Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-18

passage OF the Wanger resolution would De
a duplication of work already accomplished.
Mr.. Overstreet resented the idea that the
committee on post offices and roads did not
intend to do its whole duty in the matter
by granting dual authority to another and
minor committee.
The democrats entered into the fight from
another viewpoint. They expressed them
selves as being in favor of all the investi-
cations possible. and endeavored to place
before the House a substitute resolution
calling upon the Postmaster General to
transmit all the papers to the House.
While the papers are before the commit
tees they are printed In numbers sufficient
only for the use Of the committee. The
mally before the House so the publication
of the papers as public document will
permit of their general distribution.
why are you afraid to have these papers
come before the House?" asked Leader Will
liams of the minority, when Representative
Wanger declined to say whether or not he
would consent to an amendment. Are you
afraid to let the country have your own
fourth assistant postmaster generals re-
port? Are you afraid your own report will
be published by the minority as cam
paign document? We do want to show
the rOttenneSs, the exceedingly great rotten
ness there is in Denmark
In presenting the resolution with the
favorable report of the committee on ex-
penditures in the Post Office Department.
Chairman Wanger explained that under the
rules his committee is charged with an ex-
animation of the accounts and expenditures
of the department to see that they COM
He did not wish to trespass upon the juris-
diction Of any other committee, but he
thought the rights of his committee in the
premises could not be questioned.
Committee Has Papers.
Mr.. Overstreet of the committee on post
offices and roads said he hoped the reso-
luton would not prevail. 1t had been an
ticipated. he declared, by the action Of his
own committee in securing the papers and
printing them. Seven copies of the vol
ume had been mailed to every member Of
the House. Mr. Overstreet contended that
his committee had secured all the papers
that could be given out at this time with
out embarrassing the Department OF JUS
tice in the prosecution of persons indicted
In connection with the alleged frauds. No
other papers could be secured by Mr.. Wan
gers committee, and the adoption of his
resolution would simply mean duplication
of work already done. Mr.. Overstreet de-
clared there could be no dual jurisdiction Of
committee. E..
He said the jurisdiction of his commit
tee should take preference and called
attention to the fact that the committee
of which Representative Wanger is
chairman did not even have authority to
thus have but a single set of the papers,
whereas they had already been published
in large numbers.
Mr.. Overstreet referred to the fact that
all the larger executive departments are
represented in the House by committees
named to deal with their expenditures.
Without intending any discredit to these
committees or their personnel he declared
it was nevertheless well understood that
they were not charged with the larger
questions of administration, but simply
matters incident to the business of the
House.
tIa ,rfinv To
simply complicate matters, Mr.. Overstreet
asserted If there were charge that the
committee which has already been given
jurisdiction by the House did not intend
to deal with the matter thoroughly, there
might be an excuse for a further resolu-
ton. but not under the prevailing circum-
stance.
Mr.. Williams inquiries.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi rose to ask
for an explanation as to the parliamentary
situation concerning the resolution. He
wanted to know if there would be oppor-
tunity for amendment or the offering of
substitute.
Speaker Cannon said the resolution was
privileged and was in the hands Of Chair
man Wanger OF the reporting committee
for period of one hour.
And what then?' demanded Mr.. Will
Jams.
Then" said the Speaker. "the matter is
before the House. which has full power.
The gentleman understands the situa-
tion," the Speaker continued.
Il do not understand" replied Mr. WILL
Jams. ''or would not stand here asking
Mr.. Williams then applied his query to
an amendment to Mr.. Wanger, who refused
be made Of this refusal to answer In the
Record.
Mr.. Robb of Missouri, minority member
of the committee on post office expendi-
Pm tIa 49, 1a o1,,ft
Mr.. Williams beirg recognized for five
minutes declared that several statements
made on the republican side had been of In
terest to him. One of these was the
adoption Of the Wanger resolution might
allow the minority to complcate matters.
when 1T comes to general administrative
rottenness and ineficiency, corruption and
crime, we want to complicate matters II an
honest and open investigation does the
complicating."
He said another statement had been made
that the minority might make trouble.
This was true, he declared. If trouble con-
sisted Of a demand for honest government
and incorruptibility in public Office
Mr.. Payne OF New York spoke for a few
minutes In opposition to the Wanger reso-
luton. He thought the matter was already
In good hands. Mr.. Williams asked Mr..
Payne If ne commended that the published
papers We're all that the department has on
the subject. He said 1t had been intimated
that the report of Mr.. Bristow had been
Sultcu Idyilt STU tHc pdpeTS PUBLISH
ed were all that could be published without
giving defendants advance information OF
evidence in the hands of the prosecution.
On the motion for the previous question a
yea-and-nay vote was called for. The DEM
ocrats voted against the motion. There
was a tie-107 to I07. Speaker Cannon
voted for the previous question. SO it was
ordered. On the passage of the resolution
the democrats voted in the affirmative the
floor leaders of the majority and other re-
publicans, with the exception of Mr.. Wan
ger and one or two others, voting in oppo-
sition. The RESOLUTION was passed-1O0 to
100 The committee will call for the papers