The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-23

georgia Congressman lie Resisting
the Effort of the Republicans to
Minimize the ROttenness of the
POstomce Department-He Wants
10 Fix the Responsibility for the
Report That "Indicts" Members of
Congress.
By r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, March 22.-Representa-
tive Bartlett is ably and effectively re-
sisting the attempt of the Republican
administration to smother the post
office scandals growing out of the
''fatherless" Bristow report. The mem
Der from the Sixth district is causing
the Republican members of the Smell
ing Committee no end of political ag-
ony by his daring manipulation of the
investigating problem.
Under rigid cross-examination by
Mr.. Bartlett the fact was brought out
before the. committee to-day that the
notorious Bristow report was prepared
at the instance of Postmaster General
Payne. There is no telling how much
higher the report might have been
traced had not Mr.. Bartlett been re-
strained somewhat by the rulings of
Chairman Mccall. who apparently does
not relish the unpleasant task assign
ed him.
While First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne and Mr.. Waters. VINO
succeeds Beavers as chief of the sal
airy and allowance division. were un-
der examination. Mr.. Bartlett scored
heavily against the Republican side
of the controversy. For the first time
the statement was made that the Bris-
tow report. which no one seems willing
to father, was called for by Chief POST
| office Inspector Cochran long before
the House Postoffice Committee took
action on the resolution of Hay of vir-
ginia, to investigate the postoffice
scandal. 1t was stated that Inspector
Cochran, claiming to be acting under
direction of Bristow, called upon the
salary and allowance division for a de-
tailed statement from the records,
which would sustain a charge made
that at least one hundred members of
Congress were involved in questionable
allowances to postrnasters.
At Instance of BristOw.
1t was shown that the reflections on
members of Congress were prepared
originally at the instance of the fourth
assistant postmaster general. and final
ly delivered to Postmaster General
Payne at the Arlington Hotel. Sub
sequently Representative Overstreet,
chairman of the Postoffice Committee.
called on the Pestoffice Department for
certain information in connection with
the Hay resolution. Then it was that
the objectiOnal report-previously pre-
pared was copied and sent to Con-
gress. 10
Mr. Bartlett is determined to fasten
the responsibility for the Bristow re-
port where it properly belongs, If the
witnesses to be called tell the whole
truth. ST. itn. rps
| ~ The Mccall committee to-day con-
tinued its investigation of the 'indict-
n1ent of members of the House by the
Postoflce Department.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne and Charles N Waters,
superintendent of the salaries and al
lowance division, were the witnesses
Mr.. Wynne was asked about his know
ledge of the list of Congressman in the
report. Mr.. Wynne said the list came
to his attention when the Postmaster
General showed him a letter from
Chairman Overstreet, asking for in
formation as to clerk hire and leases
made to members of Congress. The
Postmaster General instructed Mr..
Wynne to procure the list. Mr.. Waters
produced the list and Mr.. Wynne
said he noticed that 1t contained the
names of senators. members of Con-
gress and others.
Il called this to the attention of the
Postmaster General" said Mr. wynne."
and 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.
The next day the Postmaster General
informed Mr.. Wynne that this was not
satisfactory and the Overstreet letter.
asking for detailed information, was
read Acting under orders from the
Postmaster General the preparation of
the printed list was begun. When
number of cases had been prepared
they were submitted to the Postmaster
General and by him to Mr.. Overstreet.
This was exactly what was wanted, he
was told The work was completed
Feb. and transmitted to Mr. Over
street the next day. The list contained
the names of members and was the list
published in the report.
Was Already Prepared.
Mr.. Bartlett asked If this list was
originally prepared at the instance of
the Postoffice Committee.
Mr.. Wynne answered that the list
was not so prepared. it was in OK
istence. He added that Mr.. Waters
might answer that. t1
Mr.. Waters said the list was orginal-
~ prepared at the instance of Chief
Postoffice Inspector Cochran and Mr..
Bristow, who wanted to know how
many reductions had been made in
separating allowances.
MFR. Cochran asked IL II was safe to
say there were a hundred such cases.
The answer was that about 700 reduc-
lions had been made.
Mr.. Bartlett went over the ground
with MIR. Waters 10 get his impression
of the reason Inspector Cochran want
ed the list in the first instance, and
asked: They want the list of the
names of congressman. and wanted you
to state If it was safe TO say there were
100 such cases2"
That is my recollection"
did he give you any reason?"
II inferred from the conversation
that a statement had been made or he
was called upon to make a statement