The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-23
Hearings Continued in BriStow
Report Matter
GOING INTO THE DETAILS
Waters, the Successor Of Beavers, Is
Asked About the History of List
Submitted to the
House.

Washington, March 22.-The Mccall
committee today continued its investiga-
ton of the indictment" of the members
of the house by the postoffice depart
ment.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne, Charles n. Waters, superintend-
emit of that division, were before the COM
mittee. Mr. Wynne was the first to be
heard.
After calling his attention to the print
ed list of names of congressman in the
special report. Chairman Mccall asked
Mr. Wynne what knowledge he had of
this report. In reply Mr.. Wynne said:
'The first knowledge the committee on
postoffces and postroads had of the ex-
made by Mr. Waters before the commit
tee in explanation of appropriations for
separating Service.
when this service was reached in the
hearing, the chairman or some member
of the committee asked Mr.. Waters how
many of these allowances had been dis
continued. He said there had been about
800 My recollection is that another ques-
ton asked was If there was a list of
these discontinued allowances, and he
answered that there was
Wynne Replies to Questions.
This. Mr.. Wynne said, was on January
H. Mr. Wynne said the next time the list
came to his attention was on January
25, when the postmaster general showed
him letter from Chairman Overstreet.
This letter requested all information
which could be communicated by the
fourth assistant postmaster general with
reference to allowances for clerk hire and
leases which had been made to members
of congress.
The postmaster general instructed Mr..
Wynne to procure the list.
Mr. Waters was sent for by Mr. Wynne.
He produced the list and Mr. Wynne said
he noticed it contained the names of sem
ators members of congress and others.
II called this to the attention of the
postmaster general" said Mr.. Wynne,
land on my statement that it would not
be right to couple the names of these
gentlemen with Beavers and Machen, he
agreed with me-
The names were eliminated and the list
sent to Mr. Overstreet without them
Mr.. Bartlett asked If this list was orig
inally prepared at the instance OF the
postoff1ee committee.
Mr.. Wynne answered the list was not
so prepared, it was in existence He add
ed that Mr.. Waters might answer that.
Waters Is Questioned.
Mr.. Waters was then questioned. He
is the successor of Mr.. Beavers as chief
of the salary and allowance division. He
was asked by Mr. Bartlett about the his
tory of the list.
Mr.. WI. ters said that on the first of No
vember, 1903, the chief postoffee inspec-
tor, Mr. Cochran, sent for him and told
him that on account of statements that
would be made in the Bristow report he
wanted to know how much work 1t would
be to get up list from the files of all
matters relating to reductions for sepa-
rating allowance. He asked to have the
statement to show whether the allow
ances when made was excessive. Mr..
Cochran was told this would entail
large amount OF work. Mr.. Cochran ask
ed If 1t was safe to say there was hun
bred such cases.
The answer was about 700 reductions
had been made Mr. Cochran said IL
Mr.. Waters did not want to volunteer
the information he would have the fourth
formation. Mr. Waters requested the let
ter. His recollection was that the letter
was later received though he put his
clerks at work to prepare the list at once.
The letter, however is not on file in his
papers and he concluded 1t was never re-
ceived The list prepared was up to No
vember 10, 1908.
Mr.. Richardson of Alabama questioned
Mr.. Waters to know if the impression
made on his mind by Mr.. Cochran that 1t
was a case of 100 cases wanted where
members of congress were mentioned.
THAT was the impression, although Mr..
Waters said Mr. Cochran was a fair man,
and he did not get the impression that
he wanted at least a 100 cases. This
list included 700 cases.
:, Later on he said the list did not bear o
date. there was an addition made to 1t
on account of the chief inspector which
run 1t up to $50 cases. Still another addi-
tion was made, and the chief Inspector
wanted to know If he was not about
through.
Was Constantly Accommodating.
Mr.. Waters replied to him that the rec
ord was constantly accommodating. There
was only one omission in the records at
Prestonburg, KY, where the files were
in the hands of an inspector. He believed
this list was substantially complete, and
Mr.. Water said he was responsible for its
correctness. Offices, however, might be
re-adiusted at any time. At the request
of Mr.. Bartlett the original list was pro-
duced and retained by the committee.
Mr.. Bartlett went over the ground
again with Mr. Waters to get his impress
sion for the reason Inspector Cochran
wanted the list in the first instance, and
asked: "They wanted the list of names of
congressman and wanted you to state II
there was 100 such cases?"
THAT is my recollection"
did he give you any reason?"
81 inferred from the conversation that
statement had been made or he was call
ed to make a statement about the number
of such cases and he wanted to know II
It was safe to say 1t. ! said that no one
could tell without referring to each and