Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-26
Representatives Tague and
DaIIinger Tell Committee
Letters Have Been Opened.
PRACTICE STARTED WITH
PNEUMATIC TUBE FIGHT
Post Office Inspectors Tried to "Get
Something on" Him, Former Testi-
fies-Mr. Burleson Prom
ises Inquiry.

Two members of the House of Repre-
sentatives declared with positiveness
and detail today to the House commit
tee on expenditures in the Post Office
Department that their mail had been
opened while in transit, resealed and de-
livered. Representative Peter F. Tague
of the tenth Massachusetts, district and
Representative Frederick W. Dallinger
of the eighth Massachusetts, district
made the charges.
MIR. Tague submitted to the committee
an envelope, one of great number which
he has received, this one bearing a re-
cent date. as an exhibit. He said that his
most sacred letters. those OF his wife
and even letters to his little boy. had been
opened.
He declared that no later than last
night his secretary In Boston telephoned
him that a letter received day before yes
terday had been opened. Mr.. Tague said
that this practice of tampering with his
mail has been going on ever since he op-
posed the policy of the Postmaster Cen
service.
4O40 VI Ills pcSIO4S O0 4Ild1s
He said further that he had been told
that post office inspectors were busy in
Boston looking into his record to "get
formant. among others. was Michael
O'Leary, democratic state chairman for
Massachusetts. He had been told by
others and it was common gossip in his
district that he was under surveillance by
post office inspectors.
Representative Dallinger said that his
mail had been opened, including a reg
istered letter to replace one which had
or two and then clumsily resealed with
tissue paper and delivered.
He told of constituent of his con-
Quoting small mail order business.
who had complained of several hundred
of his letters being opened and the
names of his customers supplied to a
more powerful rival, to the detriment
of his business. The Boston post Of
fice had investigated that case. but had
not been able to substantiate his
charges
81 believe as a member of Congress, ;"
said Mr.. Dallinger, that my mail has
been tampered with. and 1 would no
more think of sending a confidential
letter to my district which could be
identified than l would cut off my
hand"
Mr.. -Tague declared that the only
way he can communicate with his fam
stamped. Otherwise. he said. the let
ters are likely to be opened Mr..
Tague submitted a telegram to the
committee from a person in high official
authority in Boston. Offering ito come
TO Washington and substantiate
charges of tampering with the mail
Chairman keating read to tho COM
mittee letter from Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson. saying that while the
department never pays attention to the
charges of discharged employees, he
would In this case demand "a full In
vestigation: that the charges were
without foundation and the records
would show it.
In submitting the letter Chairman
keating said that it should be noted
that the original charges which
Drought this case to light were not
made by the preferrer of them in his
capacity as discharged employe. but
by Thomas F. Flaherty in his official
position as secretary of the postal
employees association. The Postmas aster
Generals letter showed that the Post.
master General was prepared to sub.
NIT any records desired
ANY records he desires to submit. I"
suggested Representative Pratt of the
com mmittee.
This mornings hearing was the ont
come-of a statement made to the com
mtttee last Friday by Mr. Flaherty tina,
post office inspectors were irving .tc
get something on Representative Tagur
because he opposed Postmaster Genera
Burlesons policy in the pneumatic tube