Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-07
: NAOOENC[' N
POSTAL AFFAIRS
A New and Sensational Chapter
Of the Investigation Last
Summer Made Public
GRAFT AMONG coNeREssMEN
Over 1eo Gases Of Direct and Indirect
Violation Of the Law In Relation
To Rental of Buildings. Securing of
Raise In Salaries, Clerk Hire-De-
tails Of Some of the Cases.

Washington March 7.-Another
chapter in the postoffice investigation
of last summer was revealed today
when Chairman Overstreet of the house
committee on postoffices and postroads
laid before the house of Representatives
q closely printed document of 21s
pages reco,lnting the instances on file
In the postoffice department In which
members OF the senate and house OF
have used their "in-
fuence" with the officials of the post
Office department, with more or less
success, to secure increases in salaries
of 7ostmasters, additional clerkhire,
for postoffIce purposes.
The report is made by the unanimous
vote OF the members Of Mr.. Over
streets committee, In response to a
resolution calling for the information
introduced by Representative Hay,
of, Virginia AS tie information
accompanies the report. the commit
tee recommends that the resolution lay
on the table. Action was postponed
until Wednesday.
Some OF the transactions involving
members of congress recorded in the
report are held to be technical viola
tions of the statutes. others are pro-
nounced by members who have read
the report as clearly censurable, while
in the majority OF cases it is held that
members in making their recommends
tions to the department, expected noth-
ing not In harmony with the rules and
.ces Of the department.
s1Affae cases are set forth III which
members of congress own buildings
which are leased to the government for
postofice purposes
The details of these cases are given
by Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Bristow in communication to
Chairman Overstreet as follows:
Section 3739 Of the revised statutes
provides:
mo member of or delegate to con-
sress shall directly or indirectly, him
self, or by any other person In trust
for him, or for his-use or benefit or
on his account undertake, execute.
hold or enjoy, in whole or in part, any
contract or agreement made or entered
into In behalf OF United States by any
officer OF. person authorized to make
contracts on behalf of the United
States.
"All contracts or agreements made
in violation of this section shall be
void
Yet in the face of this statute, Dea-
vers has made contracts with mem
bers of congress for the rental OF
premises, either in their own names,
the names of their agents, or some
member of their families.
"Gene.,eo. N. Y.--The postoffice at
this place was located in 1886 owned by
Hon. j. w. Wadsworth. At that time
Mr.. Wailsworth was not a member OF
congress-. 1t was advanced from third
to second class July |. 1901. While It
was a third class office no contract
was made for the lease of the building,
but the postmaster was allowed S29O
r}er AMMAN for rent, with an allowances
of $50 for fuel and light, making $3.50
in all. When the office became second
class a lease was made. dating from
Oct. /, 1901. At this time Mr. Wads-
worth was a member of congress. The
building. was improved to comply with
the requirements of the department for
a second class office the annual rent
al was fixed at $3.50 including equip
ment, heat and light. The proposal
was made by w. l.. S. Olmstead, who
is said TO be the agent of Mr.. Wads-
worth. The property stood in the lat
ter's name Sept. %, 1908. 1t does not
appear from the report of the inspect
ors and information secured by the
department that the rental is exces-
sive or that the allowance is in any
way more than should have been made.
"I.awrence, Kas-The postoffice
premises at this place We're leased from
Hon. j. D. Bowersock many years
prior to his election as member of
in 1898, at an annual rental
of $1,5)0. That lease expired April i,
1900. On Dec, 49, 1899. Mr.. Bowersock
submitted a proposal to renew the
lease for term OF five years at same
with officials of the ,irst assistant post
master generals Office, Mr.. Bowersock
withdrew his proposal, submitting one
from his daughter, Mrs. Hortense b.
Hill. and the lease was executed In hef
name On terms before mentioned. The
record shows the title to premises IN
question was vested in Mr.. Bowersock.
The annual rental IS the same that it
was for many years before Mr. Bower
sock vas elected to congress. and
the postoffice has been located where
it now is for about thirty years
station A., Winsted, Conn.-The
postof.ice premises at this point arr.
owned by Hon. George l.. Lilly. NJ q,
Original lease, which was made befora
Mr.. Idlley was elected to congress,
expired Auril /. 1908. The entire block
in which the office is located was then
leased by Mr. Lillsy 10 Charles >.
NewcDmb and the lease 10 the post
office department was made In his
name, though the title to the block be-