The Washington times., 1903-12-09

Senator Germans speech in the Senate
yesterday. in support of his plea for an
investigation by Congress Of the post
Office corruption, is reported verbatim
in the Congressional Record" today as
follows:
Mr.. President, I trust the motion
made by the Senator from Massachu-
sets will not prevail. Some ten days
ago the junior Senator from Tennessee
LMr. CarmackI offered a resolution pro-
viding for an investigation of the af-
fairs of the Postofice Department 1t
was broad and sweeping, and instructed
the Committee on Organization, Conduct
and Expenditures OF the Executive De
partments to make an examination The
Senator from Pennsylvania LMr. Pen
rosel, the chairman of the Committee on
Postoffices and Post Roads, moved that
the resolution be referred to that COM
mittee. Subsequently. the Senator from
Pennsylvania offered another and diff
ferent resolution providing for this in
vestigation in the discretion of the Post
Office Committee, which was referred TO
the Committee 20 Audit and Control the
Contingent Expenses of the Senate. be
cause il provided for the employment of
clerks and stenographers. 1t was re-
ported back from that committee yes
terday with one amendment. and, in ad-
dition, I have offered two amendments,
one changing the original resolution that
the Committee on Postoflces and Post
Roads may in their discretion make this
investigation TO a direction requiring
them to make the investiga ton, and the
Of thaf rar,orf ehof11d he made q
the Senate by May. 1904. 50 as TO make
the investigation obligatory and speedy
President Calls Attention.
'T confess do not see why the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts,, or any other
Senator in this body, under the present
conditions, desires to stifie this investi-
cation for a single moment. The Presi-
dent Of the United States has called
the attention Of Congress to the fact
of widespread fraud and corruption in
that particular department. He has told
the Senate and the country that
through frauds. forgeries. and perjuries.
and by shameless briberies, the laws re-
lating to the proper conduct Of the pub
lie service in general and to the due
administration OF the Postofice Depart
ment have been VIGOROUSLY violated.
anu many ltA4AAEllNo nave DttH LOul4Q.
and the consequent prosecutions are in
course of hearing or on the eve thereof.
While there may have been as
much official corruption in former years
there has been more developed and
brought TO light in the immediate past
than in the preceding century Of our
country's history
THE Postoffice Department is a great
and important one. and affects the peo-
pie directly. Its revenue comes from
the humble man who pays. cents fol
postage, and IL comes from every home
in the land. 1t is admitted that the
revenue derived from this source has
| been filched from the department. and
the corruption has been so great that il
has dubbed up and become public. be-
cause the thieves themselves have quar-
relied about the plumber
Some Not Blameless.
THE examination was made by the
/ officers Of the department whose duty
1t was to prevent the frauds. and it was
made by officials who are responsible
for the conduct of the department and
who. some Of the accused aver, are not
themselves blameless. And now this
! simple proposition. with the amend
ments hat I have offered. provides foI
wha,? That the inquiry may be made
by both sides Of this chamber: that the
opposition may have an opportunity tc
| look at the books. and TO examine the
provisions of the law by which II was
/ possible TO take the peoples money foI
| sordid gain.
Can the Senator from Massachusetts
I or any other Senator refuse under these
/ conditions to let an honorable commit
| tee or this body. composed OF a large
majority of the party in power, make
| this investigation? Can you refuse &C
/ permit one or two of us on this side
to join witt. you and ascertain whether
I the statements which have been made
are true. and whether they have taker
| only the surface o. the case?
/ Already. Mr.. President the men who
| are accused Of the high crimes and mis-
demeanors retort in the public press and
say that the investigators Of the de-
partment are as guilty as they in SONS
! particulars. I assert that there is evil
dence in writing that the employment
of some Of the persons who have been
placed upon the rolls OF the department
was done by a written order OF higher
officers than those indicted.
II assert, more, Mr.. President, that