The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-03-25
bristol IAIN ]
! ]. POSTAL REPORT | { !
DECLARES NO ASSAULT ON MEM
BERs OF CONGRESS WAS
Z, EVER INTENDED.

g.t. , .EaS q
ANSWERS QUESTIONS
OF M4cALL COMMITTEE
Information Requested Of Fourth A.:
sistant Postmaster General Rs-:
garding Clerk Hire Allowance,
Other Testimony. - 1E..s
washington, March 22.-The Mccall
committee Monday continued investiga-a
ton of the report of the post ONCE de-
.partment concerning congressman
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow continued his testimony. First
Assistant Postmaster General zWynne
also was present. Mr.. Burton asked Mr.
Bristow IL the clerk hire allowances nee
were not made according to secret reg
ulation in the post Office department.
There is a schedule, understand,
replied Mr.. Bristow, lin the first assist
ants office that is confidential, upon
which these allowances are based.
would not want to say that Mr.. Beavers
in the administration of that once,
made these allowances in accordance.
with those regulations. think that ne
made them according to his own pleas:
ure." - s..~...
Mr.. Mccall asked If any congressman
knew what that secret rule was. - =
II don't know anything about that
was Mr.. Bristow's response. 1T Is not
in my own bureau and could not say
I was informed by the first assistant Fri
day that it was accessible to members
Of congress" .J q
Mr.. Bristow did not know whether In !.
actual practice members Of congress
ever had been informed about this Sc
cret test. He suggested that the first as
sistant would be able to give, more
satisfactory answer.
= Rent of .fourth-class offices, it was
explained by Mr.. Bristow, was limited
by law to a maximum of $500 a year.
and an allowance of $50 for fuel and
light. 81
The Brownlow Case.
Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama, took up
the case at Johnson City, Tenn. He out
lined the increase in population In the
town, including the establishment OF
soldiers home and asked If Mr.. Bristow
did not think the rent increase from
$500 to $500 was justifiable, and that Mr..
Brownlow was justified in making the
request for the increase.
Does that look suspicious?" asked
Mr.. Richardson. -.
1T would all depend upon the facts
whether anyone else had 4 building
that they wanted to rent to the govern
ment," Mr.. Bristow replied. - @-.-@ g. =
Nr. Bristow Explains.
The lease section Of the report was
later referred TO- Mr.. Bristow said he
had not in mind any cases outside the
three cases he had prepared. He ex-
planned further that in his report Of the
postal investigation, dated October "a,
he was not endeavoring to ascertain
whether member of congress had done
proper or improper act. Continuing,
Mr.. Bristow said:
what was endeavoring to inves-
tigate was Mr.. Beavers. That report
refers to the methods of his administra-
ton, and in discussing that it necessi-
tated bringing in instances where MEM
bers of congress had made recon-
mendations- that he had allowed where
considered such allowances improper.
did not consider it incumbent on me
to state whether member of congress
had done anything improper or not. I =
simply set forth the facts and drew my
conclusion with reference to Mr. Beav-
er's administration. think clearly =
said that on page AS of my report"
Here Mr.. Bristow read: "Congressmen.
as rule want their constituents to
have what they are justly entitled to and
no more" -
!. Continuing his testimony, Mr.. Bris-
tow remarked: "The responsibility of
these allowances l placed entirely on
the department. If a member of con-
gress purposely or inadvertently makes
a Recommendation, the responsibility is >
in the department" W .-,.,...
No Assault Intended,
There seems to be q .misapprehen-
sion that I have made an assault on Z
members of congress-" continued Mr.
Bristow. ~, , T.. -
"That includes both houses?' inter-
jected Mr.. Mccall. -
well, I certainly never have" con-
cluded Mr.. Bristow, fused any language
that could construed in that way"
Mr.: McDermott ceL& alluded the investi-
cation of Mr. Bristow by asking num-
Der Of questions regarding the Official
duties Of the fourth assistant. -
At 1910 o'clock the committee went
into executive session and adjourned at
two p. m. .....*. y
- Another Iunchinn =. - -