The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-18
new DENIES
POSTAL LEASE
FRAUD CHARGE
Former Postal Head Tells
Investigators His Rec
ord Is Clear. ,
DEFENDS HIS POLICIES
Takes Rap at Bartlett for
limiting Improper
Practices
DEFENDS HIS POLICIES
By LAWRENCE SULLIVAN
Times Stan Correspondent

FrdCIlCeS.
By LAWRENCE SULLIVAN
Times Stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1s.-Un-
equivocal denial that he personally
had directed one of his aids to sign
the name of John H. Bartlett. first
assistant postmaster general, to the
celebrated st. Paul postofice lease.
was made by former Postmaster
General Harry S. New today before
the Blaine postal lease investigating
committee.
New appeared voluntarily before
the committee, which has been in
vestigating postofice leases during
the last six months.
Senator John j. Blaine (Rep.,
Wis) was the only committee men,
Der present as the hearing began
today. But Senator Felix Herbert
OF Rhode Island took his seat as
New began to read his long prepared
statement.
Tells of st. Paul Lease
New told the committee that the
st. Paul lease originally was nego-
tiated with the postoffice depart
ment during the Wilson admins
tration. Later a cancellation clause
was taken out of the contract un-
der News term as postmaster
general.
Bartlett, who appeared before the
committee recently, testified that
New had directed Charles F.. Trot-
ter, personal assistant to Bartlett, to
sign Bartlett's name to the modified
lease.
II suppose 1 did tell Mr.. Trotter
to make the memorandum in oues-
ton, but the statement that I told
him to sign Bartlett's name to it
is absolutely untrue, and Mr.. Trot-
ter has told you so.' New said.
New said he always had been OPP
posed to the leasing system.
During the six years served as
postmaster general I made as many
annual reports to the President
and to congress, in five of which I
gave my disapproval to the leas-
ing system, directing attention to it's
possible evils and suggesting the
wisdom Of the governments build
ing and owning all quaretrs en-
ployed in this way" he said.
Watched Leases Closely
When a contract for a building
was awarded, the disappointed con-
tractors and site owners frequently
formed themselves into whispering
committee and started criticism,
often going to the newspapers and
making public outcries, he said.
All of these things I realized
fully and undertake to say that no
set of government contracts ever
awarded received more careful.
painstaking and conscientious scru-
tiny than did the contracts for these
buildings, entered into during nv
administration, and I know / am
justified in saying that same state
ment applies to other administers
tions.
Every one of these contracts in
my day, without a single exception.
was made through the bureau OF the
first assistant, John H. Bartlett. He
had complete supervision of every
one Of them"
New reviewed in detail his own
Investigations of the st. Paul lease.
Rny1nlII6i17cr trrifIa
reports from the department of JUS
tice declaring no evidence of fraud
or irregularity has been found.
He vehemently denied that James
w. Good, former secretary of war,
attorney for the lease holders in the
modification negotiations in 1924
%, had exerted any improper Dc
litical influence in his effort to have
the cancellation clause removed.
Denies Removal Action
New also denied he ever had
sought, while postmaster-ge general.
to- bring about the removal of john
K. Fessler, United States district
attorney at st. Paul about the time,
several years ago, that Fessler be-
gan presenting the facts Of the
postoffice lease to the grand jury.
Fessler, however, was removed.
New also charged bluntly that
personal relations between himself
and Bartlett always had been
strained. This he attributed to the
fact that Bartlett aspired to be
postmaster general himself.
Bartlett, who has appeared be-
fore the Blaine committee three
times in the last month, charged
that virtual monopoly existed n
the postoffice lease bidding, during
News administration Of the depart
ment.
Defends Dead Friend
He said that new frequently
made the final decision and that in
the case Of the st. Paul renewal
in 1925, the actual signing of the
contract was directed personally by
New at conference in the private
Office of the postmaster general.
"As to my interview with Mr..
Good" News prepared statement
continued, Il am thankful TO be
able to say that I am not the type
of man to call man friend in life
and then by insinuation and innu-
endo asperse his good reputation
after he is dead.
Mr.. Coed never asked me to do
anything that thought open to
criticism, or that he did either, for
that matter. Both in public ana
private life I am sure he was an
honorable man"
AS the committee adjourned I'M
til 10 o'clock Thursday, Chairman
Blaine announced that New would
be crosS-examined in detail on his
ct.n f.,r,,oaaf 81 the raxf hanrf,,o.