The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-08
Senator HOar Says 1t Is De-
manded in Postal Cases
If Matters Are as Bad as They
Appear to Be.
CUBAN BILL TAKEN UP
Senator Teller Begins a Speech
in Opposition.
House Committee Wants Papers
in Postal Frauds.

Washington, Dec. S.-The senate to-
day adopted resolution, presented by
Mr.. Hoar, calling upon the secretary
of state for the correspondence relative
| to claims against the republic of Col
ombia on account of damages sustained
at Colon and calling for information as
to the responsibility of that govern
ment. Mr.. Hoar explained that the COR
respondence called for relates entirely
to private bills and has no reference to
public questions.
When the resolution for the investi-
cation of the postoff1ce frauds came up
Mr.. German took the floor and strongly
opposed the reference to a committee
of the resolution. He declared that the
majority should not shrink from an in
vestigation. He said there had been
positive assertions that men who had
unlawfully placed employees on the rolls
were to escape. Mr.. German said fraud
and corruption were admitted and COM
municated to the senate by the preSf-
dent. He said the country was not sat-
| isfied with the investigation, nor wus
the senate. Those who had been ac-
cused had said others higher up wers
| as guilty as they, while they have been
made scape goats.
Let us have all the facts" said Mr..
German, land see if the president will
turn the rascalS OUT
Mr.. Lodge, who made motion to re-
fer the resolution stated that what Mr..
German said only further convinced
him that the resolution should be re-
ferred. The investigation made under
| order of the president, he believed had
brought out all the facts. There was a
mass of evidence in the department
awaiting an order of the senate for
printing.
Mr.. Lodge said that as to the sin
uations against high officers it was well
known the postmaster general and the
| fourth assistant postmaster general had
made every effort to get all the facts
and it would be well for the senate to
| first examine the evidence to see il the
| investigation had been thorough.
Mr.. Nelson, who yesterday gave no
tice that he would move to refer. said
that it would be impuiitic to take the
evidence out of the Postoffice depart
| ment now and make it public. He said
that such procedure would furnish the
defendants with Tile papers and give
them an opportunity to make defeug0
He contended that this would be lii
/ proper while the cases were pending
in the courts.
Mr. Tillman claimed that an attempt
was being made to whitewash the
frauds.
Mr. Hoar suggested that if the frauds
ought to be impeached and such pro-
ceedings should originate in the house.
Mr.. Cullom cut short the discussion
on the resolution by insisting that the
Cuban bill had the right of way. The
resolution went over until tomorrow
and Mr.. Teller began a speech in op-
position to the Cuban measure.
| IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 8.-When the house
convened today Mr.. Overstreet, chair
man of the committee on ,postoffice and
post roads. reported the resolution au-
| thorizing the committee to request the
postmaster general to furnish the COM
mittee with all papers in connection
| with the recent Investigation of the
postOffice department and announced
that the committee was unanimous in
recommending it's adoption