The Washington times., 1903-09-01
Representative Wachter Pro-
poses to Offer Resolution
in the House Calling for a
Sweeping Investigation.
The Maryland Congressman
Scouts Idea Such a Move
ment Could Harm Party.
Large Field for Inquiry.

Representative Frank Wachter, of
Maryland, has privately announced his
intention of introducing at the next
session of Congress a resolution calling
for a Congressional investigation of
every department in the Government
service. Mr.. Wschter expresses the
opinion that the service is permeated
with grating and filled with persons
who do not attend TO their duties, and
that Congress should take some action.
Ever since the scandals in the Post
office were given such wsde publicity as
a result OF the agitation for postal re-
form inaugurated by The Washington
Times, there has been more or less talk
of investigation by Congress. II was
said If a newspaper by it's unaided eff
forts could bring to light a state of af-
fairs which has caused one of the great
est official shake-ups in the history OF
the Government, competent men armed
with all the powers of Congress would
probably be able to produce most start
ling results.
AS fast as these suggestions for Con-
gress action were made. they were met
with the plea that too much might be re-
vealed and the party in power would suf-
fer at the coming national elections. Rep
resentative Wachter and others have not
agreed with this. and have believed that
an investigation which exposed rascal
ity would be a tremendous drawing card.
instead of drawback. and it is this be-
lief which actuated Mr.. Wachter when
he declared that he would introduce his
sweeping resolution at the coming ses-
sion.
Plenty of Material at Hand.
The field for Congress probing under a
resolution as proposed by Mr.. Wachter
would be wide, and the Investigators
would have an abundance of material
with which to begin. The developments
in the PostofIice Department are so well
known that they do not require enumer-
alton. The department has been shaken
to its foundation. officials considered
more powerful than the Postmaster Gen
eral have been arrested and warrants
for nearly a dozen others have been
served, while the entire force OF en-
ployes has been stirred and reformed
In the Interior Department number
Of scandals are suspected connected with
the sale and allotment of Indian lands in
the Indian Territory and lin Oklahoma
Members of the Dawes Commission and
lesser lights in Indian matters are al
legged to be connected with trust COM
panies which are said to have for their
object the obtaining of leases from ig-
norant Indians for ridiculously small
sums conflict has arisen between the
Secretary of the Interior and the Audi
tor for the Interior Department over the
handling of $500 900 which was obtained
from the sale of town lots In Oklaho-
ma Indian agents in different places
have been openly or covertly charged
with collision in the purchase of sup
plies and in their methods of handling
their Indians. Secretary Hitchcock has
been industriously engaged in running
down these allegations. and his efforts
have been rewarded by finding evidence
enough TO warrant the summary dis
missal of a number of officials, while
dishonest contractors are now on trial
in Oklahoma