Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-29
THECOM|NGCONGRESS
To Investigate the Post Office
Department.
A POLITICAL MOVE
DEMOCRATS WILL OFFER A RES
OLUTION.
President Will Receive Reports in Time
to Make Them Public-Many
Dismissals Expected.

There is very little doubt in the minds OF
many prominent politicians that there will
be an investigation in the coming Congress
of the Post Office Department. On the part
of republicans it is generally believed that
the investigation that has been going on
in the department for some time Will be so
complete as to make unnecessary any such
action for the good Of the service. But the
game of politics is such that an investiga-
ton is apt to be brought about despite any
thorough report that may be placed before
the country by President Roosevelt
Democrats have already been talking of
introducing resolutions in Congress calling
for an investigation of the Post Office De-
partment These resolutions will have con-
sideration. Whether republicans think they
are justified by conditions existing in the
department or not, they are not likely TO
vote against them, because If they should
do so the charge would be at once raised
to the effect that the administration tears
the result of general congressional lnves-
tigation. Then, too, resolutions to lnVesu-
gate anything are apt to have little obstruc-
ton.
The Politics in It.
If the fact that the investigation soon to
be reported on has been very complete is
suggested democrats will reply that that
investigation has applied only to the office
of the first assistant postmaster general
1t will be charged that there are other
divisions of the department that should
be looked into, especially in relation to
contracts for carrying the mails on the rail-
roads.
The fact that democrats are expected to
introduce resolution to investigate the
Post Office Department will be one OF the
most urgent reasons to influence repubH-
cans to be foremost in getting in and acting
on such a resolution. AS the case now
stands the investigation in the department
was urged and has been conducted by re-
pubIicans. During the coming campaign
that investigation cannot be referred to IN
any way by democrats to make poiltlcal
capital when the truth is known about 1t.
But there are democrats who would be very
glad to place the republican party in Con-
gress in the attitude of either being forced
into investigation or OF declining 10
make an investigation. 1t Is his political
move that plays an important part In max
ing 1t probable that Congress will be forced
into making an investigation.
President to Make Reports Public.
1t is believed that the President will re-
ceve the report of the Postmaster General
and the fourth assistant in time to thor
oughly examine it and make it public when
the extra session is called. The suggestion
that the publication of this report will give
the defendants in the postal cases undue
advantage in the conduct of their cases is
not very widely credited. That phase of
the case will be considered by the Presi-
dent but it is generally believed that the
report will contain little that will be new
to the defendants themselves. 1t is believed
that all the men who have been indicted
have very accurate idea of the evidence
that has been secured by the department.
In that view of the the Withholding of
the report would merely keep the facts
from the public.
Then. too it is believed that the necessity
to inform Congress of the exact condition
in the Post Office Department will be very
great. There will, it is believed be a strong
desire on the part of very many republicans
and democrats to have the facts contained
in this report in such shape that they can
get at them at once.
Many Dismissals Expected.
Before the report is given to the public it
is believed that President Roosevelt will
order a number of dismssals from the pub
lie service. 1t is stated that the report is
likely to give him sufficient evidence to
cause removals from the service, and that,
without awaiting the. results of all the
court trials that are to take place, he will
decide that some men now in office are not
fitted for the public service.
Two True Bills Drawn.
The grand jury did not report any indict-
ments today, although 1t Is understood that
two true bills in connection with the Post
ONCE Department investigation have been
drawn. One post office" witness, 1t is
learned, testified TODAY before the grand