Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-03-18
BRISTOW TESTIFIESI
Assistant Postmaster General
Explains His Report.
QUESTION BRINGS IN ROOSEVELT
Practically Clears Members of the
House From Clerk Hire Charges.
objection Made to Bringing
the Presidents Name In.

TE~~fr = N
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow
in testifying before the house special
committee on the postoflice report
claimed for himself responsibility for
only the first seven pages of the re-
port which was sent to the postofiice
committee and said the other portions
of the document were the work of 9TH
er officials Of the department.
The clerk hire section, he said, was
sistant postmaster general and that
part relating to leases by inspectors
and others in his own department.
Mr.. Bristow's testimony threw con-
siderable light on all phases of the IN
quiry. He practically cleared mem
bers of congress from 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 an increase
had been recommended.
Representative Bartlett (Ga.) asked
General Bristow if in determining the
three cases which General Bristow
had reported himself as ''technical VIC
lations of the statutes he had not
found it necessary to review all of the
cases included in the report. The an
swer was that certain inspectors-a
half dozen - in his office had gone
through the lease cases and had Sc
lected those where it appeared from
the record an excessive rental had
been paid without proper reason, and
such cases were included in Il report
which was itself made the subject of
an investigation.
'''That report was made to you your
self" inquired Mr.. Bartlett.
Mr.. Mccall interrupted to ask wheth-
err the report before the committee was
not the work of at least some of these
same inspectors who made up the orig
inal cases which were afterward made
the subject Of investigation. This was
the case, replied Mr.. Bristow.
do you know whether or not this
report came directly from the hands
of the postmaster general without go
ing into some n else's hands for in
spection or perusal before it was sent
to the ~postoffice committee of the
houseY' asked Mr.. Bartlett.
Il don't know. / have been told, but
l have no knowledge of it," answered
Mr.. BristOw.
Have you ever had any conversa-
ton with the president that would
lead you to belieye"- asked Mr.. Bart
lett.
Il don't think you ought to ask that
question: interrupted Mr.. Burton. ut
is not within the scope of our investi-
CATION"
t"Well," broke in Mr.. Bartlett, eve
cannot get the president here, and
there have been hints in the newspa-
pers about this"
Ought we not to inquire into whose
hands 1t went?" asked Mr.. Richardson
of Alabama.
Il understood General Bristow to
say he did not know. 1t would be on
ly hearsay evidence" declared Chair
man Mccall.
Inc CollIllttee lucH went lilO cAccu-
tive session.
The questions of Mr.. Bartlett in
volving the president were not touch
ed on during the executive session of
the committee. Chairman Mccall said
the committee had begun to realize
that the task before it was larger than
at first anticipated.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day, when Mr.. Bristow will resume his
testimony.