The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-14
Nearly All the Appearance Of
Graft" Done Away with on
Analysis of the Report.
PETITIONS OF PEOPLE
Letters OF Postmasters Taken to
Officials by Congressmen-
Bristow Himself Involved.
ERRORS IN THE SYSTEM
Responsible for Large Part of the
Trouble-Bad Effects of Of
fetal Red Tape.
Special to the indianapolis Journal

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 13.-As a result
of the hysteria which has prevailed around
Congress since the publication Of the re-
port connecting the names of members
with the postal Investigation, and the ex-
cited complaints directed against the de-
partment and the committee. which opened
up the whole subject. il is difficult for the
average newspaper reader TO sift out from
the mass of stun a clear idea of just what
has happened and just who is to blame, If
blame should rest anybody.
There is a disposition in some quarters
to censure the whole system, and TO
charge that the members Of Congress are
open to blame for making recommendations
to the department relating to postoffice To-
cations. rentals, clerk hire fuel and light
and matters of the kind. 1t is well. there
fore. 10 get a clear idea of just what the
system is. just what has been done and
just what the report which caused all the
trouble has shown
Since the foundation of the government
there has been a close connection between
senators and representatives and the ex-
ecGtive departments. On account of the pc
culiar nature of the business of the Post
office Department, and its close relation to
the business interests of the people in every
town and hamlet in the country, it has al
ways been the custom for the department
TO rely On senators and representatives for
recommendations affecting the postal sys-
tenn as il extends to the various States.
An illustration of this situation may be
anorded by a statement of the fact that
the Postoffice Department has a series of
blank printed forms relating TO such mat
ters as the establishment of postal routes
location OF postofIices, the establishment
or discontinuance of postoffices the ap-
pointment or removal of postmasters all
made for the sole purpose of communicate
ing with senators and representatives and
securing from them their advice as to what
should be done. If a postoffice is to be
established in a given community; if
postoffice location is to be changed, or
postoffice discontinued-in all of these cases
there may be filed in the department peti-
Tiers from the residents OF the community
10 be affected, but the department does
not act without sending request to the
representative from the district for his
Recommendation or advice In the premises
This procedure is based on the assumption
man ia Washington familiar with ali the
facts OF the situation. His opinion is there
fore regarded by the department vaIu-
able. lie acts on the advice of his con-
stituents and his recommendations are al
most invariably followed by the depart
1nefe may De Detter ways or getting
at the precise situation In given case, but
this is the system that has prevailed from
the beginning, and until a better has
been devised IL probably will continue to
Out of this connection of representatives
with matters in the department affecting
postal affairs in their districts grows the
complaints and charges, counter charges
etc, which came out in the various reports
TO Congress.
In time Of ordinary discharge OF con-
gressional duty the publica ion of such
facts would not have provoked the slight
est CONNER or interest. But in the face
of the general postoffice investigation,
which was conducted for many months
being followed by absolute proof of wrong
doing the part of certain department.
officials and outsiders, to bring forward
departmental report connecting the names
OF members of Congress with the matter
the fact really is in vast majority of
cases mentioned in the report, OF any
wrcngdoing by those mentioned. is we'll
calculated TO provoke comment and subject
innocent men to unjust criticism. 1t would
seem that IL might have been easy for
the committee on postoftices of the House
the department report just what was re-
quired 10 show what had been DONE and
TO have omitted mention of names of sen
atOrs and representatives who had done
nothing more than indOrse the recommends
tions OF postmasters or carry out the wishes
OF citizens of given community in re-
spact 10 postotf1ce matters in their dis
tricts. few words will explain what has
happened and just how IL came to happen.
The general postofice investigation
showed what was claimed by the investi-
gators. headed by General Bristow. to be
wrongdoing on the part of George w. Bea-
vers, now under indictment for those
wrongful acts. In making his report on all
matters connected with the Investigation
General Bristow alluded to several cases in
different States. where rental allowances
for postoffices had been unduly raised. OF
buildings had been rented from members
of Congress which, stated broadly and
without any explanatory details. would bt
violation of the statutes. No names were
mentioned in the report, but the offices
were designated. and il was easy 10 set
what members of Congress were implicateC
IL any wrong had been done. When the
report came out, Democratic representa-.
tive from Virginia. Mr.. Hay. arose one
day and called attention to this reflection
on members, and introduced a resolution
calling for a full investigation Of such cases
and demanding that the House ca on Gen
eral BristOw for all the facts That was the
beginning OF the trouble. 1t is known
around Congress that Mr.. Hay was person.
ally unfriendly 10 another Democratic mem
Der from Virginia, Mr.. Swanson, who had
long served on the committee on postoffices
OF the House, anG IL Is asserted that HAY
believed that III the Facts could be brought
out they would disclose that Swanson. anC
other members of the former pOstOffice com.
mittee. had made improper recommendation.
or had been too jealous in looking after tn,
wants OF their constituents The truth is
there is evidence enough in the supplement.
tai BristOw report 10 warrant some of m,
suspicious entertained BY Mr.. Hay al
though the published facts do not point Il
any illegal acts by any member out OF
all this grows the publication of the mas.
OF details which Is accepted as a reflection
members Of Congress whose names ar,
mentioned in the report.
Now comes the question as 10 how the re
port from the department. was handled b,
the committee. II was delicate matter
The department had furnished the names o.
members OF Congress who had filed letter,
of recommendation touching postofnce af
fairs IL would seem that the committe,
should have either suppressed the whole de
partmental report. and merely brought IN
q resolution laying the Hay resolution OF
the table. and saying that the Investigation
OF the subject did not show any wrongdoinE
CONTINUED on PAGE 3. COL IL