The Washington times., 1904-03-16
COMMITTEE BUSY
MAPPING OUT WORK
AppOrtiOning the Cases to
the Members.
TWELVE ON HANDS OF EACH
Question of Influence of Representa-
. tives in the Department at
Issue in Investigation.
TWELVE ON HANDS OF EACH

The Mccall committee appointed by
the Speaker to consider and investigate
M. Bristows charges concerning
members IN connection with the Post
Office Department. resumed its sitting
this morning in the room assigned to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Since
the committee organized last Saturday
the members have been devoting them
selves to the matter Of systematizing
their work. formulating a plan of pro-
ctdure. and appOrtioning the various
cases which they are TO investigate
among the several members, so that
each viii have a certain number to con-
slider and report upon to the fun com
mittee
The matter Of recommendation for
allowances for clerk hire at various
postofices has been taken up as the
first business of the committee There
are over zoo of these cases mentioned in
The Bristow report. more than eighty
OF which pertain to members OF Con-
Eress. so that each committeeman has
ten or twelve cases assigned 70 him to
consider.
When they have concluded with the
matter of clerk hire they will take up
the question of rental of buildings. It
IL probable that in a day or two the
committee VIII give members an oppor-
tdnity to be heard upon the cases IN
which they are interested, and also that
Officials OF the Postofice Department
VIII be called upon 10 make statements
before the committee in explanation of
the cases It is quite likely that some
OF these officials will be asked TO state
why the fun record IN each Csc was
not submitted with Mr.. Bristow's data
In majority OF cases. it is asserted if
he full n
the circumstances had accompanied the
report" there would have been stu
Jess grounds for making charges con-
corning members"
Want Wider Inquiry.
Although the Republicans were all
whipped into line to vote for the Mccall
resolution, and against a general in
vestigetion OF the Postonce Depart
inert. there is still a strong undercur-
rent of sentiment among the Repub-
hcans for more thorough and com
prehensive investigation than has been
ordered. Many believe that the scope
OF tbs Mccall committees work should
be broadened, and il may be that whea
II submits It's report, that il viii be di-
rectcd 70 proceed further and ascertain
additional facts II is quite certain at
least that an effort viii be made IN
that direction.
What many members desire 70 know
as much as anything else is Just what
their status is. and how far they may
so In representing their constituents in
matters Affecting their interests before
the departments. They have been called
10 account ana criticised because They
1ntcrceded IN the interests OF the people
they represent. before officials of the
Postofi1ce Department. They want 70
know whether they are ike wise 10 be
debarred from exercising the rights they
have had for years in appearing before
bureaucrats in other departments
Members have always exercised the
right OF going before department OFF,
Gals and making known the needs and
wants OF their constituents. Sometimes
they have succeeded and other times
they have failed, the result depending
autocratic rule OF the bureaucrats.
Duty to Constituents.
The average member of Congress be-
heves that his duty is not limited TO vot-
ing on measures which come up IN Con-
gress and making laws, but that he is
under Obligation 70 the people he repre-
sents 20 inJercede in their behalf before
tie departments II fact many members
devote the major portion OF their time
10 this work, because the laWmaking
junction OF Congress is largely carried
on by the sO-callcd leaders. II they are
not 10 be allowed 10 appear before the
departments and make honest represefl-
talons, then they inquire IN the Ian
guage OF the Hon Web FIannigan,
What are we here for2" In fact there
would be little need for many Of them
10 be here
II is their status in this respect that
members want defined now that IL has
been brought into question by Mr. Bris-
tow They further declare that the ex-
ecutiVe branch Of the Government as
represented by the various Departments
always makes recommendation 10 Con-
gress when there Is need fer money and
they believe that turn about is fair play.
in short these members want 10 know
whether this Government is TO be a
government By bureaucrats or a gov
eminent conducted by the repleac-.ts-
rves OF the people i'm Congress