asked If the increased amount
secured was not for furniture.
Furniture was provided for in the
original lease. was the answer.
AS 10 the Lawrence, Kan. case iu-
volving Representative Bowersock's