Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-21
is AGAIN QUESTIONED.
Examination Of Mr.. Bristow
Resumed.
HE BLAMED BEAVERS
HELD HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR I'M
PROPER ALLOWANCES.
Congressman Not Necessarily at Fault
MIR. Wynne Heard in Ex-
ecutive Session.
HE BLAMED BEAVERS

The Mccall committee today continued its
investigation of the recent report from the
Post Office Department concerning MEM
bers of Congress, Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow continuing his tes-
timony. First Assistant Postmaster GEN
eral Wynne also was present. Mr. Burton
asked Mr.. Bristow If the clerk hire allow
ances were not made according to secret
regulation in the Post Office Department
There is a schedule, 1 understand" re-
piled Mr.. Brstow, sin the first assistants
office that is confidential. upon which these
allowances are base-.- 1 would not want
to say that Mr.. Beavers In the administra-
ton OF that Office made these allowances in
accordance with those regulations. think
he made them according to his own pleas
ure"
Mr.. Mccall asked if any congressman
knew what that secret rule was.
~, Il don't know anything about that" was
Mr.. BrlStOw response. 1T is not in nv
own bureau, and could not say I was in
formed by the first assistant Friday that 1t
was accessible to members of Congress-"
Mr. Bristow did not know whether in
actual practice members of Congress ever
had been informed about this secret test
He suggested that the first assistant would
be able to give more satisfactory answer
Rent Of Offices.
Rent of fourth-class offices, it was ex-
planned by Mr.. Bristow. was limited by law
to maximum of $500 year and an allow
ance of SEQ for fuel and light
Mr.. Richardson of Alabama took up the
case of Johnson City Tenn He outlined
the increase in population in the town. in
Guiding the establishment of soldiers
nome. and then asked if Mr. Bristow did
not think the rent increase from $500 to
500 was justifiable and that Mr. Brownlow
was justified in making the request for the
increase.
Does that look suspicious?' asked Mr.
Richardson
1T would all depend upon the facts
whether any one e,se had a building that
ne wanted to rent to the government" Mr..
Bristow replied
The Humboldt, fem. case was next
taken up, where additional rent had been
secured, and there, too. Mr.. Richardson
stated that the town had grown. and asked
if there could be any eensure justified.
THAT, then, would not be a case in which
rents had been increased by Mr. Beavers
for his personal friends?" asked Mr.. Bart
lett.
'Not if it was legitimate rent" replied
MIR. Bristow.
Mr.. Mccall: In the brief that you make
81 beg your T don interrupted Mr.
Bristow, Il did not make that brief
We'll, you have said you were acquainted
mo. I never read 1t and have no
knowledge of it, except the first seven
pages. '.si1
Authorship Of the Report.
Mr.. Bartlett then read to Mr.. Bristow
number of questions to ascertain the iden-
tty of the persons who had prepared the
report first askingfwith reference to that
part of the report referring to clerk hire.
Mr.. Bristow said he had no information
except what he had been told. He sug
gested that Mr. Wynpe could answer that
oua Ac n q section of the
report he said he '.fould furnish the COM
mittee with a list of the inspectors who
made up the report.
Mr.. Bartlett also wanted to know how the
report was sent to the House committee on
post Offices and post roads, and. If by mes
senger, who the messenger was.
Mr.. Bristow had no knowledge on this
point.
do you know whether this report, after
it was compiled. was submitted to any
other person than officials Of the Post Office
department.?
II have no knowledge" was the reply.
Mr.. Burton took the witness in hand, and
stated that the investigation of the COM
mittee was largely due to the Bristow re-
port of last October.
do you say" continued Mr.. Burton, that
in this report to the post office committee
concerning members of Congress there is
no proof of improper conduct on the part
of any member of the present Congress?
First 1 will ask with reference to clerk
hire
"Well, could not say. / have not been
able to go over it and examine it"
Mr.. McCall-"Will you go over that docu-
ment?'
IT will If the committee desires me to go
through that document, and state whether,
in my judgment it contains anything to re-
fleet on congressman"
Mr.. Bristow added that this would take
him several months.
The Leases.
The lease section of the report was re-
ferred to, and the same question asked
with reference to criticism on members of
Congress. Mr.. Bristow said he had not in
mind any cases outside the three cases he
had prepared. He explained further that
in his report of the postal investigation,
dated October "a. he was not endeavoring
to ascertain whether member of Congress
had done proper or an improper act. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Bristow said:
What was endeavoring to investigate
was Mr.. Beavers. That report refers to the
methods of his administration, and in dis
GUESSING that 1t necessitated bringing in in
stances where members OF Congress had
made recommendations that he had allowed
where considered such allowances inn
proper. I did not consider 1t incumbent on
me to state whether a member Of Congress
had done anything improper or not.
simply set forth the facts. and drew my
administration. I think I clearly said that
on page 145 of my report"--here Mr.. Bris-
tow read: congressman. as rule, want
their constituents to have what they are
justly entitled to, and no more"
Continuing his testimony, Mr.. Bristow re-
marked: The responsibility of these allow
ances l placed entirely on the department.
II a member of Congress purposely or In
advertentiy makes a recommendation the
responsibility is in the department"
No Assaults on congressman.
There. seems too be MISREPRESENTATION
that have made an, assault on members
of Congress" continued Mr.. Bristow
That includes both houses interjected
Mr.. Mccall ,Tsdfs<s3 rs = 49,
Well. certainly never have" concluded
Mr. Bristow, used any language that
could be construct In shat way"
DO you know" asked Mr. Burton .sof
any case In this report Of improper conduct
with reference to lac making of leases on
the part of congfe. Snieng
II don't know OF any, but am not ia
miiiar with that report, so don't see that
can satisfactorily express myself with
reference to it.
Then you make the same answer with
regard to clerk hire as to leases?" asked
MIR. Mccall
YES sir
Dust