The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-01-21
Advertising Rates.
CAN PETER EXPLAIN?

The notorious frauds which have been
developed in the postoffice department at
Washington have aroused the whole
country to the necessity of demanding
arigid Investigation Of this department,
bstadvices from Washington indicate
thatthe republican congressman will
strenuously oppose any further investi-
cation, and in many cases it is doubtless
through fear that they will be shown up
as being connected with the frauds.
The following special to the Chicago
Record Herald from Washington shows
their attitude on this question:
Washington, Jan. 5.-Two republican
representatives from Illinois, Prince
and Smith, and four other republicans,
Cooper and Minor, of Wisconsin, Young,
of Michigan and Wagner of Pennsyl-
vania, voted with the democrats today
in the House for congressional invest
igation of the charges made in the re-
port of Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow that members of Congress had
been discovered during the investiga-
ton of the postoffice frauds to have
violated the law by making contracts
for leasing property for postoflice pur-
poses and in other ways. This small
"insurgent" band was not sufficiently
strong numerically to give the demo-
Gratis control, and the republican ma
jority succeeded in pigeon-holing the
resolutions by having them referred to
the committee on postoffices and post
roads.
"The President blue-penciled Bris-
tow's report and gave out publicly his
endorsement of it," said Representative
Prince in explaining his vote. "They
call us insurgents because we voted
with the democrats, but if we are 'insur-
gents so must be the president. He
has demanded the fullest examination
and by sending to Congress the BristoN
report has given it his approval. II
contains serious charges against un.
named congressman, and believe Con
gress should purge itself. If any con
gressmen have been guilty of violating
the law in connection with the post
office scandals, the country should
know it and the congressman should be
punished"
Several months ago when there wa
an overhauling of the salary list of post
offices throughout the country, it wa!
found that at number of offices there
were allowances being made for deputy
hire greatly in excess of what the Law
provided for at second class Offices
One of the most fragrant violations wal
at the postoffice in Congressman Hep
burns home town, Clarinda, where i
was found that the deputy postmaste
was receiving salary of $1,000 pc
u year, $500 in excess of what the Law
allowed. The salary of the Clarind
postmaster is $4,000 per year, and tn
law says that the salary of the assistan
postmaster shall not exceed so per cen
of the salary of the postmaster, whic
would make the maximum salary Of tn
Clarinda deputy $1,000 per year.
: The fixing of salaries and allowance
; was in charge of Geo. w. Beavers, VIII
} suddenly resigned when the investigs
ton was started. 1t is said that h
is being made the scapegoat, and tina
the real facts in the case are that i
many instances he allowed the allege
salaries because congressman cam
to him and virtually demanded them 70
pets in their districts.
In the Clarinda case the deputy post
master, Mr.. James Brown, was specia
protege Of Congressman Hepburn an
when the Clarinda postmaster was az
pointed Congressman Hepburn made tn
request that Brown be retained. II
lagreed to do so, and at that time tn