Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-31
Senator German Criticizes the
Proposed Adjournment.
POLITICS IN SENATE
SENATORS PENRoSE AND LODGE
DEFEND THE REPUBLICANS.
Claim Tat Postal Appropriations Had
Been Thoroughly Considered-Al-
legged Instructions Denied.

3 o'clock
Mr.. German spoke for almost two hours in
criticism of the course of the republican
party in the Senate in refusing inquiry.
at the same time charging the post office
committee with undue haste in reporting the
BILL as he did the republican party with a
desire to adjourn Congress at an excep-
tiOnally early date in order to meet the
wishes of the President.
Mr.. Clay contended that there should be a
congressional inquiry, saying that the
charges against Mr. Heath, ex-first assist
ant postmaster general, were such as to de-
mand investigation.
Mr.. Penrose and Mr. Lodge spoke for the
republican side of the chamber, defending
the committee on post offices against the
charge of haste. and also the adminstra-
ton.
Mr.. Lodge contended that Congress could
not make an inquiry that would be as thor
| ough as that already made by the Post Of
flee Department. He charged the demo-
cratic attack to a desire to find a political
issue.
Mr.. Scott quoted District Attorney Beach
and Assistant Attorney General Robb as
saying that there not sufficient evidence
upon which to indict Mr., Heath.
a.. "Orders From the White House"
Mr.. German said it had been charged that
| House for the adjournment of Congress. He
did not know that that was true, but all ac-
lions indicated that Congress was proposing
to surrender to the mysterious power.
Congress had investigated the conduct of
the civil war in face of Mr.. Lincolns great
ness. and that power had been exercised
through the administration of Mckinley He
saw no reason why the conduct of the Post
: Office Department should not be investi-
gated.
Mr.. German referred to some of the
pending legislation and included in the list
Mr.. Foraker's bill for the amendment of
the antitrust law regarding transportation
He referred to Attorney General Knox's
statement regarding this bill, saying that
It was not departmental measure.
Think of IT." said Mr.. German Notice
is given to Congress that nothing should
be done in the way of legislation without
consulting the administration,
Mr.. Foraker said the Attorney General
Ia not given out this statement until chal-
lenged to do so by the democratic press.
and that he (Mr. Foraker) had taken no
exception to this expression of his opinion.
although ordinarily he would consider 1t
better that an executive official should wait
until legislation should reach him in the
regular order of business Since the recent
decision of the Supreme Court he was not
so sure that the legislation intended by the
Dill was necessary.
This remark of Mr.. Foraker Mr. Go IN
said. was the utterance of a true soldier
In the ranks. Discussing the antitrust law
anu amendment, MT. GOrmln
sail the effect of the law to require the
publication of rates like those given by Mr.
Hal on his transcontinental oceanic lines,
with the result that competing nations got
the information. Amendment was therefore
l. cessary, and Mr.. Foraker's bill had been
intended to meet that demand. But with
this as with other matters of legislation,
the executive interferes, and notwithstand-
fn5 the need for legislation the mysterious
order is sent out that Congress must ad-
journ without taking up the question.
Opposes One-Man Power
He hoped that such action We nd be taken
as would prevent one-man control in the
next four years whatsoever might fill the
White House. 1t would not do to say that
the President was honest for honest men
are not rare. Occasionally a dishonest
man may creep in, but he Is soon disposed
of. said MIR. Gorman, and then he pro-
ceeded to say that judgment and good dis
cretion also were necessary in the conduct
of public affairs.
In this connection Mr. German took occa-
sion to say that he did not believe ex--
Postmaster General Smitn had been cog
infant of the bad condition of affairs in
the Post Office Department. as Mr.. Bona
parte had charged He went on to say that
Mr.. BOnaparte was of the class of reformers
who believed that almost all men in Con-
gress and other places were corrupt. He
closed with the declaration of the convic-
ton that the Post Office Department was
"honeycombed with corruption and inefi-
cheney"
Mr.. Penrose Replies.
Mr.. Penrose, chairman OF the committee
on post offices. said that while he had
originally favored an investigation, he had
now reached the conclusion that none was
necessary He said he had felt from the
beginning that any investiga ton that could
be made would result only in showing that
the departmental investigation had been 80
thorough that nothing was left to investi-
"a 70 mn
of the resolution would have the effect of
relieving the Senate from the oratorical
political pyrotechnics to which it had been
subjected on the democratic side of the
chamber"
Mr.. Penrose challenged the accuracy of
Mr.. Germans statement that extraordi-
mittee on post offices In the preparation of
the bill True. only two days had been
given to the formal consideration of the
bill. but a matter of fact the subject
matter of the measure had been receiving
attention since last December.
Mr.. Lodge Denies Charge Of Haste.
Mr.. Lodge also spoke in reply to Mr..
German. He sustained Mr.. Penrose's state
ment that there had been no undue haste
In bringing the post Office bill into the
Senate and declared that all suggestions
made to the committee had been thorough
ly considered. 1t was true that the commit
tee had been diligent In its work and also
power to promote an early adjournment
The party in power" he proceeded. 1.-THE
party responsible for the conduct OF af-
fairs has deemed il best to bring about an
early adjournment IL il could be done. So
far as 1 am aware there have been no in
structions received from anybody In any
quarter. II not on this side of the
chamber that the expression of cuckoo
originated. That word Is chargeable to
the senator from Alabama and applied to
his side of the chamber"
1t also should be borne in mind. he s1id
that the charge that President had said
that he wanted 10 get Congress off his
hands was to be traced to a democratic
President and Mr.. German had gotten his
Presidents mixed
Mr.. Clay Takes Issue.
Mr. Clay took issue with Mr.. Lodges
statement that the democratic party had
opposed the called session of Congress last
fall On the contrary. he said. the opposi-
ton had come from the republican party
He said that he considered the post Office
bill a good one except In a few OF Its items
but he thought there should be an invesf-
CATION. as he thought there should be sys-
a,,I t,tno ffN,. -.