The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-03-18
AN INVESTIGATION
MADE NECESSARY
Congressman Fordney has De.
cided Views on the Bris-
tow Case.
CHARGES ARE MISLEADING.
Bristow's Report Reflects Unjustly
on Representatives and Senators
No Wrong Doing.

no wrong DONG.
From the Saginaw Courier Herald.
Congressman Fordney arrived home
from Washington, Thursday night,
called here by some business matters.
He will make flying trip and will
probably leave for Washington tonight
or Monday.
He was in his usual good spirits
when seen at his Office in the Merrill
block yesterday, and chatted freely for
q few minutes about matters of personal
and public concern. On Tuesday he
met President Roosevelt, and had an in
teresting talk. The president, has de-
cided that it will be impossible for him
to attend the celebration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the birth of the Republi-
can party Under the Oaks at Jackson,
July 6, but Mr.. Fordney hopes he will
be represented by member of his cab
met. Mr.. Fordney said he was detain-
ed in Washington for a short time after
he had expected to come home because
of his bill to secure American registry
for the English built ship Mira, now
owned by Frank w. Gilchrist of Alpena.
The bill passed Tuesday.
THE BRIsTow REPORT.
Mr. Fordney was asked about the re-
suit of disqualification of Assistant Post
master General Bristows report He
said the preparing of the report was
necessary, and according to the request
of the postmaster general The embody-
ing of the report in the congressional
committees report left no other reason
able course than to appoint a congress
-sional committee to investigate the
whole matter The report charges Isl
members of the house and senate with
securing appropriations by undue in
huence.
81 believe" he said, chat not one Of
the 191 is guilty of any wrong, but the
language of the report has been made
public and the full facts should be
known. No one who is guilty should
escape. shall have copy of the re-
port and l will give it to the Courier
Herald. 1t contains my letters and the
answers to my letters relative to in
creased postoffice rents for the postoffices
at Chesaning, Durand, Elsie, Mayville,
and Burt.
'In brief Mr.. Bristow's charge is that
the rents asked and obtained are in ex
cess of the amount allowed by law for
postoffices having the receipts of these
Offices My letters and the replies are
free from any suspicion of anything
wrong, more than that the matter
passed through the department of which
Mr.. Bristow is the head, the department
that certainly should have known the
law and the department where all the
reports were filed showing exactly what
the business of these Offices was. Some
of them have r. f. d. departments con-
nected with them. These departments
require additional room. They were
new departments. At Chesaning the
post Office quarters were made modern
in every particular, good fixtures were
put in. vault was furnished for the
post office and the rent was reasonable.
The department was in possession of all
the facts relative to the business of the
Office. The proposition l recommended
was for FIVE year lease and the depart
ment made ten ears lease.
NO WRONG DOING AT ALL.
OF course the report of Mr.. Bristow
and the newspaper publications raise the
suspicion that there is something wrong
and makes the giving of facts, perhaps
in form of explanation, necessary. but
in my opinion not one of the 1911 repre-
sentatives and senators named can be
connected with any intentional or actual
wrong.
GA bill of some Importance that has
just passed provides that government
supplies and provisions carried between
the United States and her insular posses
sions shall be carried in American bot
toms, English and French vessels now
enjoy large portion of this trade. The
first effects may be to increase slightly
the carrying charges but the money will
remain at home, and American ship
building will be encouraged.
81 am entirely satisfied with thestime
fixed for holding the congressional con-
vention. 1t is matter that might as
well be disposed of soon. If am hon
ored with the denomination shall go in
to win, but whether or someone else
gets it, the early convention will leave
the candidate free to attend to his own
business until the opening of the work.
ing campaign"