The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-03
Mr.. Payne Makes Statement
from His Sick Room Regarding
Influence Report
OVERSTREET INSISTENT
Wanted the Names of Statesmen
for Use of the Postoffice
Committee.
TEXT OF THE LETTERS
Correspondence Which Mr.. Payne
Had with Mr. Overstreet-The
Mccall Report.
ipecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 2.-Postnnaster
General Payne to-day added another chap
ter to the controversy over the publication
of the names of congressman in connec-
tion with the influence" report. From his
sickroom he issued long statement in
which he said the names were used against
his protest. Correspondence and conversa-
tions with Representative Overstreet are
given. The statement will be made a part
OF the report of the Mccall committee. and
it will be awaited with special interest.
The statement shows that the postofice
committee obtained just what was asked
for, and that notwithstanding the opinion
expressed by Mr.. Payne that the names
OF members should not go into the report
because ii was not matter of useful in
formation to Congress or the country the
chairman insisted on having the names 1t
would seem that this statement of the
case will raise ar issue between the de-
partment and the committee as to what
was understood should be contained in the
report. At all events. this is not regarded
as of serious moment. now that the facts
have been inquired into.
According to the present plans the Nc
port on Tuesday. A strong and interesting
summing up of the whole matter is ex-
pected, and it is believed that some tart
comments will be made regarding the sys-
tenn which has prevailed in the postal
service under which the clerical force in
the posoff1ces was supplied according to a
secret arrangement unknown to the post
masters. 1t is also expected that the cases
of clerk hire and for improvements in the
rental of buildings will be dismissed by the
committee with little in the way of criti-
cism. A few cases may call for special
comment, but in only two or three instances
have members been invited before the COM
mlttee to explain their relations toward
the excess clerk hire allowances secured
upon their recommendation.
BASIS FOR BRISTOW'S CHARGE.
1t is not unlikely that the Mccall COM
mittee will find some basis for the charge
made by General Bristow in his first re-
port that George Beavers, former superin-
tendent of salaries and allowances in the
department, made liberal allowances for
clerk hire to three or four members of the
House, notably those who were then men,
bers of the posoffice committee and in so
doing violated the departmental regula-
tions. solely for the purpose of keeping in
good favor with these members. But the
members had no means of knowing that ex-
cess allowances were made. That rested
entirely with Beavers. 1t will be these
conditions and results which the Mccall
committee will criticiSe and certainly all
members in the Northwest will be wholly
exonerated from blame i'll the matter of
their relation to the department
1t was at the request OF Postmaster
General Payne that Chairman Mccall.
Rel resentativss 10 Hit. Hit, b1 Richardson on of
lington Hotel this morning and discussed
with the postmaster general at his bedside
the special report involving members of
Congress in the matter of clerk hire and
leases at third and fourth-class postoffices.
Mr.. Payne had prepared a statement
which he wished to go into the record of
the statement is that Mr.. Payne was
most positive in his protest that the names
of members should not have been sent to
the House committee on postoffices and
postroads. The report in question was first
submitted to the committee without the
names and the second report with the
names was sent to the Capitol upon tele-
phone order from the House committee on
postoffices and postroads.
The statement made by Postmaster
General Payne follows:
Il have been postmaster general since Jan.
8, 1902 Shortly after the present Congress
convened in November last the department
was frequently urged to make clerical al
lowances 10 offices of the third and fourth
classes where allowances formerly had been
made for clerk hire for separating purposes
and had been discontinued by reason of
the establishment of rural free delivery
routes emanating from such offices and
the discontinuance of star routes. Assistant
Attorney General Rob5, of the Postoffce
Department, advised me that such allow
ances could not lawfully be made, and he
subsequently, at my request, prepared a
written opinion. 1 believe il fair and equi-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3, COL. A.