The sun., 1919-09-10
THREE COMMITTEES
AFTER BURLES0N
Vie for Opportunity to hveS-
tigate Postmaster Generals
Administration.
lie ANSWERS GALLOWAY
Ignores Boston and Newark
Charges to Cite His Acts
at Other Places.
lie ANSWERS GALLOWAY
Special Despatch 10 TIE suS.


Special Despatch TO TIE suS.
WASHINGTON, Sept 9.-As an indca-
ton Of the strong demand in Congress
for the Investigation of Albert Sydney
Burlesons administration Of the Post
once Department to determine whether
impeachment proceedings should be
brought against him three House COM
mittees to-day were bidding keenly
against one another for the right to
conduct the inquiry.
Republican House leaders will meet
later in the week to determine which
committee shall have the hQnor-f 1t
may be called that--and arrange other
details Of the investigation. While
prominent members still refused to com
ment on the probability of impeachment
proceedings there is no doubt that far
reaching investigation into Mr.. Burle-
sons Juggling of the postal service will
be conducted, it was stated. But II Is
admitted that impeachment is being con-
sidered, depending on the results OF the
inquiry.
Lehlbach Is Busy.
The three committees in keen rivalry
for the investigation are Appropriations,
Reform in the Civil Service and Elk
penditures In the Post Office Depart
ment.
The bill of Representative Steenerston
(1dinn.) to take the Civil Service COM
mission out of politics by having the
Supreme Court, instead of the President,
appoint the commissioners was referred
70 the Appropriations Committee, but
Chairman Lehibach IN. j. of the Com
rnittee on Reform in the Civil Service is
planning to ask that II be referred TO
his committee.
Mr.. Lehlbach also is expected to fire
the opening gun in the inquiry THURSDAY
by reporting to the House from his COM
mittee a resolution asking the Postmas-
ter-General to submit to the House a
complete statement of all postmaster
appointments and vacancies during MS
term of office.
This will be used as basis for sub
Stimulating the charges that Mr.. Burle-
son has debauched the Civil Service
Commission by refusing to accept Its
Recommendations for the offices and ap-
pointing men instead for political ad-
vantage. Later 1t Is expected the COM
mission will be called on to submit It's
records of the qualifications of post
masters.
While the first work OF the investiga-
ton will be to determine to what extent
the Post Office Department has violated
the law by refusing to appoint candi-
dates on their merit, since this probably
would be the basis of impeachment pro-
ceedings, It was emphasized that the in
quiry will include the many complaints
of the tendency toward disintegration In
the postal service during Mr. Burleson't
management.
The House Committee on Expenditures
IN the Post once Department, of which
Representative Zihlman (Md) Is chair
man, is planning an investigation OF
these complaints and has started pre-
liminary hearings. On the ground thai
his committee is already at work. Mr.
Zihlman will bid for the post Office In
vestigation.
Mr.. Burieson made tonight his first
reply to the charges OF Charles NJ. Gal
loway, who, when he resigned from the
Civil Service Commission last Saturday
charged that the Postmaster-General
had made a sham of the merit sys-
tenn OF the commission. The Postmas'
ter-General did not reply to the assertion
of Mr.. Galloway that the merit candi-
dates for the Boston and Newark posi-
Offices had been turned down for politi'
cal applicants.
Cites Cases Elsewhere.
instead he sought to Justify cases al
Salinas, Cal. where he refused to re
move a POSTMASTER after he had beer
fined for soliciting campaign funds whil'
he was in Office. and at Lockhart, Tex.
where a relative of Mr.. Burleson got tn,
ONCE instead of merit candidates sug
gested by the Civil Service Commission
The statement reads:
'-Of course the Postmaster Genera
win not engage in controversy with thu
discharged Civil Service Commissioner
who. as Is we'll known, unfortunately be
came disqualified to discharge the re
sponsible duties of his ONCE because o.
an apparently uncomfortable infirmity.
AT no time has the Postmaster Gen
eral addressed a communication to tn,
Civil Service Commission with a view o
improperly controlling a post Office ap
pointment and the Postmaster-Genera
has at no time spoken to the members
of the commission with a purpose I,
control their action in filing any DOS
Office vacancy.
"In the matter of the Lockhart, Tex.
case, the temporary appointment of tn
relative OF the Postmaster General a
acting Postmaster was not made b,
him, but by the Surety Company agains
his wishes, which company had tn
right under the law to temporarily fl
the vacancy. After the examination
had been held and an eligible list Ger
tifed to the Department the Postmaster
General, Notwithstanding the fact tina
the papers had been returned to tn
Civil Service Commission for review, di
rected the First Assistant Postmaster
General to appoint the first eligible
which was done, and he now holds tn
once. This action was taken long be
fore the papers were reviewed by tn
commission
Tn hn 0( Co.
case, the Postmaster had proved a
efficient officer. His reputation in HI
community was without blemish Afts
the campaign Of 1915 he was charge
with a violation OF the civil service la
In the matter OF soliciting campaig
fundA He was indicted and fined b