Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
CHARGES
COLLISION TO BAR
P. 0. LEASE PROBE
Declaration Follows Sharp
Clash With New During
CroSs-Examination.
DECLARES
SENATOR "INSULTING"
Chairman Intimates It Was Feared
Inquiry Would BLOW Up" Presi-
Dental Campaign.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The fiat charge that there was col
fusion to prevent second grand jury
investigation of the st. Paul CONNER
cial Station postal lease was made to-
day by Chairman Blaine investigating
the leases.
CroSs-examining former Postmaster
General New, Blaine said chain OF
circumstances was growing in strength
to show there was collision" to pre-
vent the second investigation.
Blaine's charge followed a sharp clash
with New, in which the latter asserted
the committee chairman was insult
ing"
Blaine questioned New at length about
reports submitted by postal inspectors
sent to investigate the lease after
grand jury had found evidences OF fraud
and recommended full investigation.
The committee chairman said the in
Spectors sent to st. Paul by New had
criticised the first grand jury which
found evidences of fraud in the lease.
Sent to Get Truth.
New insisted he had sent the in
spectors to obtain the truth. After a
long crcSS-examination, Blaine asked:
do you still contend the inspectors
were not sent to place construction on
the evidence that would discredit fu-
ture Investigations"
That question" New said, sis almost
insulting and not worthy of answer"
1T is quite insulting" Senator Hast
ings of Delaware, another Republican
member of the committee, interjected.
Whether it is insulting or not,
can't help it," Blaine said II intend
to pursue this case"
"I am sorry Won are unable 10 control
the workings of your mind" New said.
Blaine said it was not the workings
of his mind, but evidence of the Justice
Department on which he was making
his statements.
Property Valued at 100000.
New testified his inspectors reported
to him the value Of the st. Paul prop
erty was about $500, 900.
THE grand jury held the property on
which the Government was paying an
annual rental of $4,000 was less than
$500, 900.
was it the duty of the inspectors to
investigate the grand jury?" Blaine
asked.
1T was their duty to run down all
the stories which were going to the
grand jury" New replied. "The inspec-
tors were sent there to get the truth. I
accepted them as the truth"
Blaine said the inspectors report
showed they made constant effort to
defend the department against any
charges and not to ascertain the facts"
Chairman Blaine had intimated that
an attempt was made to prevent the
investigation for fear it would blow
up" the 1928 presidential campaign, then
in progress
Asked If he knew Assistant District
Attorney Fesler at ST. Paul contem-
plated taking the case to the grand
jury, New replied:
None Of those things came over my
desk. / had nothing TO do with them"
Asked About Letter to Good.
Blaine then asked New about the
contents of letter he sent to the late
James w. Good, attorney for the lessor
of the st. Paul property, and later
western campaign manager and Secre-
tary Of War for President Hoover.
John Bartlett, News first assistant.
has testified he delivered the letter. but
did not know its contents.
I've seen reference to a mysteri-
Gus letter I am supposed TO have writ
ten Good" New replied
If there was anthing confidential in
that letter, I made an unfortunate Sc
lection of messenger"
New revealed yesterday that relations
between Bartlett and himself were far
from cordial.
II have no recollection of having writ
ten any such letter to Good, but don't
deny did" New added.