New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07

that it was his understanding that the lease
OF the building under consideration had been
made before the property had come into the
possession OF the Senator. who now owns IT,
that the Senator did not know Of the lease
when he acquired the building. and that he had
been trying to get rid Of it since he had made
the discovery.
Of that IS true" replied Mr.. Teller, "the rep
reservations TO which have reference are
gross SANDER"
Mr.. Foraker admitted the correctness Of this
inference.
Mr. CarInack made a general plea for an in
quiry by the Senate. and quoted the newspaper
reports to the effect that the Postmaster Cen
eraI had not been in sympathy with the in
quiry when undertaken. and that he had de-
clared the Tulloch charges to be hot air"
sPOoNER DEFENDS PAYNE.
This statement aroused Mr. spooner, who said
that the charge did great injustice to the Post
master General. So far rs the Bristow inquiry
was concerned. Mr.. Payne had been in thor
ough sympathy with It, and $ad placed the en-
tire machinery of the department at the COM,
mand Of the official who had made this most
remorseless inquiry. That" said the Wis
consin Senator. II shall be able to prove when
I speak at greater length on this question as
l mean TO do"
1T ought TO be proved. That is what we want
the inquiry for" said Mr.. Carmack.
lie repeated the report that Mr.. Payne had
referred to the Tulloch charges hot air.
and Mr.. Spooner said that his statement had
covered the Bristow inquiry only. AS for the
Tulloch charges he would give attention to
them later. He said Mr.. Payne had remained at
his desk in this city day after day all last sum-
meT, while the inquiry was in progress. not
withstandinG he in very poor health, de-
voting every energy 10 seeing that the truth
should be brought out and the department
purged Of every element of graft"
MI CRmack disclaimed any intention Of
charging Mr.. Payne with completely in or SYM
pathy with the irregularities in his department.
His suggestion that of indifference TO the
wrong. and the natural inference was that If
the inquiry had been left TO him there would
have been none.
IN other words" said Mr.. spooner. the
charge is that he had sympathy with the
wrong, but with the wrongdoers?"
Il did not say that" replied Mr.. Carmack
Practically" commented Mr.. Spooner
Nor even practically that" Mr.. &armack in
sisted
Mr.. Spooner again spoke briefly, saying he
would be able TO show that MI Payne had So
lcited appropriation for the purpose OF max
ing investigation long before the investiga-
ton had been undertaken.
WORTHLESS INVESTIGATIONS.
MI Lodge said that Investigations by Com
gress for the purpose Of discovering crime are
pretty worthless. He called attention TO the in
quiry by Congress into the official conduct of
Machen, while he was superintendent OF free
delivery. Both the Senate md the House in
vesugated Machen." he said. at the very time
In which he was engaged in the practices for
Of tba
ment inquiry. and both cleared him OF the
charges upon which the inquiry was predicated."
Mr. Carrnack explicitly denied any intention
10 reflect on the Postmaster General, but con-
tended that ell that had been brought out en-
phasized the necessity for investigation
Mr. Spoone- said the fact that inefflciency had
been shown. and that 1t begun in the
Cleveland administration. could not be disputed
But because there have been irregularities
among great host Of clerks, it had been prac-
tcally charged that there had been cause for
the impeachment OF the officials at tie head Of
such departments
Mr.. Carmaci1 replied that he could nor ag-aa
to that expression, and added that If investira-
ions mad been more searching there would have
been no cause for scandals IN municipal StatA
ana national departments. and for lacl, of such
investigation the officials should be held respon.
sibe.
GoRMAN JOINS IN THE ATTACK.
Mr.. German said he was willing to bava oil
resolutions caliinc for Investigations Of the Post
ONCE Department referred TO the COMMITTEES on
Fostofhces and Post Roads, as he had received
assurances from the chairman that prompt ac-
ton would be taken. However, he wanted 70
cal attention to the fact that all the debate
on this subject had emphasized the necssst+v
FOR an investigation OF the Postofice DEPART
ment He said he had 10 desire to Investigate
any particular Office; he believed that the IN
vestigaton should be much broader than tina,
as the irregularities had crept in by degrees
ana the corruption possibly had been a part Of
three or more administrations. - 1t now had
reached g. point. ne said. where men who are
corrupt themselves have disclosed the corrup-
ton OF others. MY purpose" he added is nor
so much TO expose this corruption as, by the ac-
ton OF Congress in making protective laws. to
eliminate the chance OF such corruption in the
future IN the Postofice Department"
Mr.. spooner asked If Mr.. German would not
Do willing TO supplement that suggestion by
calling on Congress for a thorough Investigation
of all departments at stated periods
Mr.. German anwere5 49, he wouId ta will
ing, but for the present he was content IN deal
with the question in hand. Continuing he de-
clared that the corruption was not party
matter; that the present Postmaster General
could not have been responsible for the state Of
affairs in his department as it started before he
began his duties as the head Of the department
He declared it had been the policy of the pres,-
dent to ignore his Cabinet ministers I'm This
matter and give the credit for the exposures I'm
the Postoffice Department to n. c.. Seckendorfr
and William Allen White. newspaper men Of
sagaclty. he expressed willingness to do tus-
tice TO the President in this time OF trouble IN