Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-22
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. J
Washington, March p.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, March p.
The Mccall committee, charged by
the House with an investigation of the
connection of members Of Congress with
the Postoffice Department, today con-
tinued its examination of department Of
fcials. First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Wynne, Charles NJ. Walters, who
succeeded Beavers as chief of the division
of salaries and allowances, and Charles
P. Granfeld, assistant superintendent OF
salaries and allowances, were present to
shed light on the authorship of the now
famous BristOw report. Gen. Wynne was
asked who made out the list relating to
clerk hire allowances. "The first know
ledge of the discontinuance of allowances
about 900 in all, came to the House
postoffice committee through Mr.. Waters
on Jan. H." he said. The next | heard
Of it was when the. Postmaster General
handed me on Jan. the letter of Chair
man Overstreet asking for that list. l
sent for Mr.. Waters and directed him
TO bring it to me. He called my atten-
lion to the fact that it contained the names
of members of Congress and that it was
queer document to send to Congress, |
talked it over with the Postmaster
General, and we agreed that their
names ought not to be coupled with
Beavers and Machen because they
had not done nothing wrong.
As there was no request in Mr.. Over
streets letter for names" Gen. Wynne
continued, 81 suggested that we leave
the names out. The Postmaster General
said that was a good idea, and ordered
Waters to prepare the list for Congress
with the names Of members omitted
The list was made ready, and handed
it to the Postmaster General. He said
ne would forward it to the committee.
The next day he told me that the list
was not satisfactory the committee
wanted more detailed information. He
showed me letter from Mr.. Oyerstreet
to that effect. He then assigned that
part of the letter referring to separating
allowances to me; the part on leases to
TIE Fourth Assistant, Mr.. Bristow. My
part of the work was about one-third
completed through Mr.. Waters on Sat
urday, January 80, and that part of it
was sent to the Postmaster General at
the Arlington Hotel that night. He
told me on Monday that he had shown
it to Mr.. Overstreet and that that was
what he wanted. 1t contained the
names" The original list, shown the
postofice committee on January 18th,
Mr. Wynne explained, was not prepared
at the committees request. That list
was prepared for the Fourth Assistant.
Attorney General Knox announced
after the cabinet meeting this afternoon
that there had been no hitch in the prog
ress of arrangements for the transfer of
the Panama canal property to the United
States, and that Assistant Attorneys
General Day and Russell would leave
for Paris tomorrow to complete the de-
tails. The newly organized Panama
commission met today for the first time
in the offices of the old commission in
the Corcoran building. All the members
we're present and Admiral Walker pre-
sided. After the business session at
which there was only a general discus
sion of plans, the commissioners adjourn
ed to the White House where they were
entertained by the President at luncheon.
They will sail for the isthmus in body
March 20.
Extensive arrangements are being
made for the opening of the Bennings
race track on Thursday. A large num-
Der of fine horses have been entered.
The House committee on arts and ex-
positions today by unanimous vote, de-
cided to report a substitute for the Sen
ate bill providing for the participation
of the government of the United States
in the Lewis and Clark exposition at
Portland, Oregon, in 1905. Whereas
the Senate bill proposed an appropria-
ton Of 81, $50, 900, the substitute adopt
ed by the House committee today pro-
poses to limit the total appropriation to