Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-31
BOSTON|AN DENIES
TAGUE'S CHARGES
Says Mail of Massachusetts,
Representative Was Not
Opened.
TILT BEFORE COMMITTEE

After Postma ster Murray of Boston
and Postal Inspector George A. Leon
ard had declared many times before
the House committee on expenditures
in the Post Office today that no mail
of any member of Congress or any one
else had ever been delayed. opened or
tempered with: and that no member
of Congress had been "shadowed,
Representative Peter Tague of Boston
made a fiat contradiction of almost all
their testimony.
He declared his personal mail had
been opened, offered to bring forward
witnesses and affidavits: and, In fact,
did have three affidavits. one of which
mentioned that Mrs. Tague had in her
possession or had seen mail delivered
to her house in a condition plainly
showing tampering.
He also made the statement that the
mysterious surveillance which he had
been subjected to because of his fight
against Postmaster General Burleson's
proposal to do away with the pneu-
matte tube service of Boston had been
the talk of the Boston office" He de-
clared he would bring the matter to the
floor of the House.
In addition, to make matters warmer
in the overcrowded and overheated COM
,nittee room. Postmaster Murray. whom
Representative Tasue succeeds in Con-
gress, opened fire on Representative
Dallinger of Boston, one of the mem
bers who recently complained of de-
layed and opened mail.
Calls Mr.. Dallinger irresponsible"
ger" said Murray. "as the statement of
reckless, irresponsible man, unworthy
of belief" Members of the committee
headed him off from further remarks of
Ohio endeavored to have the remark
wiped off the record, but was not sue
cessful. Inspector Leonard, who made
complete and sweeping denial that any
postal employe at any time, anywhere,
for any purpose had ever opened any
body's mail. also interrupted Repre-
sentative Tague at one point and con-
tradicted him without reserve.
Mr.. Murray then asked for the full
est investigation of the charges that
mail had been opened in the Boston
office and that If proved untrue the
House should be advised of that fact.
He also answered members of the com
mittee to say that no mans mail could
be opened in the Boston office. and de-
clared he had even denied to secret
service men the privilege of opening
mail addressed to interned German
sailors.
Representative Tague read three af-
fidavits. one from his secretary, Joseph
Kane. now in Boston, and one from
Patrick ]. Kyle, Charlestown. Mass.
Mr.. Kane said mail had been received
IN condition plainly indicating tam
pering. Mr.. Kyle said he had seen a
package Of mail delivered to Mrs.
Tague. who said, This mail has been
opened" and that Mrs. Tague" had re-
marked other letters had been received
by her showing marks of being opened
before delivery.
This testimony today" said Repre-
sentative Tague. clearly shows the
post Office officials are contradicting
each other. Now l am thoroughly con-
WINGED they have done this thing. 1t
was said here the other day that no in
vestigation of anything connected with
the pneumatic tube fight was being
made, and here today we have let
ter from Mr.. Rooms asking that an eff
fort be made to find the writer of an
anonymous letter who wrote on the
subject.