The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-09
WHOSE THE HIGH
HEAD They MASk2
German Aroused by the
Postoffica Scandal.
This is What German Desires. Dis
cussion by German Lodge and
Others. Believed That Many
Guilty Ones Have not
Been Reached.
(By the Associated Press.)

tigation into frauds in the Postoffice De-
rartment was the basis of a Sharp debate
in the Senate today by Mr.. German and
Mr.. Lodge. The discussion arose over a
motion by Mr.. Lodge to refer to the
Committee on Postoffices the resolution
introduced by Mr.. Penrose, looking TO a
Senate investigation into the condition in
the department.
Mr.. German objected to the reference
Of the resolution 10 the committee, say
ing that he could not see why Mr.. Lodge,
CT any one else should desire to stife
tho investigation" The President had
called attention to the Irregularities in
the department, saying that the frauds
perpetrated there in the past ten years
had been greater than in the past two
centuries. This declaration he character
lzed as sweeping and horrible" and he
declared that no Senator could afford to
stand in the way Of an investigation il
which the minority party could partici-
pate. The money taken had, he said
been flched from the pockets of the
common people. The corruption had been
so great that it had bubbled up TO the
surface and this had occurred because
the thieves had quareI!ed among them
selves over the plunder. This statement
was followed by the declaration that the
investigation had been made by men
charged with PARTICIPATION in the crimes.
III view of this fact he could not believe
that Mr.. Lodge or any other Senator
would desire to stifie an inquiry at which
a few of the members Of the minority
might be present. 1--WE want to ascer
tain," he said, whether the investigG-
lion which has been made has been
tiIely on the surface and whether it is
true that those who have made the in
vostigation are not as guilty as those who
have been investigated.
Il assert here as a Senator" he went
on, that there is evidence In writing
that there were frauds perpetrated by
nigh officer who is allowed to escape
entirely. We want the facts. The cOun-
try is not satisfied with the thoroughness
of the inquiry and wants the books laid
open for inspection in order that the en-
tire truth may be known. We want to
aid the President in turning the rascais
out as we have doubt that he desired
to do, and for these reasons we hope that
the inquiry Will be undertaken"
Mr. Lodge charged Mr.. German with
incorrectly quoting the President, and
said that the portion OF the Presidents
message to which reference had been
made applied to the frauds in st. Louis
and not to the postal frauds. THE Sen
ator from Maryland forgets," he sa!d,
that Congress he's twice investigate.
that portion of the postal service found
TO be most at fault, and twice gave the
department a clean bill of health. AS
matter of fact there is nothing more
clumsy than q Congressional inquiry"
AS result of the department inquiry
a great mass of testimony had been gath
cred which he thought the Senate should
have access to through Q committee.
Il want the testimony brought here"
he said, ''aEd examined and | do not
want the committee committed to the IN
quiry until we know what the facts are
He did not know whether Mr. German
had meant to refer in his eccusations to
the Postmaster General aid the Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General but If he
did mean to do so, Mr.. Lodge said he
wished to say that both those officials
bad crossed the inquiry with zeal and with
all the machinery in their power.
The discussion was participated in by
Messrs. Nelson, Tillman, Hoar and Bal
ley.
Mr. Tillman took occasion to remark
that "in view of the aggressionS from
the other end of the Capitol and the
other end of the avenue, Senators were
in danger of becoming me-toos," and this
statement brought cut remonstrance
| from Mr.. Hoar against heated express
sions on part of members who might pe
called upon to sit as judges in the case
The investigation resolution was laid aside
and the Cuban Reciprocity bill was taken
up.
Mr.. Teller opened the debate in be-
half of the opposition to the bill saying
public sentiment in favor of the bill had
been manufactured in Cuba and the Amer
lean .people were made to believe that
the neople of Cuba were in serious
condition The manufacturing of this
sentiment he charged, was lnaugurated
by General Wood, who might, ne sad. De
the author of the proposed legislation,
backed by the executive with an energy
he had never before displayed. He sald
General Wood two years ago mad sent
circulars to Senators urging the passage
of the then pending Cuban bill, an act
that would have resulted in the cashier
ing of any other officer. speaking OF the
| interest in the passage OF lie o'll, Mr..
Teller said that sugar stock had advanced
or declined with the fortunes OF the bill
and he said it was IN evidence that Mr..
uayemever of the American Sugar Re
6ninp Company, had interested himself