The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-18
.DRISTOW APPEARS
BEFORE COMMITTEE
Is Asked Particularly About
Source of Information
EXHIBITS KEPT SECRET
They Were Used, However, In Making
Up Report Sent to the House
and Would Be Sub
mitted.
EXHIBITS KEPT SECRET

postoftice investigating committee today.
The committee was in executive session
during the time General Bristow was
present.
Mr.. Bristow was asked particularly how
the committee was to get possession of
certain personal exhibits connected with
his reports on the postoffice inyestiga-
ton These exhibits have been kept secret
because of their bearing on the pending
prosecutions. They were used in making
Up the report touching members that was
submitted to the house. Mr. bristow told
the committee the reports would be sub
mitted to it for confidential inspection.
TIE first open session of the committee
began at 2 o'clock with Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Brstow on the stand.
Every member OF the committee was pres
ent but the proceedings were delayed in
waiting for General Bristow, who was
three-quarters of an hour late.
Personally Prepared Statement.
Mr.. Bristow stated that he had been
fourth assistant postmaster general for
seven years. He was asked how the special
report was made up. In reply he said
that on January p, of this year, the
postmaster general referred to him the
letter from overstreet, which appears in
The report He personally prepared the
statement contained ON pages four and
five, and transmitted it to Mr. Overstreet
with the letter appearing on pages six and
seven, which was sent by messenger on
the forenoon of January %.
In answer to this Mr.. Overstreet wrote
the postmaster general asking for addi-
tiona information.
The first information referred to is that
concerning the lead cases of ReplN IN
tatives Wadsworth of New York. VI "
of Connecticut, and Bowersock of w
sas. The second letter recited that thar
was a number of cases where illegal and
improper allowances were made and
that it would require time TO make a COM
pilation. 1t also stated that there were
many cases where the rents of postoffices
had been increased, the amount called for
| In the leases.
The night of January Is, Mr.. Bristow
said, he was taken sick with the grippe
and had been unable to be in his office I'M
Ill last Monday, March IA.
Nothing to Do With 1t.
81 had nothing further personally to
do with the matter" continued Mr.. Bris-
general asked that the office of the fourth
assistant postmaster general prepare the
| information asked for and that it was
prepared by inspectors and turned over
to the postmaster general by the chief
| inspector"
AS to clerk hire he said his information
was the information prepared at the Of
flee of the first assistant postmaster.
Have you since investigated this list
of names?"
mo, l have not. at least not until today
at noon." answered Mr.. Bristow. II was
informed that ir making II up there might
have been omissions. l have not any cases
in mind, but l could investigate, of
course"
do I understand that Mr. Waters. in
charge of the office stated that he had
made complete LIST"
eThere might have been cases prior to
| April J. 1903 answered Mr. Bristow.
Asked why the date April 1, 1903. was
used Mr.. Bristow said 1t was because
that was the date of Beavers resgna-
| ton.
Asked Wynn About 1t.
In regard to the secret method used
by the department to ascertain the
amount of clerlShire to which an office
was entitled. Mr.. Bristow said he had
asked first assistant Postmaster Gem
eral Wynee about this today, and Mr..
Wynne had said the method was not
made known to the public, but If a mem
Der of congress made inquiry, he was
shown the method.
Taking up the question of leases, Mr..
Mccall after an explanation of the case
relating to Manhattan, Kansas in con-
nectlon with which Representative Cal
derheads name was mentioned. Mr.. Nc
Call asked If the increased amount Sc
cured was not for furniture.
Furniture was provided for in the ORR
ginal lease" was the answer.
Mr. Mccall asked if there was any adj
ditonal information to be had concern
Ing the case at Genesee. N V, with
which Representative Wadsworth's name
was mentioned.
There was substantially none, was the
| answer.
| AS to the Lawrence. Kan, case involv-
ing Representative Bowersock's name. it
developed that there had been a reduc-
ton in the rent of this office some time
prior to Mr.. Bowersocks election to con-
gress.
There was no additional information re-
garding the Winsted, Conn, case, involv-
ing the name of Representative Illey.
Tuskegee Case Asked About.
The Tuskegee, Ala, case. involving the
| name of Representative Thompson. was
did not personally know the details of
| this case
In answer to Chairman Mccall and Rep
| resentative McDermott Mr.. Brstow said
he knew OF none other than these four
cases in which the statute might have
been violated
THAT is" he continued, mo other such
cases touching members of the present
members of congress-
| Mr.. MeDermott asked a line of ques-
| tons to develop the responsibility for i'm
proper clerk hire allowances in fourth
class offices.
| Mr. Bristow said he was not the GUS
| todian of fourth-class offices as to inspec-
| ton or allowances.
do you mean that 1t was no concern
of yours. offieially?"
well, 1t depends upon what you mean
| by concern" answered Mr.. Bristow
"Such increases are determined only by
| the first assistant postmaster general, and
| he alone was responsible for these in
| creases."
The committee adjourned until Monday
when Mr.. Bristow will resume his testi-
| mony.
Begin Boring for OH.