Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-18
BRISTOW TESTIFIES
Assistant Postmaster General
 Explains His Report.
QUESTION BRINGS IN ROOSEVELT
Practically Clears. Members of the House From Clerk Hire Charges. Objection Made to Bringing
 the Presidents Name In.

 WASHINGTON, March 1s.-Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow in testifying before the house special committee on the postofdce report claimed for himself responsibility for only the first seven pages of the re port which was sent to the postoff1ce committee and said the other portions of the document were the work of oth- CT officials of the department.
 The clerk hire section, he said, was prepared in the office of the first as sistant postmaster general and that part relating to leases by inspectors and others in his own department.
 MT. Bristow's testimony threw con- siderable light on all phases of the in- quiry. He practically cleared mem- Ders of congress from the clerk hire section of the report by stating that it was the duty of the first assistants office to ascertain the condition of the work in an office where an increase had been recommended.
 Representative Bartlett {Ga.) asked General Bristow if ill determining the three cases which General Bristow had reported himself as technical vio- lations of the stStutes'' he had not found it necessary to review all of the cases included in the report The an swer was that certain inspectors--a half dozen - i'll his office had gone through the lease cases and had se- lected those where it appeared from the record an excessive rental had been paid without proper reason, and such cases were included in report which was itself made the subject of an investigation.
 "ThaL' report was made to you your sef?' inquired Mir. Bartlett. N"-
 MT. Mccall interrupted to ask wheth- CT the report before the committee was not the work of at least some of these same inspectors who made up the orig inal cases which were afterward made the subject of investigation. This was the case, replied Mir. Bristow.
 Do you know whether or not this report came directly from the hands of the postmaster general without go- ing into some one else's hands for in- spection or perusal before it was sent to the postoff1ce committee of the house?'' asked Mir Bartlett.
 T don't know. I have been told, but I have no knowledge of it,' answered Mir. Bristow.
 Have you ever had any conversa- ton with the president that would lead you to believe'- asked MT. Bart lett.
 T don't think you ought to ask that question: interrupted MT. Burton. "It is not within the scope of our investi gation'' .f 3# r
 "Well,' broke in MT, Bartlett, i've cannot get the president here, and there have been hints in the newspa pers about this" ~. ,. >.sl1.s :. ,' 'Ought we not to inquire into whose hands it went?" asked MT. Richardson of Alabama.
 1T understood General Bristow to say he did not know. It would be on- ly hearsay evidence" declared Chair man Mccall. ~#
 The committee then went into execu- tive session.
 The questions of MT. Bartlett in- volving the president were not touch ed on during the executive session of the committed Chairman Mccall said the committee had begun to realize that the task before it was larger than at first anticipated.
 :! The committee adjourned until Mon day, when MT Bristow will resume his testimony.