Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-20
Refuses to Discuss Anything
Regarding Meeting of De-
partment Heads.
SAYS BARTLETT KNEW
ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS
Former Postmaster General Denies
He Blamed Assistant for
Transaction There.

BY the Associated Press.
Postmaster General New. refused to-
day to tell the Senate committee in
veStigating postal leases whether the
st. Paul Commercial Station post office
lease was discussed at a meeting of
President Coolidge's cabinet.
II decline to testify to anything that
said in reply to a question by Chairman
Blaine.
did you, at a cabinet meeting,
charge Bartlett with responsibility for
the Iease?" Blaine asked, referring to
John H. Bartlett, First Assistant Post
master General under New:
Never there or anywhere else" New
replied.
Says Bartlett Knew.
Bartlett had testified New ATTEMPTED
to blame him for the lease. He did
not know whether it had been dis
cusSed by the cabinet, however.
New reiterated today that Bartlett
was familiar with the negotiations lead
ing up to the lease.
IF he thought I made a mistake it
was his duty to tell me-" New said.
A grand jury investigated the lease
and found evidences Of fraud and
recommended full investigation.
Blaine yesterday asserted there was
"a growing chain of circumstances" to
support a belief there was collision to
prevent a second grand jury inquiry.
The lease in question was executed
to replace one already in effect. In
return for relinquishing a cancellation
clause the Government received lower
rental. New has testified this saved the
Treasury $4,000.
Recommends Purchase.
Blaine read a letter from Director
Lord of the Budget Bureau to New in
october, 1926, reviewing the facts of the
lease and recommending the Govern
ment purchase the Commercial Station
Building.
Under questioning, New said he did
not believe he took any action to buy
the building.
What was I going to buy it with,
marbleS?" he asked.
Questioned by Blaine, New agreed he
had not recommended condemnation of
the property or appropriation of money
for purchase of the building. He said
he informally" recommended construc-
ton of new building.
New testified he made no written
reply to Lords recommendation, but
discussed the question verbally with the
budget director. Blaine asked if this
was customary and New replied he did
not believe it was"
Produces Letter.
The former Postmaster, General pro-
duced letter from Lord, received when
he left the cabinet, in which the budget
director praised his service to the Gov
eminent. Waving it in the air he
termed it an answer to all questions
on his dealings with Lord.
THE letter doesn't have anything to
do with the st. Paul case" Blaine re-
piled.
Many things here" said New, don't
have any connection with the lease.
The questions here ought to be whether
there was anything fraudulent in the
lease. Nobody has ever produced any
evidence of anything of that kind"
You almost bait me to suggest that
yOu PlObCok wv AAAdSAiB OAoAAAS o0AN~
Clashes Frequent.
Acrimonious verbal exchanges between
Blaine and New and between the chair
man ard Senator Hastings, Republican,
Delaware, were frequent.
New said he did not remember dis
cussing the recommendation to pur-
chase the ST. Paul property with James
w. Good, late Secretary of War, who
was then attorney for the lessor, but
had heard that Good talked with Lord
about 1t.
Blaine asked if New ever conferred
with any one but Lord about the rec
ommendation.
II don't remember" New replied He
made the same answer to a question
whether he conferred with the owners
of the property?
Next Blaine asked about a memoran-
dunn telling of a cabinet meeting dis
cussion of the Los Angeles Post Office
garage. New again refused to discuss
what happened in cabinet meeting
and accused Blaine of asking insulting
questions"
Chairman Blaine adjourned the ses-
sion with the understanding News
cross examination would be continued
~ date m no 6xed later