New-York tribune., 1917-07-27
Two Representatives
Accuse Postohce
OF Opening Mail
Even Sacred" Family Letters
Tampered With, Asserts
Tague
TFrom Tho Tribune BureauI

Washington, July 26.-Representa-
tives Tague and Dallinger. Of Massa-
chusetts, to-day testified before the
House Committee on Postoffice Ex-
nenditures that their private mail had
been repeatedly opened in transit. pre-
sumably by officials Of the Postofhce
Department. Mr.. Tague declared let
ters which he considered Sacred had
thus been tampered with while being
forwarded under his own frank as
member of the House of Representa-
tives. He further stated that he had
been informed by Democratic State
Chairman OLeary, of Massachusetts
that the postofice inspection service
was on his trail and that an inspector
had come TO O'Leary and made IN
quiries about him.
Mr. Tague exhibited one special de-
livery letter which his secretary had
addressed to him at Scituate recently
containing official matter. 1t had been
slit open on one side and one end. Two
other special delivery letters had been
similarly opened, he said.
He declared that last night his sec
retary in Boston telephoned him that
a letter received the day before yes
terday had been opened.
Forced to Use Stamps
Mr.. Tague testified that the only
vav no can communicate with his fam
ilv Is To write on plain envelopes and
stamp them; otherwise, he stated, the
letters are almost invariably opened.
MIR. Tague submitted telegram from
a person in high official authority IN
Boston Offering to come to Washlng-
tom and substantiate charges of tam
pering with the mail. He further sug-
oested that the committee ask Post
master Murray, of Boston to pro-
duce an ANONYMOUS letter directed TO
the Postoffice inspection Service sug.
costing that he, Mr.. Tague. would
bear watching"
The Boston Congressman declared
that Postmaster Murray had admitted
tbe receipt of such a letter by Post
Office officials during d recent con-
yersation in Boston.
Mr. Dallinger informed the commit
tee that he had had similar expert
ences. A registered letter sent out by
him had been opened, he state, and
another important document had never
reached its destination.
One of his constituents, he said,
some time ego complained that sew
eral hundreds Of his letters had been
opened and lists of names Of business
importance had been disclosed to rival
concerns.
Mr.. Dallinger testified that he had
been involved in a controversy with
Postmaster Murray over making Cam
bridge a separate postoffice, brought
about. he stated, through the mlser,,
able service Cambridge received
through the Boston Office. After he
had succeeded in putting rider on
the postofiice appropriation piil
effecting this purpose, he SAID, the
Cambridge postmaster had been ar
rayed against him and had fought ms
reelection with the greatest vitupera-
tion and vindictiveness.
Mr.. Dalinger stated he wrote long
account of the controversy to news
paper friend. The latter, he declared
although it bore his name on the en-
velope and was properly stamped, was
never delivered or returned to HIM. lie
then wrote a second letter and regis
tered it, he testified, and this communi'
cation was opened.
The testimony of the two boston
( Congressman caused a sensational SUI.