National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-21
THE HOUSE.


Mr.. Dunn asked immediate consideration of
resolution providing for the appointment of q
select committee of seven to inquire what changes
in the laws in regard to the administration of pub
lie lands should be made.
Mr.. Brown, of Pennsylv ania, said he would not
object If the committee on public lands were
given power to inquire into the subject referred to.
Mr. Dunn replied that the public lands COM
mitee already had more before 1t than it can get
through wi II.
Before action was taken on the resolution Mr..
Money, from the committee on pOstoiiices aud
pos roads, submitted q privileged report upon
resolution calling on the postmaster general 70
transmit to the house the reports made by special
agents OF the postotlce department, having refer
ence to star route Investigations not heretofore
made public,
Mr.. PeeIle said the postmaster general had sent
letters TO the house stating that IN his opinion II
would be detrimental TO the public interest in the
prosecution OF star route cases u me Information
sisted on this information, the house alone should
take The responsibility
Mr.. Money said that for three years the depart.
ment OF justice had been prosecuting suits ana
had expended several hundred thousand dollars.
The best cases had been selected. In all OF these
suits not single conviction had been made nor
dollar recovered. What could be expected now
in cases yet upon the dOCkctP
"Ihe committee on pOsIollices and post roads"
said Mr. Money, lis considering IL III to reguia,e
the Gu ryiHg q mails on star routes. 1t Is i'm.
portaut that the information secured by special
agents be before 1t, that the government may be
master general gives no reason IN his reply to the
resolutions that have BEEN introduced, except
that the Information called for IL wnde public,
might be detrimental 10 suits that may be brOup /.
There is not man here W 20 believes INA. u man
Will be- cOnY cted."
NJ, Reed iepled that tie postmaster general
knew what was in the reports and the gentleman
from Mi sissppi (Alr. Money did MOI. The frmer
believed tina, the publicity OF me Information
would lnjure public business and his opinions
should be respected.
Sir Robinson, Of New York, inquired whence
came this mOnarChic idea that the heads Of de-
parmens may refuse to give to tue representa-
ltYes of the leuple information that they desire?
He denied The right OF the executive branch u
the government to exercise It's disc, elton in with
houiug information, mud Snld he would ulways
Oppo e II resolution calling pom the departments
for information that co ntauea The p rnse "if not
incompatible with he public interest"
Mr.. Ka,sOn replied that II had been the uni
form practice To Recognize the right OF inc tNeCu
live branch Of the government W en- asked Tor
Information to decline II IL thought best.
Mr. Bingham challenged tht statement OF the
gentleman from Mississippi lMr. Money! hat the
Information WAS needed iOr the consideration Of
a bill before the committee ON postothces ana
post roads. This same resolution had cen u
iered by that committee In January, ana me Dill
| offered before the bill was born. Why did the
chairman of the post liice and post roads commit
tee want the Information now W ~ did he want
the reports OfspeGial agents Of lsSl2
Mr Bingham, continuing said two committees
Expenditures In the department of Justice and
pOstolices and pOstroads) have asked for the same
information by resolutions, The former on re.
ceipt OF letter from the postmaster general, has
Withdrawn its request, The other, which Is in.
vestignling nothing, asks the house to give IL
inf rmation that may be detrimental TO the
public service.
The resolution was then agreed to by vote Of
Jas to 1906
Mr., Springer, from the committee on expendi.
tnres In the department of Justice, uflere resO-
luon to be laid on the table in view OF the action
of the house on the resolution from the committee
on posIohi'es and postroads, providing that the
postmaster general should transmit to the house
a in la
cases, except such parts Us may be detrimental
to the public interests.
Under the call of committees reports were sub
mitted as follows:
From the judiciary committee; bill to regu.
late criminal proceedin-s in cases of crime pun
| ishabe by loss Of life or liberty.
Also, bill TO create the United States judicial
district Of southern California.
From banking and currency committee: A bill
10 authorize the increase of the capital stock of
the Commercial National Bank Of Chicago.
Also, bill To change the name OF the James