Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-11
Postmaster General Refuses
to Give Committee Infor-
nation Sent to Hoover.
EVASION is CHARGED
BY PROBE CHAIRMAN
Wisconsin Senator Calls Cabinet
: Member ''Impertinent and Ar
rogant" in Replies.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
Postmaster General Brown refused
today to furnish the Senate Postal
Lease Investigating Committee tnfor-
nation which formed the basis of a re-
port by him to President Hoover last
Summer.
He was being questioned In connec-
ton with the departments leasing
policies.
Chairman Blaine said he wanted TO
question Brown on his attitude on the
production Of certain records in the
department.. The report last Summer
recommended purchase Of a number of
postal quarters now leased.
Blaine Clashes With Brown.
The Postmaster General said he
wanted to aid the committees inquiry
in any way he COULD but to furnish the
departments records would be Sin
compatible with public interest"
The information in question was
gathered by Post ONCE inspectors.
The session early developed verbal
clashes between Chairman Blaine and
Brown.
0ldAAAC Cd4ACQ 1EOWn uupCIbAIl6llk ana
arrogant" and the Postmaster General
said this was no occasion for the COM
mittee chairman to lecture him.
The committee has $4,000 to make
an appraisal of SO Of the buildings
leased by the Government. Blaine said
it could save great deal Of time and
money If the department. would make
available the information It had col.
lected in connection with the report,
and asked its submittal.
Would Hamper Deals.
eve regard it as incompatible with
the public interest" said Brown.
''Is incompatibility your only reason?"
asked the chairman.
"Yes.'
"Why would it be incompatible"
Brown explained many Of the leases
would soon expire and it would be
necessary to purchase the buildings or
renew the leases.
1T would emharrass our negotia-
TONS" he said. "If we disclosed what
we believed the property was worth we
would not be in as good position as II
we did not disclose f. =
Blaine then went through the vari-
Gus kinds Of information collected by
the inspectors, asking Brown in each
case if that information was confiden-
tial The Postmaster General declined
to submit In each case.
The Senator commended the answers
were not responsive to the questions.
Makes Own Answers.
"I'll give you my answers" Brown
said. ASK me any questions you want,
but I'll make the answers"
ST don't know whether you VIII or
not" the chairman replied. There is
No fNTs ~ q
"There is no occasion for you to
make lecture, either"
az understand your arrogance and
impertinence," Blaine said.
And ] yours"
ssI know you would enjoy q cat and
dog fight" Blaine said, "but don't
want a personal controversy"
Brown continued to refuse the In
formation. As Blaine asked him ques-
ton after question, the Postmaster
General replied:
1.-THE same answer"
Finally, he repeated:
ST don't care for your lectures"
I'm not going to get into any per-
sonal controversy Blaine rejoined
again.
"rm not sure we're not" the Post
master General said.
81 can't stop your 1mperttnence,
Blaine said.
az know you can't was the reply.
Brown insisted that to give the COM
mittee the information would compro-
mise condemnation proceedings.
ooh" Blaine said, 1--WE will question
you about that when we get to the st.
Paul lease.
Interference Is Charged.
The committee has received testi-
Y,aonv that District ATTORNEY Dill at
st. Paul who has been engaged in
condemning the ST. Paul commercial
station post Office, has several times
to the Justice Department
against what he considered interference
from the Post Office Department.
Blaine was the only committeeman
present.
The inquiry attracted more public at
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