New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-02
CAUGHT IN POSTAL NET.l
4 SENSATIONAL REPORT.
Wany Violations of Las By SenG@,
tors and Representatives..
LrRoN - rnlRrvE nrnEAr. ]

TFRON rRE TRIBUNE nyREAUl
Washington. March 1.-The announcements
that Postmaster General Payne's report. fur
uishine the names OF Senators and Representa-
tives who had leased property 70 the govern
ment for postal purposes. who had recommended
increased rentals for postofices and additional
clerk hire. had reached the House COMMITTEES
on PoStoffces and Post Roads and was being
held awaiting the recovery Of Chairman over
street which made exclusively in The Tri0-
ure this morning. proved the sensation Of the
day at the Capitol
Representative Overstreet. who has been w
for some days FASTENED TO the White House this
morning and was for a considerable time clos
eted with the President and The Postmaster
General on leaving the White House the POST
master General would say nothing save that ~
had been occupied with routine matters AiTs
Ovsrstreet said:
The HAY resolution viii be acted upon IN
good time But I am not predicting just az
present what that action will be. 1t may not
pIeaSa some people. but II will be acted on
iisT as squareiy and fairly as We know how -
a. T.. -Tbe Cornn1ittee on Postoflces and Post
Roads IS not a menagerie. and Is not taking care
of any white elephants or any other kind or Wld
animals That resolution Is not a white eie-
phant anyway. We know what 70 do with II
and would have taken II up and disposed or e
long ago had we not been so awfully rushed.
I7uT I've Of the COMMITTEES have been sick two Oe
them are on crutChes, Two are IN oed az tnlS
moment and have just left my room for % ne
frst time 10 come TO the White House DecauSa
the President sent for me. No. we were not
talking that matter over at all IL wasn't men
toned. and did not know until reecne1 % Ioe
V-bite House that the Postmaster General wass
10 be here. We were talking over an aItogetner
different matter
REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVED.
While Mr.. Overyreet declared that the Hsr
resolution was not white elephant. he dit
not undertake to describe the Payne report or
TO account for the tndtsposirion OF so many
members Of his committee
At the Capitol IT learned that specific
charges were made against three Representatives
now IN the House. They are accused OF bein1
owners or part owners OF buildings which srs
leased by the government for postal uses. thougn
n is added IN extsnuation Of these particulars
cases that the leases were made prior 20 tns
owners election to Congress and have oeeu
earslezzlv continued IN force. though In viola-<
ton Of the law.
Among those referred to a. being benerciaries
under the system that has thrtved with an Ut
ter disregard Of the provisions Of the statutes
ara ~ IL reported, Representatives James W.
vyadsworth OF New-York and William A Cal-
derhead Of Kansas. The latter. It is UNDERSTOOD
has Transferred his interest IN the building td
his daughter Mr. wadsworth has been In Core-
gress of and on for twenty years. but II was IN
one Of his infrequent absences from the Houss
that he entered into this contract with the goT-
eminent There was undoubtedly no thousha
in his mind that sis action could be opsn Co
criticism. and the question OF the proprietJ ce
his continuing as landlord or the goysrnrena
has never been eonslderad7 "a third. msnosr<
whose name could net be obtained. owns a ons-
sixth interest in a building leased for posta2
purposes. In the Judgment OF the committees
there can be no question OF moral turpitude in--
voIved in these transactions between Representa-
tfves IN Congress and the government. but they
are IN violation Of the law. and. the committees
believes should be abandoned definitely ana
foreyer.
NINE HUNDRED VIOLATIONS OF Law
The report specifies seven members OF Con-
gress who have secured the appointments Of rei-
atfves or protsgss to positions in the postOfhces
OF their respective districts. on entering upon
their duties Beavers. then superintendent oc
salaries and allowances. at the request OF these
members promptly increased the salaries usually
paid to clerks who had heretofore occupied ths
places. While these proteges held the places
they we're paid salaries unwarranted by la~s
and when they retired the pay drawn by their
successors was reduced 70 the amount the Offices
originally carried. This practice is an acknowl-
edged violation of the spirit Il not the letter &C
the law. and the disclosures of the report, II iS
believed. will effectualIy check such practices
In the future.
It is estimated that nearly nine hundred techs
nicaI violations Of the law cited I'm the docu-
ment. These relate to recommendations for ad-
ditiousI clerk hire not fully authorized BY law
and suggestions by Senators and Representa-
tives that the rental of buildings leased 70 the
government for postal purposes be increased
In this list may be found large proportion oe
the membership Of both houses. and while such
practices are open to criticism being OF ques-
tionable propriety. they cannot be characterized
as absolutely unlawful transactions
Representative HAY. who introduced the reso--
luton which brought forth this report. believes
that it should be made public at the earlies1
practicabIe moment. Should no such action oe
taker before the PostOflce Appropriation bill %
brought before the House next week. il IS his
intention 20 introduce resolution asking for
the discharge of the committee from furthe-
consideration Of the subject. and have il called
uO in the House for the consideration OF that
body