The San Francisco call., 1904-03-18
BRISTOW
GIVES HIS
TESTIMONY
Tells Of Preparation
Of POStOffiCe
Report.
Says He Is Responsible Only
for First Seven Pages
Of Document.
Promises TO Submit Confidential Ex-
hibitS to Members of Committee
for Inspection.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow,
in testifying before the House Special
Committee on the Postoffice Report, to-
day claimed for himself responsibility
for only the first seven pages Of the
report which was sent to the Postof
fee Committee, and said the other
portions Of the document were the
work OF other officials Of the depart
ment.
The clerk hire section, he said, was
prepared in the Office OF the First As
sistant Postmaster General. and that
part relating 10 leases by inspectors
and others in his own department
Bristow's testimony threw much
light on all phases Of the inquiry. He
practically cleared members OF Con-
gress from wrongdoing touching the
clerk hire section Of the report by
stating that it was the duty Of the
First Assistants Office to ascertain the
condition Of the work in an Office where
en increase had been recommended.
Bristow was asked how the special
report was made up. In reply he said
that on January p Of this year the
Postmaster General referred to him
the letter from Overstreet which ap-
pears in the report. He personally pre-
pared the statement contained on pages
and and transmitted it to Over
street with the letter appearing on
pages 6 and :, which was sent by mes
In answer 10 this Overstreet wrote
the Postmaster General asking for ad-
ditional information.
DID NOT PREPARE REPORT.
The first information referred to is
that concerning the lease cases OF
Representatives Wadsworth Of New
York, Lilly Of Connecticut and Bower
sock Of Kansas. The second letter re-
cited that there were a number of
cases where illegal and improper al
lowances were made" and that It
would require time TO make a compila-
ton. II also stated that there were
many cases where the rents Of postof-
fees had been increased over the
amount called for in the leases.
The night Of January 25, Bristow
said. he was taken sick with the grin
and he had been unable to be in his
office until last Monday. March IA.
I had nothing further personally
10 do with the matter" continued Bris-
tow. Il am informed that the Post
master General asked that the office
Of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General prepare the information asked
for, and that it was prepared by in
spectors and turned over TO the Post
master General by the chief inspector. '
DO you know whether or not this
report came directly from the hands OF
the Postmaster General without going
into some one else's hands for inspec.
ton or perusal before it was sent tc
the Postoff5ce Committee Of the
HOuse2" asked Bartlett
4 don't know. ] have been told. but
have no knowledge of it, answered
Bristow.
TRYING TO TRACE REPORT.
Have you ever had any conversation
with the President that would lead yor
TO believe SOP" asked Bartlett.
i don't think you ought to ash
that" interrupted Burton. 1T was not
within the scope Of our Investigation
We'll" broke in Bartlett. I'VE can.
not get the President here. and there
have been hints in the newspapers
about this"
ought not we to inquire into whose
hands it went?" asked Richardson o,
Alabama.
Il understand General Bristow f.
say he did not know. 1t could be only