New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-01
CONGRESSMEN ACCUSED.
P4YNE'S REPORT n BOMB.
Many Members Mentioned in Con-
acctiOn 5cith POstofce Scandal.
LTRoM - TRIRrNr rrRr.rl

jFRoM THE TRIBUNE BrREAU1
Washington, Feb. 29-Senators and Renresept
atives are aghast at the mischief wrought bv an
attempt on the part OF the House OF Representa-
uNes 10 clear its members Of even breath Of sus-
picion in connection with the Postofice scandal
and the Candor with which the Postmaster Cen
eral has responded to "A request for Information
The result OF this attempt is "a voluminous tocu-
ment thus FAR hidden among the secret archives
or the House Committee or Postoffices and Post
Roads. at the very mention of which some MEM
bers Of Congress show strange embarrassment
Just how sensational exposure Postmaster.
General Payne has submitted to the committee
l.. OF course. largely conjecture but the secrecy
surrounding this document which is known TO
furnish the names OF numerous members % both
houses OF Congress who have tn greater or
less extent laid themselves open TO criticism
leaves ample room for the most sensational
speculation. one member OF the House remarked
to-day. 1t was only an innocent little blun
but ten you the man who undertakes to fool
with that man Bristow is monkeying with a
buzz saw and this graphic description OF the
situation rortrays tho views Of more than one
member OF both houses.
on January Representative Hay. of Virginia
introduced n the House the following resolu-
ton and moNed it's adoption. His motion failed.
and the next day the mischevous resolution was
referred 10 tho Committee on Postoffces and
Post Roads. Mr.. Hays resolution reads:
Where's. Fourth Assistant Postmnster Gene f~l
SrsI dated or-5, r - qas ana thss Tsp9r, has
tcen transmitted 60 this House has charged that
ccIcd aud tho rsn, increased upon the recon-
incubation of influential Represeutatives ami
Whereas. ~ is charged iu tho same report
that ~ "a member "f Congress requested an in
FcaNors usually compiled. regardless Of tho merits
Whereas. CertaIn cases of an aggravated
rhaTaetgT r. ar cited @ 9n r]aEer ] i li and l5 II said
Whereas. on pag. rs NJ said report Il is
charged that memlers of congress have violated
Tho face of this statute Beavers has made
with members ~ Congress for the rental Of prem
Sees. either I'm their own name. the names Of flei-
agent or some member of their families aud
I'm eaid report reflect upon tho integrity ~ the
membership - this House and upon indi'idual
iioned Therefore be it
Resolved. T'hat the Speaker n, this House ap-
point a committee consisting Of Eve members -
this House 20 investigate said charges. that said
papers. 10 enforce tho production of same.
10 examine Witnesses under oath; TO have the as
sit during the sessions Of the House. and TO exer-
Csc Csc q iunGohs necesI} !" 20 % ~
said investigation as soon as practicable.
THE COMMITTEE IN \ DILEMMA.
Just what action the committee took has never
been reported to the House. and is known only
10 SIS members hut that It undertook TO find
out FOR itself what basis NJ. Br!stow had for
his structures. and that rs a result II has
white elephant on its hands-an elephant which
Il does not want to make public and hardly
dares 10 suppress-is indisputabIe fact Just
at present Mr.. Overstreet. chairman Of the COM
mittee. is i'll and confined to his room. and
while he Is convalescing the members OF the
committee hope to find some way out Of the
dilemma in which they find themselves.
The communication. which has been carefully
prepa red from the records Of the Postofice De-
partrent gives the name Of every Senator and
Representative I'm Congress who has leased
buildings to the government to be used for
postal purposes. who has pecuniary in
terest i'm buildings so leased. The report indi-
Gates that comparatively few have been guilty
Of this particular practice. which is distinct
violation Of the law and - punishable. on con-
yiction by a severe penalty. Until the report
has been made public the names OF those lmpli-
Gated in these transactions must be witSheld.
and will be divulged only after the fun COM
mittee authorizes such action.
There is considerable interesting speculation
as to the effect which full publicity will cause
No one can be found who is willing 10 admit
that there could have been any Intentional vio-
lation OF the law the part Of those named
in the report for IL is believed that. al
though such leases were made. the transactions
were based on pisinterpretation or a too lib
oial Interpretation Of the law.
The report also contains the name Of every
Senator and Representative who has recon-
mended Increase in the rental paid by the
government for buildings used for postal pur-
poses and in the clerk hire allowed "a long
list OF postofioes. From time immemorisl it
has been customary for members Of both
houses to make such recommendations, and this
practice has not been regarded as a violation
of the law or even as Of questionable proprety.
II the owner OF a building which had been
leased by the government for postal uses de-
sired an increased rental it was his custom TO
appeal TO his Senator or Representative TO pre-
sent the matter to the proper authorities. The
reconnle endatiOn Of the member of Congress has
frequently secured the desired increase. and IL
is this recommendation which has subjected
such transactions 10 criticism and investiga-
rinn