The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-24
shown by his said letter fled herewith. there
fore have the honor to ask for his immediate re-
moval. Very truly. JOHN l.. BRETT,
NJ. c. Second District, Indiana.

SHOWN Dy MS said letter MED herewith. tnerc-
fore have the honor to ask for his Immediate re-
NJ. c. Second District. Indiana.
After the clerk had read the letters. Mr..
Bretz addressed the House as follows: 1T
will be seeE by that letter that in my Off.
cial capacity my character and reputation
has been assailed by an unworthy man at
tempting TO purchase lease of an office.
l filed that charge In the office Of the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-general on
the 18th day of the present month:
to the charge. underscored
the offer Of Sl5 with o lead pencil mark
lIaughterl. IN order that his attention
might be specifically called to that charge.
present. ted 1t to him in person. and tho
only reason or excuse that he would at
tempt 60 give me for refusing to make the
change was that had received greater
percentage of changes in the postoffices In
my district than any Der OF Congress
IN the United states" Laughter
Mr.. Hepbnrn-Has this postmaster been
writing to the ePostmaster-generalf
Mr.. Bretz-Not that know of. The only
reason that is assigned to me why l shall
be held mp In soorn and contempt before q
part of my constituents and before the
country, In cause of this kind, is because.
perhaps. / have received q greater per
cent of changes of postmasters In my
district than any other member of
Congress. l have availed myself of
this opportunity to vindicats myself. as
well ns TO inform this House and the
country that the responsibility of retaining
corrupt men In office does not rest on my
shoulders as il appeared to do in the past.
desire that this House shall know, and
that the country shall know. that what
ever blame there is attached to anyone for
permitting cOrruDt men ana incompetent
and unit men to remain In Office in this
country as fonrth-class postmasters rests
upon the shOul lder8 of the fourth assistant
postmaster-g general and not upon myself"
Mr. Henderson, of Iowa-Does it appear
that the honest postmasters have been re-
moved 10y the administration and the cor
III pt ones have been retainedf Laughter.
Mr. GOldZier-There were not any honest
ones. They were all Repu ublioans.
Mr. BretZ-l will ssy that. so far as my
inquiry aud investigation has gone. there
were not very many homes tones In Office.
Mr. Payne-They dad not ell offer Si5. did
theys
Mr.. Bretz-No, sir. / represent an intel
ligent district. The Democracy of that
district aud some of the ReDublloans are
creditsble constituency. Mr.. Speaker IN
further vindication of myself send to the
clerks desk the following resolution, for
which ask immediate consideration.
At this point the Representative of the
Second Indiana capped the climax. and
here is where his little ship ran upon
rock and sunk. He proposed to investi-
gate the methods of the official slaughter
house at the Postotiice Department by
Offering the following:
Whereas. on the 10th or OF September, 1898,
charges of an attempt TO bribe public officer
and incompetency to perform the official duties
OF the Office were filed with the Hon. Robert A.
Maxwell, Fourth Assistant Postmaster general.
against the present postmaster at Ceestine.
Ind, and the said Maxwelrs attention specially
called TO the nature and character of said
charges and a request was made for the imme-
diatc removal OF said postmaster; and
Whereas, The said Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter-general has failed and refused to make said
removal now. therefore, be 1t
Resolved. That a committee OF three members
OF this House be appointed by the Speaker,
whose duty il shall be to investigate and inquire
into the reasons. il any exist. why said removal
is not made. and report to this House at an early
day the result of said investigation.
The Speaker declared that the resolution
to investigate the charge was Dot privi-
legged and not entitled TO immediate con-
siderstlon. L: was. therefore. referred to
the committee on postoffioes and post roads,
where it will sleep the sleep of the dead.
1t Will never be reported. This ended the
tempest in q teapot.