New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-29
OTERSTREET 4 FITNESS.
He Tells HO5c 'PayHe's List #
Criminals Has Made Public.


Washington. March 2S.-The Mccall postofHce
investigating committee met in open session az
o'clock to-day to continue its hearings on
the charges concerning members report re-
garding their connection with postofice leases
and increases in clerk hire.
Representative Overstreet. chairman OF the
House COMMITTEES on Post Offices and Post
Roads. testified that the original Bristow re-
port. dealing with the general investigation %
the Postoftce Department. had been referred 10
subcommittee. In January the Hay resou-
tion calling for additional information was re-
ferred 10 this subcommittee Of which he was
chairman. While this committee was consider
ing the Postofice Appropriation bill. the Hay
resolution was brought up. Acting with his as
sociates Mr.. Overstreet requested from the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General details re-
gardiug property leased 70 the government
which was owned by members Of Congress. In
the hearings on the Post0tice Appropria tior biII
NGr. Waters. chief Of the salary and allowance
division. referred a list. which included the
names Of members Of Congress. regarding clerk
hire. which. he said. was on the file Of the
Fourth Assistant
knowing that clerk hire was under the First
Assistant and. hearing that this list was on
file with the Fourth Assistant. Mr. Overstreet
said that the subcommittee inferred that this
list had been a subject Of investigation. It was
suggested that a letter be written from the COM
mittee TO the Postmaster General asking for this
information. MIR Overstreet dictated this letter
on January - It was read 10 the committee
before being sent, and asked for the informa-
tion regarding clerk hire and leases.
He had never had any communication with
Mr.. Bristow the subject. but had called on
the Postmaster General at his hotel regarding
the information.
the safe of the sergeant t-et-arms of the House.
Members of the committee examined the report
several times. In the mean time Mr. Hay was
pressing for a conclusion regarding mis- resOlu-
tiOu.
Mr. Overstreet said he was working for a
unanimous report from the committee % have
the report laid on the table in the House and
not published. Mention of the report was made
I'm a New-YOrk paper. Mr. Overstreet asserted
that the information used by the paper did not
come from any member of the committee. This
publication he said was entirely wrong but fr
did have a vital effect on members, who thought.
in view OF the exaggerated report IN the paper.
that the real facts ought to be printed because
after that publication there always would be Il
controversy to whether the committee was
really suppreSsirg something that was a serious
reflection ON members. IL was not until after
this publication that the Subcommittee took
formal action and reported the full com
mittee. When the fun committee had acted
Mr. Overstreat received advance copies from the
report had been received and distributed in the
House that il was discovered that % the head OF
each page was the following line,
Charges Against Members Of Congress
He at once ordered the Public Printer TO take
that line of.
Mr.. MCDermott said that the line was iustf-
fed by the contents of the report.
Mr.. Overstreet said he old not think the word
ing justified or that there was anything I'm
the report written b. the committee to Justify
that headline.
Il for one do not find any objection 20 the
sUbCaptiOn." declared Mr.. McDermott He sug-
gested that the original manuscript and proof
he sent for TO determine this question.
Mr.. Richardson asked Mr.. Overstreet H. in
his conversation with Postmaster Genera
Payne. the latter had suggested the iuprOprtety
Of publishing the names OF members I'm counec-
tion with this matter.
Nothing was said on this point. Mr.. Overstreet
replied.
The original manuscript OF the report WAS
produced. and Mr.. MCDermOtt. after examining
II. said that the line charges concerning mem
bers Of Congress" did not appear In it, and
must have had its origin in the Government
Printing Ofice
Mr.. Mccall informed Mr.. Overstreet that Mr.
Wynne. the First Assistant Postmaster General.
had testified that list was prepared first with
OUT the names OF members. and this list was
objected 20 BY the POstOfiCe COMMITTEES and
names were demanded.
I made no such request" said Mr.. over
street.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Overstreet'z tazti-
mony the committee went into executive sas-
sion