Show L1NL1OVO GASES Inquiry Into the Polygamous Status of Postmasters GENERAL SMITH HEARD Both Appointments Made Prior to His Administration Attention had L Tot been Directed to any Charges Prior to the Appointment of Smith Subsequently Papers Submitted Wero Brought to the Attention of Higher Ofiicials There was Nothing Noth-ing Filed Regarding J C Graham i Washington Tan jOThe Investigation Investiga-tion of the alleged polygamous status of several Federal officials In Utah was today resumed by the Committee on Postofllccs In view of the statement made at the last session by Mr Lenta author of the resolutions of Investigation Investiga-tion the committee had requested PostmasterGeneral Emory Smith J Addison Porter secretary to the President Presi-dent and Representative Grosvenor to be present Before the committee met the members mem-bers discussed Informally the right and propriety of asking the Presidents secretary sec-retary to submit to Interrogation Chairman Loud maintaining that such a course would In effect amount to the summoning of the President and an inquiry in-quiry into executive affairs Mr Grosvenor made a flat denial of I the statement made by Mr Lezitv as to the words We have not let the grass grow under our feet In reference to the charges The conversation was informal Mr Grosvenor said and ho would have as soon expected that a private conversation with a member of his family would be brought before the committee as to have this talk brought here Mr Grosvenor said his statement to Mr Lontz was In substance that the Investigation would fall there was nothing in the charges and that he had taken steps to learn the facts at the time of denying them on the floor of the House His denial was based on his knowledge of the character of the President He said he had also said to Mr Lcnl7 that a search would show that there was no scrap of evidence to sustain the charges Subsequently during a call at the White House on another matter Mr Grosvenor said the President remarked to those present that he had never hud a suspicion that he was appointing anyone any-one guilty of polygamy as ho had never heard of tIm charge until it was made in the House To many questions ques-tions Mr Grosvenor emphasized his sweeping denial of the language and inferences attributed to him by Mr Lentz as reported by the newspapers PostmasterGeneral Smith detailed the circumstances as far as they had come to his knowledge although the two appointments under consideration wore made prior to his administration He had found however that attention had not been directed to any charges prior to the appointment although subsequently sub-sequently papers which had been submitted sub-mitted wtre brought to the attention of the higher olTiclals One of them was a letter from N E Clemenson pastor Of the Presbyterian church of Logan Utah addressed Personal to the President Presi-dent stating that Mr Smith the postmaster at Logan is a high ecclesiastic ecclesi-astic of the Mormcn church living In a polygamous status There was also a petition received Mr Smith presented a letter from Mr Porter secretary to the President dated yesterday saing There Is i In this ofllce no record of the receipt of any letters petitions or protests con perning the appointment of John Gra ham as postmaster at Provo City Utah A letter addressed to the President under date of LoganCache county Utah Novcinber 22 1SD7 by N E Clemenson pastor Presbyterian church was referred to your department depart-ment and an acknowledgment from this ofllce was made to the writer on November 27 1897 Subsequently a pe tition dated Logan Utah December G 1S07 signed E W Nelson John M Boyle William Braugham and other relating to time same subject was received re-ceived and acknowlfedged December 21 ISO This petition was referred to the Poelofllce department on December 23 1S97Mr Mr Bristow Assistant Postmaster General asserted that he made up a brief relative to the Presidential ap pointment to postmastershlps and when these Utah cases were briefed he had no knowledge of any polygamous charges against the parties The Clemenson letter at that time had not come to his attention nor did It get before the PostmasterGeneral as the clerks who handled It didnot so brief It as to call special attention to it Mi Lontz and Mr Grosvonor again explained the talk between them show lag that the difference was mainly as to words and that Mr Lentz did not seek to place any Inference on them The hearing went over until next Tues day when Mr Bristow will be heard further |