The Washington times., 1903-12-09
WHY GORMAN WANTS
FULL INVESTIGATION
MARYLAND Senator Declares PoStoffice Frauds Have
Not Been Probed to the Bottom

the loosest legislation on the statute
books is the appropriation act by which
we placed in the hands of the officials
Of the department authority TO expend
money without limitation except as 10
the gross amount of the appropriation.
Under it this department has grown
from an insignificant one in point Of eX-
penditures to more than 500, 100000 and
this ought to be c -ected. The checks
and restrictions saJ1id be in the law.
The petty stealing or The stealing upon
n larger scale that has occurred under
1t has gone into the past. and we can
leave the Administration. If IL viii do
so, and have no doubt IL will, to prose
cute the men against whom they have
evidence This investigation by a com
mittee Of the Senate will not Interfere
in the slightest degree with the prose
cution of those WHO have been indicted,
or trench upon the investigation by max
ing the testimony public in a way tina,
would prevent the conviction of anyone
But we want to go further and as
certain the truth of the general, sweep
ing-I might almost say horrible-dec-
laration Of the President of the United
States that bribery and corruption so
permeate the department as to convince
public places in the last ten years than
In the century before.
Willing TO Participate.
Mr. President, Il would be the first
time in the history of the Government
when a matter comes before Congress
through the President of the United
States. calling our specific attention 10
department and demanding the ex-
posture Of every man who is guilty OF
fraud. that we Of the minority party
should not be permitted to participate
with you in ascertaining how great the
extent and what legislation may be
necessary 10 prevent its recurrence in
the future.
I am confident that the junior Sen
ator from Massachusetts, upon a mo-
ment's reflection, will see the propriety
of this investigation. 1t is not one for
the Postoffice Committee to consider.
but it is for this great body as a whole
to consider. There is the single propO-
siIon of fraud and corruption in high
places in that department, which is ad
mitted and communicated to US by the
President. The remedy must be APP
piled. We say we do not believe 1t was
! possible for the Postoftice Department
tC expose all the rascality in il. Who
| does not remember that when It began
&. high officer of the Government saiu
| il was mere smoke, Who in this body
does not remember that when that eX-
official of the city postoffice made his
statement charging fraud it was
| laughed at But finally il was referred
! to an Assistant Postmaster General
and then to a commission of eminent
| lawyers, who have told the country
/ that his report could not be ignored.
People Want to Know.
Sir. the country is not satisfied with
| what has been done. We are not salts
I fed with the course of this investiga-
/ ton, thorough as it may have been to =
/ few individuals. The prominent ones in
sist that it is persecution; that they
/ are being made the scapegoats of a
I great avalanche Of frauds which has
] been perpetrated because others higher
| in authority have been negligent.
| We want the facts We want to oper
| the books. We want the investigation
] thorough and complete, and then We
/ Will see whether the President, with his
| great power, will turn out the inefficient
/ and prosecute all the rascals, and have
/ no doubt he will. Let US aid him &c
| purify the department and to prevent
/ these wholesale frauds in the future