The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-29
OVERSTREET TEST|F|ES
BEFORE HOUSE PR0bERS
Explains How the Bristow "Influ-
ence' Report Was Secured
from Mr.. Payne.
EXCEPTION TO HEADING

WASHINGTON, March 2S-The Mccall
postoffice investigation committee met in
open session at clock to-day to continue
its hearings on the charges concerning
members report regarding their connec-
ton with postoffice leases and increases in
clerk hire.
Representative Overstreet, chairman OF
the House committee on postoffices and
postroads, testified that the original Bristow
report dealing with the general investiga-
ton of the Postoffice Department had been
referred to a subcommittee of the House
postoffice committee In January the Hay
resolution calling for additional informa-
ton was referred to this subcommittee of
which he was chairman.
While this committee was considering the
postoffice appropriation bill the Hay
resolution was brought into the several
meetings. Acting conformity with his as
sociates Mr.. Overstreet requested from
the fourth assistant postmaster general de-
tails regarding property leased to the de-
partment which was owned by members OF
Congress. During the hearings on the post
office appropriation bill Mr.. Waters. chief
of the salary and allowance division. made
reference to list which includes the names
hire, which he said was on the file of the
fourth assistant" Knowing that clerk hire
under the first assistant and hearing
that this list was on file with the fourth
assistant Mr. Overstreet said that the sub
committee inferred that this list had been
subject of investigation. 1t was sug-
gested that letter be written from the
committee to the postmaster general asking
for this information. Mr.. Overstreet die
tated this letter jan Is. 1904. 1t was read
to the committee before being sent and
asked for the information regarding clerk
hire and leases. He had never had any
communication with General Bristow on the
subject. but had called on the postmas ter
general at his hotel regarding the informa-
ton. The information when received was
kept in the safe of the sergeant-ar-drms
of the House. Members of the committee
examined the report several times. In the
meantime Mr.. Hay was pressing for con-
clusion regarding his resolutions.
Mr.. Overstreet said he working for
unanimous report from the committee
TO have the report laid on the table in the
House and not published. Mention of the
report was made in a New York paper
wrong, but it did not 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
controversy as to whether the committee
was really suppressing something that was
/ a
not until after this publication that the
subcommittee took formal action and re-
ported TO the full committee. When the
full committee had acted Mr.. Overstreet
ordered advance copies from the printer for
the press. 1t was not until after the report
had been received and distributed in the
House that ii was discovered that at 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 Off
Mr. Nc inf fbaf
was justified by the contents of the report
| Mr.. Overstreet said he did not think the
| wording justified that there was
anything in the report written by the COM
mittee to justify that head line.
Il, for one. do not find any objection to
the subcaption, declared Mr.. McDermott.
He suggested that the original manuscript
and proof be sent for to determine this
| question.
| Mr. Richardson asked Mr. Overstreet IL,
| in his conversation with Postmaster Gen.
eral Payne, the latter had suggested the
improperly of publishing the names of
members in this connection. Nothing was
said on this point, replied Mr. Overstreet.
The original manuscript of the report was
produced and Mr.. McDermott, after ex-
aiming it, said that the line, "charges
appear in 1T and must have had its origin
in the Government Printing Office
Mr.. Mccall informed Mr.. Overstreet that
Mr. WyDne, the first assistant postmaster
general. had testified that a list was pre-
pared first without the names of members
and that this list was objected to by the
post office committee and the names de-
manded.
Mr.. Overstreet-"I made no such re-
quest
At the conclusion of Mr. Overstreets
testimony the committee went into execu-
tive session.