The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12
.s t,f SaA9 h4& ts aF -sas4 sa' Terrific ExcOriatiOns Of the Executive De-
 partmentS. {. DEMOCRATS AND
 REPUBLICANS WROTE Smith of Michigan Proposes o4 Speaker Cannon for President. @ Clayton of Alabama, in Words That Burn, Assails the Postoface De- { pertinent, and the Cabinet ai1 Member at It's
 Head. q

''t
 washinEtoi March 1.-The House of Representatfves Indudged itself today in nearly seven hours of explanation, ac- eusafion and vituperative deunciation and then ordered with only two negatives votes an investigation of postal -affairs so far as members of the House are con- cerned by special committee of seven members to be appointed by the Speaker, who likewise are to examine into the origin of the Bristow report so far as 1t concerns members of the House. The demand of the minority for sweeping Investigation of every branch Of the Postofice Department was not granted. The climax of the day was reached when Representative William Alden Smith, Republican of Michigan, condemned every executive department of the government for It's arrogant treatment of the only branch of the government In direct toucn with the people of the countrywide House of Representatives-ands shouted out the name of Speaker Cannon for President of the United States. es..-
 Raps Add to Disorder.
 The House thundered its acduiescence. members rose to their feet and fairly shrieked their assent; Democrats waved whatever was in theIr hands. Republicans pounded their desks and the packed gal- leries took up the enthusiasm and echoed the applause When the Speaker bent low over his desk and wielded his gavel vigorously for order, his raps only served as an impetus for fresh outbreak of enthusiasm. Meanwhile MT. smiths time ran out and when he endeavored to continue, in opposition to the ruling of the Speaker, he was urged on by the ! cries ef snesnbeEs on both sides but 'Niltla- out avail.
 Mr. Giilett (Mass.) presented a prlvi- leEAd report. When Mir. Hay (Va.) ob- tected to It's consideration. ..i1. Y :. 's The Speaker, In ruling on the point, said the Hay resolution was a matter of the highest privilege. and he recognized Mr. Overstreet (fnd.) who desired unani- nous consent for an order giving mem bers ten days leave to extend their re- marks. .. -"
 Mir Cooper (wis.) entered an emphatic 'I object" ,-
 Mir. Tawney CMinn.). entertained the view that every member had the right to speak indefinitely as a matter of privi- lege.
 MT. Overstreer then submitted two propositions, first that the discussion be extended until Monday at { o'clock and second until 4 o'clock tomorrow, to both of which Mir. Hay objected. He then renewed his motion to grant leave to print, which brought MT. Williams (Adiss) quickly to his feet with the dec laration that whatever is said on this subject should be said in the open House. and he therefore objected. He was greeted with applause.
 Cowherd Defends the Committee.
 Mir. Cowherd tMo.) was recognized and defended the action of the committee in presenting the report. There was no occasion, he said. to refer the matter to the committee to see where the charges against members had been made. The report of General Bristow had gone out with the approval of the President.
 "I say now" he declared, "that if Beavers has usually complied with re- quests of members of Congress regard less of the merits of the case, the an- swer is that the charge Is true"
 Continuing, he said, "Is Beavers to blameT" Yes. sir. "Are the members of the House to blame?' No.
 ''If members had made unusual re- quests upon the department" he said, "the propriety of their conduct was a question between themselves and their constituents. It is not a violation of
 
 phasis that the committee could not un- dertake to edit the departments report, nor could they discriminate between the cases cited. If they had done so the committee would have been lashed from the floor of the House.
 Jenkins is Indignant.
 Another accused member, MT. Jenkins (Wis) wrought himself up to A high state of indignation and declared that he was in favor of removing General BrIs. tow from office before the sun goes down"
 MT. Calderhead (Kas.) said the Presi. dent and the Postmaster General had charged him with making a corrupt con. tract with Beavers.
 "They shall not do it." he vigorously stated, without my protest. here or any. where"
 MT. Small CN. e. advocated an inyes. tlgation of the whole Postofice Depart. ment. saying that Mir. Hill of Connecti. cut had said that there was one 'Iial and scoundrel'' there. He believed there were more "liars and thieves there than had been uncovered
 ''I. Democrat. serving my first term in Congress. am charged with exercising un. due influence with oficials of the Post. office Department" was the statement of MT. Pou (N. e. and the House laughed.
 William Alden Smith CAGich.) said fer. vently: ''I denounce this report as a voluntary and gratultous Insult by a great executive department of this gov. srnment." That department had under. taken voluntarily to cast a stigma or ''this great chamber of people. It has gone out of It's way to keep facts back which should have been given out," hS continued.
 Wild is the Excitement
 He Sthen threw the House into a state Of wild excitement. Men of the 4highesl character. he declared. had been assaIlec by the report. among them the Speaker of the House. ''I hope" said he, h,s words being almost completely drowned by the cheering and handclapplnE wItt which his remarks were greeted. ''thai