Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-10

ance OF accuracy, ne cOfltdHlueu'
| that there was in no instance any VI
olation of any law whatever by any
member of Congress in making any rec
omendation either for increase of clerk
hire allowance or increase of post Office
building"
Overstreet moved that the debate
continue until 4 O'Clock, tomorrow,
which was agreed to unanimously.
Moon, Tenn, insisted that there
should be an investigation covering the
post Office department and everybody
| connected with it, adding:
And whoever is guilty. whether in
this House or in the department should
be exposed"
But" said he, Il take it that no SEN
sible man will deny that there is any
| thing else but crime running all over
that department.
w. w. kitchin, N C., charged Gen.
Bristow with having deliberately sup
pressed important and material facts.
facts" he said, pounding his desk.
which could not DE overlooked and
which were suppressed, in my judg-
ment for the purpose of giving a false
impression to the country and miSlead-
ing the public
Bristow's action, he said, was neith-
err courageous nor honest, but for par
tisan purposes.
Amid a storm of applause lasting for
several minutes, Gen. Grosvenor, Ohio,
who was named in the report, said that
this was pretty good specimen of the
readiness with which the newspapers
OF the country and the great body of
the people grasp a publication or Il
statement and assume evil where they
might assume good. He convulsed the
House by reading an editorial which re-
ferred to Speaker Cannon and Repre-
sentatives Payne and Hill as having
been taken 'red-handed." but speaking
seriously. he said, it was in accord
with the views of % per cent. of the
newspapers of the country. The report
was malicious libel on 191 members of
the House and Senate.
Il submit" said he that the investi.
cation which the gentleman from Indiana
has been apoloSizinS for is an outrage
and a violation of every principle of JUS
tice."
II will resign my seat tomorrow he
sand. pounding his desk. IF there is any
thing irregular or improper in what
did"
Then. showing the effects of his indig.
nation. lirosvenor pounded his desk agar
and said:
Il condemn the man that sent tina;
into this House. Can any selfrcspcctine
congressman ever enter the Office of the
man who will produce such d document
as that
I.ilIcy (Ct). who was charged in the re.
port with being a technical violtor OF
the law in leasing his building lit Win
Sted, CT. to the government for post Of
hce purposes, explained that he had beer
informed by Il written opinion from the
department that his election to Congress
did not invalidate the lease in any way
Butler Pa.). another accused member
differed, ne said, from Gen. Grosvcnor
and he would defy anyone to close the
doors of the department to him.
what my constituents are entitled to-
he vigorously remarked. they shall
have and sncerinsly added .'Bristow OF
no BriStow.
Whoever had assaled him. he said, was
Hill (Ct). likewise mentioned in the
IriStOW paper, denied that he had done
anything improper
II am going to vote for Il resolution tc
investigate myself and to Investigate thu
fOuth assistant postmaster general" he
said, amid Il round of applause. Holding
up Il copy of the report Hill vchemently
declared: That document is the produc
ton of a liar and a scoundrcl-"
Hill was loudly appaudcd- His con
Guiding words had thrown the House into
confusion and Speaker Cannon had diff
Guilty in restoring order.
Thompson (Ala.), also named in the re.
port, characterized the report as infa-
nous.
Robinson (Ark.) demanded an investisl-
ton of the entire post office department.
The BriStow report, he said, was an at
tempt to muddy the waters and prevent
the House from making thorough invcs-
LEGATION Of that department.
Cooper tWis.) interrupted Robinson and
said he had been informed by an Old
member of the House that Gen. Bristow
trcmbling from illncSsD told that mem
Der that he tBrStOw) had never seen the
report as it was now printed.
therefore" said Cooper, Il think tho
abuse of him ought to stop.
The naval appropriation bill was sent
to conference. the Speaker appointing
Foss DAYTON and Meyer conferccs on tho
part of the House, and at O'Clock tho
House adjourned