New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-09
WON'T TABLE P. 0. REPORT
Committee Embarrassed Those
Concerned Seek Publicity.
[FRoN THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington. March S.-Chairman OverstreeJ.
OF the House Poetoffice Committee. found him
self in an embarrassing position to-day
result Of the Payne report.
Resenting the accusations made in the report.
il is probable that a sufficient number Of the
Republican members Of the House Will vote
with the minority against tab ne the Hay resO-
luton TO defeat the committee programme
Under the agreement of yesterday permission
was granted 10y unanimous consent to debate
the resolution for three hours before the vote.
An arrangement was also made whereby the
Democratic members of the Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads may submit an amend
ment providing for complete investigation OF
the Postoffice Department by Congress. This
amendment will properly be subject 70 a point
OF order. which VIII be sustained and then the
fight will be made on the committee programme
to lay the whole question on the table. which
would have the effect Of preventing its further
consideration.
Many Republican members have announced
their unalterable opposition to this plan. They
contend that the report contains nothing re-
hecting seriously their official character and
they desire that it have the widest publicity
throughout proceedings I'm the House. They also
declare that should the motion to table prevail
the impression will go to the country. erroneous
and misleading though it may be. that those
implicated were interested in smothering all fur
Their reference to the charges
All mentioned in the report vehemently deny
any intentional wrongdoing I'm making the rec
concentrations criticised and viii take no
chances on allowing that idea to prevail among
their constituents The minority will vote SOL
idly against the motion to lay the Hay resolu-
ton on the table which. when combined with
the votes Of the Republicans who desire a com
piete and immediate vindication will be suffi-
cient TO compass its defeat The ultimate fate
OF the resolution is somewhat in doubt. After
assisting to vote down the committee pro-
gramme the Democrats indifferent 70
what may become Of the resolution. They have
no great desire 70 bring about an investigation
OF the Postofilce Department by Congress. which
they realize might result I'm relieving the Repub-
Acans mentioned I'm the report from embarrass-
ment- With the removal Of the possibility Of
manufacturing political capital from the Incl
dent. their interest ceases and they will be con-
tent 10 let the matter drop.
Visitors were numerous at the Postofice De-
partment to-day. Senators and Representatives
journeyed there In force for the purpose of in
quirnG whether the records contained any fur
Their alusion TO transactions on their part which
might he open TO criticism. Considerable ad-
verse comment was INDUCED in because Of the
vast amount OF what was conceived 20 he super
huous detail furnished by the Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General This. II maintained,
placed those referred to in the report I'm en-
barrassinE and uuwarranted position before the
country. but Il pointed out TO them that
every transaction noted copied direct from
the records, and that the Information given was
In response TO demand from the House itself.
An amusing incident occurred with regard 70
the title OF the report that oCcasIOned good nat
ured bantering among the members Of the
House when II discovered to-day. The first
print was headed. Charges Against Members
OF Congress-: this shocked the tender sensi-
NJ ms nod hat q ia
uand was made that Il be vigorously blue
peuCilled. The result was that the second print
appeared with the innocent and inoneusive
caption, Report the Hav Resolution
II those Representatives mentioned in the
Payne report take occasion TO explain their
tions on the floor 81 the House. the Senator's
mentioned VIII probably avail themselves OF the
same privilege 10 extent which may defer
ad document somewhat beyond present plans.