Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-08-13
Wisconsin's Aggressive Sena-
tor Makes Grave Accusation
Against Officials Of Postoffice
Department.
LETTERS ALLEGED TO
HAVE BEEN OPENED
Bourne Bfistow Plan for Par
GELS Post Placed in Bill as
Substitute for Measure Pass
ed by House,

tBy Morning journal Special Ieas~d Wire. |
Washington. Aug. l2.-The senate
today, after five hours work on the
postoffice appropriation bill, reached
an agreement to vote on the measure
at O'Clock tomorrow afternoon.
Discussion of the bin was emily
ened late in the day when senator
La Toilette. speaking on a house pro-
vision granting to employees of the
postal service the right to organize,
deliberately charged officials OF the
postoffiCe department with rfling his
mail in an attempt to delve into an
investigation he was making into the
postal service.
The Wisconsin senator said that his
mail had been subjected to an
espionage almost Russian in charac-
ter" and he showed TO the senators
a bundle of letters, which he said
had been tampcred with.
"a bsurd" and ridiculous are ad-
jeetives applied TO senator Lit Fol
lettc's charges by officials Of The
postoffice department
1t is declared positively that il the
senator's mail has been riiled, the
crime was committed ~ somebody
not connected with the department.
Dr Charles - crandfield, first
assistant. and in the temporary ab-
sence of Mr.. Hitchcock acting post
master general, said
1--WE have never heard until now
that Senator La Folletle's mail had
been tampcrcd with think the
senator IS quite mistaken when he
charges that officials Of the postoi-
flee department rifled his nal IN
an attempt TO learn the result of an
investigation he is making or for any
other purpose. AS to the senator
ed to an espionage almost Russian
in character, the charge Is absurd,
as no one in the postOtfiee depart
ment has the slightest interest IN the
replies Of the clerks 20 the senator
inquiries. All mail addressed to
mem bers OF congress in Washington
passes out of the hands of the post
office department when 1t reaches
the senate and house postolficcs.
Chief Inspector Robert G. SHARP
was equally certain that Senator La
Follette's charges were untounded
and was emphatic in his denial OF
them,
Senator La Toilette, after making
his charges, said that men were re-
moved from the railway service tor
no other reason than that they
Al. l.
prove labor conditions in he serv-
ice" He cited several instances, IN
-luding the case Of George W
Nichols who, alter twenty-five Years
Of service in the department, was sus-
pended shortly after he became
candidate for Office in the EallWaN |
Nail Clerks Protective associations
rhc senator discussed the sag
Jules, promulgated by President
Roosevelt ana President TAFT forbid
ling postoffice employees from car
wing their grievances To- members
# congress. He had read INTO the
'eoprd several letters from nail
Jerks in response to the circular
etters.
During the day three important
OF the postofticc nill were
Icted upon. The Bouruc-BristoW,
han for Il parcels post system, vain
system Of graduated charges based
N eight zones of distance, diNidlns
he country. were placed in the blll
S a substitute for the house parcels
,ost provisions. which outlined flat
barge of l. cents a pound through
ut the country.
A provision in The house bill MAX
ng available federal funds to ASSIST
he states it, good road construction,
vas voted down and an amendment
ramed Dy tho senate committee pro-
iding for commission OF three
cnators and three representative 40
tudy the question. was adopted.