The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1904-03-24

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Information Requested 81 Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Re-
garding Clerk Hire Allowance
Other Testimony.
Washington, March 22.--The Mccall
committee Monday continued inTestiga-
ton Of the report Of the post ONCE de-
partment concerning congressman.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow continued his testimony. First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne
also vas present. Mr.. Burton asked MI.
Bristow If the clerk hire allowances
were not made according to secret reg
ulation in the post Office department.
There is a schedule, I understand"
replied Mr.. Bristow, I'm the first assist,
ants office that is confidential, upon
which these allowances are based.
would not want to say that Mr.. Beavers
in the administration of that Office.
made these allowances in accordance
with those regulations. think that he
made them according to his " pleas
ure."
Mr.. Mccall asked, II any congressman
knew what that secret rule was. +
Il don't know anything about that"
was Mr.. Bristow's response. 1T is not
in my own bureau and I could not say.
I was informed by the first assistant Fri
day that it was accessible to members
Of congress-"
Mr.. Bristow did not know whether in
actual practice members of congress
ever had been informed about this Sc
cret test. He suggested that the first as
sistant would be able to give a more
satisfactory answer.
Rent Of ~fourth-class offices, 1t was
explained by Mr.. Bristow, was limited
by law to a maximum of $500 a year,
and an allowance of $50 for fuel and
light.
The Brownlow Case.
Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama, took up
the case at Johnson City, Tenn. He out
lined the increase in population in the
town, including the establishment of a
soldiers home, and asked II Mr.. Bristow
did not think the rent increase from
5000 to $500 was justifiable, and that Mr..
Brownlow was justified in making the
request for the increase.
Does that look su%spicious?" asked
Mr.. Richardson.
1T would all depend upon the facts
whether anyone else had a building
that they wanted to rent to the govern
ment," Mr.. Bristow replied.
Mr.. Bristow Explains. (,
The lease section of the report wa,
later referred to. Mr.. Bristow said he
/ had not in mind any cases outside the
three cases he had prepared. He ex.
planned further that in his report Of the
i postal investigation, dated October "a
he vas not endeavoring to ascertain
whether a member Of congress had done
a proper or improper act. Continuing
Mr.. Bristow said:
What l was en%deavoring to inves.
tigate was Mr.. Beavers. That repor,
refers to the methods of his administra-
ton, and in discussing that it necessi.
: tated bringing in instances where mem.
bers of congress had made recon.
mendations that he had allowed where
considered such allowances improper.
| did not consider it incumbent on me
to state whether a member Of congress
had done anything improper or not. /
simply set forth the facts and drew my
conclusion with reference to Mr.. Beav.
er's administration. l think I clearly
said that on page 145 of my report
Here Mr.. Bristow read: congressman
as a rule want their constituents to
have what they are justly entitled to and
no more"
Continuing his testimony, Mr.. Bris.
tow remarked: THE responsibility OF
these allowances I placed entirely on
the department. II a member Of con.
gress purposely or inadvertently makes
a recommendation, the responsibility IL
In the department"
No Assault Intended.
There seems to be 4 misapprehen.
sion that have made an assault on
members Of congress-" continued Mr..
Bristow. d
That includes both houses?" inter.
jected Mr.. Mccall.
Well, | certainly never have" con-
cluded Mr.. Bristow, fused any language.
that could be construed in that way"
Mr. McDermott concluded the investi-
cation of Mr.. Bristow by asking a num-.
Der Of questions regarding the official
duties Of the fourth assistant. !.
At 1910 O'Clock the committee went
into executive session and adjourned at,
two p. m.
Another Lynching.
Houston, Tex, March 2%2.-John May
nard, a negro, was found hanging to a
xn1er~orh ~ofn 3Nfnn Al - ~ NFo.A-.~s.