The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-10
REPUBLICANS TO
ST|FLE SCANDAL
Senator Simmons on
Postoffice Inquiry.
CHOKED OFF FOR TIME
They Can Postpone the Inquiry, but
They Can't Prevent it, He Says.
National Republican Com
mifteemen are Gath
ering.
Especial to News and Observer.)


Washington, D. c., Dec. 9.-Though the
National Republican Committee does not
meet till Friday, many of its members
have already arrived, and from the senti-
ment of those and of the party leaders
in Congress it's action can be pretty we'll
forecasted. Every indication points to
the selection of Chicago as the convention
city, if it guarantees the usual cash con-
tribution for expenses. Certainly, now a
majority of the committee favor that
city, though st. Louis will have a dele
cation here urging the claims of that
city.
The proposition to cut down the South s
representation in the convention will not
be adopted. The President is against it
and Senator Hanna was never much of an
advocate of it. Besides the party lead
ers, while generally acknowledging the
force of all the arguments urged for it.,
say that it will stir up the negro question,
and that to cut down the representation
of the South would certainly have that
effect, as the negro would consider it a
blow at him, and at time when he was
laboring under the ban of Southern dis
leaders have in the past found the swol-
len colored representation from the South
quite handy in emergencies, and they are
not now disposed to kick down the ladder
that helped them up, especially since
they may need it again.
This is the view the Northern commit
teemen have of the proposition.
The position of the Southern members
is represented by Committeeman Dimmick,
of Alabama who is here with several of
his State party leaders to protest to the
President and the con,mittee against re-
duction of their rer -sentation. He says
it will cut down the representation of
every Southern State and increase that
of most of the Northern States.
Senator Simmons had prepared himself.
at Senator Gorrnans request, to address
the Senate toicy in favor of investiga-
tion of the Postoffice Department, but
was denied that privilege on the ruling
that the Cuban bill had the right of way
and as long as any one desired to debate
that only routine business could be con-
sidered.
'It is the very evident purpose of the
Republicans" said Mr.. Simmons, later to
your correspondent, "to prevent, if possl-
BILE. discussion of the scandal question.
vent it. We are determined to urge our
proposition for an investigation, and,
though they can and probably will defeat
it, we propose that the country shall know
necessity for the investigation that we
SEEK
Under the ruling made today the Pen
rose resolution calling for the investiga-
tion can only be taken up when it does
not interfere with that bill or after that
bill has been disposed Of
Congressman Gudger has been sum-
moned to appear tomorrow before Election
Committee No. 1 for preliminary hear
ing regarding his contest, but as he is in
Raleigh to argue the Madison county
bond case before the Supreme Court, he
will be summoned at later date on his
return
Senator Overman today introduced a
bill appropriating a hundred thousand
| dollars for public building at Sals-
bury The same bill has been introduced
lin the House by Congressman Kluttz.
This is Mr.. Overman's fourth bill since he
became a member of the Senate. The
others were bills of private nature,
s.,ch as bills for claims and pensions.
"A number of new rural free delivery
routes are being surveyed in Congress
man Thomas district Inspector Brown
is now at work on proposed routes in
Sampson county, and later will go to
Wayne, and perhaps other counties for
like purpose.
Tie contract has been signed for light
vessel to be stationed off the outer Dia-
mond Shoals, at Cape Lookout. The con-
struction of this vessel was ordered by
sst Congress and ninety thousand