The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-27
MIR. BRETz's SENSATION.
The House Treated 10 an Opera Com
ique by the Indiana Representative.

The House Treated 10 an Opera Com
faue by the Indiana Representative.
a scene from a comic opera could not
have been more intensely amusing than
the scene upon which the house curtain
rose today. 1t might have been entitled
"A Leaf From Indiana Politics. the
plot uncovering the trials and tribula-
tions attending the efforts of congress
men to secure the dec2 pitation of OBJ
jectiOnable fourth-class pOstmasters. Mr..
Bretz of Indiana was the aggrieved per-
son and Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Maxwell the object of his in
dignation.
Rising TO question of personal privi-
lege he explained that soon after the
Inauguration he had filed charges against
James Hansenour. the postmaster at
Celestine, Ind, on the ground of in
competency. In proof of this charge he
sent to the clerks desk and had read
the letter which he had filed with the
charges. The letter written by
HansenOur soon after the republicans
came into power in 1890 and furnished a
model illustration Of the acrobatic alac-
rity with which some fourth-class post
masters can turn their political coats
with changes of administration, was
written in English, but hung closely to
German idiOms, and the clerk who en-
tered heartily into the spirit of the af-
fair, read the letter in dialect to the
great amusement Of the house. In the
letter the writer pledged himself to the
cause of republicanism. Mr.. Bretz said
that the fourth assistant postmaster
general had refused to act on this letter
The house could not exactly see where
the question of privilege came in and
Mr.. Burrows called the speakers atten-
ton to the fact.
'Oh, let him go on" protested Mr..
Cannon of Illinois. He may be pre-
pairing to bring Impeachment proceed
ings against Mr. Maxwell"
Mr.. Bretz replied that he was coming
to the question of privilege and there
upon presented another letter, that was
read addressed to himself on Sept. 10
by Hansenour in which bride of SIS was
offered by the writer If Mr.. Bretz would
permit him to continue to hold the Of
fee The choice extract of this letter
was as follows:
at change som in poladiks four years
ago was a big intress TO me, although
Blenty heare wants the office to stay
wild me. Tha say that / tended it all
right. Also 1 am proud of 1t. 1 will
make you presend of SIS If you will
let me keep the office"
Mr.. Bretzs cheeks famed and his eve
flashed as he denounced this attempt
to bride a public officer. The members
laid back convulsed with laughter as
Mr.. Bretz delivered his philippe and
some irrevocable laughing suggested
that the letter was not large enough.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr..
Bretz offered a resolution for an APP
pointment of three to ascertain why this
corrupt official had not been dismissed.
The speaker, of course, ruled that the
matter did not present a question of
privilege and reluctantly Mr. Bretz per-
mitted IL to be referred under the rule
kr1a Of
mittee.
Some unimportant reports to the house
followed and then Mr.. Talbert of Mary
land called up the bill RENTING $4,000
in penalties to the builders Of the dyna-
mite cruiser Vesuvius. 1t went over
without action.
The house then proceeded to the con-
sideration Of the printing bill. Louis
vile and Omaha were added to the list
of cities where proposals for furnishing
paper are to be advertised for.
Messrs. Doolittle of Washington and
Herman OF Oregon wanted some of this
patronage for their districts but after
a sarcastic speech by Mr.. Williams of
Mississippi, In favor of including the
village of Buckatawna. Miss. the house
applied the brakes and the Pacific coast
was shut out. This angered Mr.. Doc
little Of Washington, who succeeded In
having Everett, Wash, added to the
list This re-opened the matter again.
and in a spirit of fun SIR. Cummings of
New York proposed Medicine Lodge,
Kas., I'm the interest of art, literature
and science. He said IL was the home
of the most remarkable statesman of
the age Jerry SIMPSON, Jerry gave
glowing description of Medicine Lodge
the future great metropolis. Mr.. Bell
OF Colorado wanted Denver added to
the list, and strange to say, got It,
Pending further action on the bill the
house adjourned.
A bill was presented In the house to-
day by Representative Boatner of Louis
lana. which makes provision for the