Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-19
58TH CONGRESS-.
House Calls for Postoffice
Investigation Papers.
Lively Contention Between Two Com
mittees Before Vote Is Passed.
Senate Talks of Our Relations to Re.
public of Panama.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-The House, to-
day, by resolution authorized the COM
mittee on expenditures in the post
Office department to request the post
master general to furnish that COM
mlttee the papers in connection with
| the recent post office investigation, but
not until after a lively debate. The
| resolution met opposition on the Re-
publican side. Overstreet, Rep, Ind,
chairman of the committee on post
offices and post roads, contended from
| the information sought had been re-
ceived the post office department and
mailed to members.
Wagner, Rep, Pa, chairman of the
committee on post office expenditures,
held that the desired information was
essential to his committee in consider
alton of measures affecting the post
office department.
Williams, the minority leader, re-
newed his efforts to substitute q reso-
luton providing that the information
be requested by the House instead of q
committee but the previous question
being ordered on practically a party
vote he had no opportunity to offer his
substitute. 1t required the Speakers
vote to order the previous question.
| the yea and nay vote resulting in
| tie. On a yea and nay vote on its
| passage, the resolution was agreed
| to, 100 to 100, the minority voting prac-
| tically unanimous with the friends of
| the measure on the Republican side.
The contention was between two
committees OF the House, the post
office committee, of which Overstreet
IS chairman, and the committee On ex-
| penditures in the post office depart
lnent. of which Wagner is chairman.
The latter tried to secure recognition
| OF his committee when the matter frs
| came before the House. Wagner was
supported by members of his commit
tee and some other Republicans.
When the House convened, Wanger
Rep, Penn, chairman of the commit
tee on expenditures of the post Office
department, reported favorably en- res
oiution authorizing that committee to
request to the postmaster general for
papers in connection with investigation
of the post office department and asked
for it's immediate consideration Wan
ger contended that the information
sought was essential to the proper con-
sideration of matters before it.
Overstreet Rep, Ind. opposed the
resolution on the ground that the infor-
nation sought already is in the hands
of members.
Williams, Dem. Miss. replying to
Overstreet, said if making trouble con-
sisted in making a thorough inquiry
into the post office situation the minor
nounced that if given an opportunity
he would offer a resolution providing
that the postmaster general be re
quired to send to the House all the pa
pers and evidence in connection with
the investigation.
"Are YOU afraid of it," he asked
Are you afraid to have the House and
country generally know it?" Williams
then asked if the majority We're afraid
the work of their own fourth assist
ant postmaster general would make
good campaign material. He asked
Overstreet if it was true that Mr.. Bris-
tow had stated before the pest Office
committee that his report had been
edited.
Overstreet replied that Mr.. Bris-
tow had not made any such statement
before his committee or to him per-
sonally.
Williams asked further if al; the in
formation had been sent to the commit
tee. Overstreet replied that the report
of Mr.. Bristow made public by the COM
mittee was just as it had been made to
the postmaster general.
Williams insisted that Wanger, who
ont,. 1nI fl,a t;,,,L, CHI In
would permit opportunity to amend, but
the latter declined to say at this time.
Payne. replying to Williams, said that
if the minority leader had pursued the
course open to him he could have secured
a vote before this on the resolution he
now sought to offer as n substitute.
Payne said the information that was
being held back would be of benefit to
the defendants in cases now pending in
the courts.
Replying TO the suggestion that the ma
iority desired cover up" Payne said ii
was Republican administration that
had made the order and which had made
the investigation with it's resultant action.
Wanger then moved the previous ques-
ton, Williams calling for the ayes and
noes
The vote on the motion for the previous
question, a party vote, was a tie. The
Speaker then voted in the affirmative,
thus carrying it.
A division on the question of adopting
the resolution resulted in majority vote
in the negative, the Democrats with two
or three exceptions voting for the rezolu |
ton The yeas and nays were ordered.
The resolution was adopted by 100 to 100. |!
The Senate bill to protect foreign eXhib- |
works at the st. Louis Worlds Fair was
passed.
A resolution from elections committee |
No. l. authorizing that committee to or
Francisco to produce the ballots in the |
Kuhn i.ivcrnash contested election case,
was agreed to.
The House, at 2.26 adjourned until to-
morrow.