The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
Chairman Demanded the
List of Names, He
Says
THAT lawful CAPTION
Public Printer likes What
ever Blame lSDue for
Word "Chages. "

-Four members of theMcCaH investi-
! eating committee of IN. House. which
is inquiring into the souce Of Mr.. Bris-
/ tow's charges concerning members"
yesterday visited the bdside of Post
master General Payne athis request and
obtained from him a stAement OF his
/ connection with the dat which was
/ sent 70 the House and hasbeen the sub
/ ject OF controversy
/ Mr.. Payne, by inferenc. at least,
/ places the responsibility Tor the fact
/ that the names of members Of Congress
/ have been associated with those of
/ Machen and Beavers in the matter of
/ clerk hire and leases for pOstofices in
| the data submitted, upon Chairman
| Overstreet, of the Committee on Post
/ offices and Post Roads. But for Mr.
/ Overstreet's demand for the names.
they would have been omitted. accord
ing 10 the statement Of Mr.. Payne
Typewriter Statement.
Owing to Mr Paynes illness. he was
not questioned by the committee. but
presented 20 them a typewriter state
ment which he had dictated TO his sec
retary. He states that shortly after the
present Congress convened, the depart
ment was frequently urged to make al
lowances for clerk hire in third and
fourth class offices. and that Assistant
Attorney General Robb advised him
that these allowances could not law
fully be made.
He discussed the matter with Mr..
Overstreet. and later the latter, who
had been advised by Mr. Waters, super
intendent OF the division Of salary ana
allowances. that there was a list IN the
department showing several hundred
Olnces where allowances had been dis
continued. requested that the list be
submitted 30 his committee.
Request in Writing.
Mr.. Payne says he asked Mr.. Over
to put the request In writing.
n he did, bat that this letter Mr.
street did not include in the public
II. He cid. however. include an
letter bearing upon the same sub
which Mr.. Payne says ''is largely
)onsible for the confusion that has
sen and has placed the department
the position of sending information
requested by the committee" This
precision, he said. Is stIll further ac-
ntuated by a change Of date made in
ie body Of another letter as printed IN
ne report from the Postmaster Gen
raj.
Mr. Payne says that upon the receipt
II the request, he procured from First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynue.
the list referred 10. and at his sUggeS-
ton omitted the names Of Congress
men. Accompanying the statement
showing the reduction in allowances for
clerk hire and fourth class Offices, Mr..
Payne sent q letter in which he said
the former allowances amounted 10
Sl62 $50, and the present allowances We're
S65.600 Mr. Payne called attention TO
he - & HrnHs HN.H a
in the report
List Not Satisfactory.
This list was rot satisfactory to Mr..
Overstreet. and 65r. Payne says. "As I
did not estimate it 10 be just or right
TO submit a list Of these Offices as
shown in that schedule with nothing
but the names Of members Of Congress
and others appended. without further
explanation. had an interview with
Mr.. Overstreet at which interview II
was agreed that the circumstances sur
rounding each case as they appeared on
the hles Of the department should BE-
briefly set forth"
Continuing. Mr Payne saws inforna-
uon was prepared in very great haste
and that IN order to expedite matters
Mr. OVeTstreet came 10 his residence ON
Sunday, saw a part Of the material and
expressed himself as entirely satisfied
with its form and substance" In con-
CluslOn, MI Payne says the testimony
in the case viii disclose the fact that
the department was being urged TO fur
nish this informa ton at the earliest pos
slble moment and an extra force of men
was employed to work nights and Sun
days in It's preparation" Mr. Payne
says ne thought the committee wanted il
I'm connection with the appropriation bill.
Will Yindicate Members.
The Mccall committee has also re-
ceiyed from Public Printer Palmer an
explanation Of the manner in which the
caption charges concerning members
came 10 be placed upon the pages Of the
Bristow report as first printed. Mr.
Palmer says the printing Office, follow
ing lis usual custom Of preparing cap
tlOns for all reports, wrote this one. and
maintains thaL IL was justified by the
wording OF the title page and also by
the language used in the Hay resolution,
which quoted from the original BristOW
report
The committee has now concluded its
evidence and will next week submit IT'S
report 10 the House. In short Il will
Elndlcate all members OF the House and
deal chiefly with the manner and pur-
poses or the preparation Of the data IN
which the names Of members Of Con-
gTess are mentioned.