The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-08
Action Taken in House
Calls Upon Mr.. Payne
to Submit Papers for
Use of Committee.
GoRMAN RAISES BREEZE
BY SINGING SPEECH
TO HIS ASSOCIATES
Senator De-
clareS Facts Have Been
Hidden and Some Of
the Big Thieves" Al
lowed to Escape.

lOWSu 10 Escape.
After a political fight consuming an
hour and half the House today adopt
ed without amendment the Overstreet
resolution calling on the Postmaster
General to forward to the House Com
mittee on Postofices and Post Roads all
papers bearing on the recent investiga-
ton Of his department. Democrats made
a vain effort TO amend it so that
the information should go 10 the House
instead OF 10 the committee
The Postofice Committee met early
in the morning and. by unanimous ac-
ton. ordered a favorable report to the
House.
The expected controversy over the
subject OF a Congressional investiL
into the Postofhce Department scan
dals broke out in both Senate and
House at the same time. and was the
feature Of the days deliberations.
Il has been said the Republicans
would spare no effort to prevent inter-
ference with the Administration by Con-
gress. and the Democrats would leave
no stone unturned 70 bring the mat.
ter before that body. The struggle be-
tween the two parties on the subject
has been awaited with great interest.
and when it came this morning it was
full OF excitement.
Senate Proceedings.
Senator German started the ball roll
ing IN the Senate by saving he had in
formation that men CHER up" were
seriously implicated in the frauds and
the investigators had not gone deep
enough
Representative Overstreet precipitated
the trouble IN the House when he re-
ported for the Committe on PostCaiees
and Post Roads on the resolution cali
ing upon the Postmaster General to fur
nish the committee with all the docu-
ments in the investigation.
Mr. Overstreet objected TO making the
documents public and the Democrats
demanded that they be given to the
House.
Gorman Speaks.
Mr.. German insisted the people OF the
country were not satisfied. and he said
he was not satisfied with the investi-
cation as it had been conducted
This money has been flched from
the pockets CT the common people" he
declared earnestly. and the corruption
has dubbed up because the thieves have
fallen out over the distribution OF the
pIunder.@
He wanted 1t remembered the fnvesti-
cation was made by officers who were re-
spOnsible for the frauds and by those
who participated in the corruption and
by men who were IN control Of the de-
partment.
We are in a hopeless minority" he
said. and we think we should be per
mitted 10 join in this movement. We
do not know whether this inquiry has
gone below the surface Men who are
accused retort publicly that those who
conducted the investigation are as gull
~ as they are.
I assert as a Senator of the United
States that there is in writing evidence
that officers higher than those indicted
were involved in this corruption
Lodge Replies.
Mr. Lodge Immediately replied to the
Maryland Senator and defended the Ad-
ministrauion from the structures OF Mr..
German. A lOng debate followed. until
Mr. Cullom raised the point that the
Cuban bill had the right of way and
ought to be debated Mr.. German agreed
TO have the whole matter go over until
tomorrow without any present action.
How Debate Started.
Mr.. German took up the Postofice
matter on Mr.. Lodges remarks against
favorable action on the proposed Con-
gress investigation. He said ne was sur
prised any Senator would dare 10 stIhe
this investigation for a single moment
after the admissions made by the Presi-
dent in his annual message that more
corruption had existed in the past ten
years than in the century and -hore OF
the eountry's existence -
Mr.. German taunted the maj jority for
taking the stand that the minority
should have no part in making a
thorough investigation. Remedies must
be applied. ne said. Who does not re-
member that when the charges were
originally started a high official said
II was all smoke. When another man.
an ex-OfficiaI. made a statement ex-
posing the frauds. it was laughed az.
until finally. when investigated. il was
found TO be correct
The country is not satisfied Mr.
German continued; I'VE are not salts
fed with this investigation. Certain peo-
pie say they are being made the scape-
goats of others as high IN authority
who are equally guilty. We simply
would like a fun investigation, and
then We viii see whether the President,
in his great power, Will turn the rascals
out-as 1 believe he would after a fun
investigation should be made.
Mr.. Lodge replied with emphasis TO
Mr.. German, and said:
IF / had needed any assurance Of ahe