Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1904-03-18
THE WASHINGTON LETTER

thE WAOHlN6 UN lEttEh
Not within this generation has
there been witnessed such a scene Of
excitement aud confusion in the
House Of Representatives rs that
which transpired on Wednesday and
Thursday Of this week. AS with
whirlwind party lines went down be
fore the witheung lines Of the Bris-
tow report upon the alleged connec-
tion of congressman with the post
Office frauds. Not an hours delay
was tolerated to enable the committee
on post offices which gave the report
to the public, to lay it upon the table.
Mr.. Overstreet, chairman Of the com
mittee tried to extract the sting from
the document, but failed, and the
whole question was thrown open for
discussion. Members proceeded with
alacrity to take the bull by the horns.
He had got into a political china shop
and mnst be hustled out. The public
pressed into the galleries until they
were overfiowing, and great crowds
at the doors.
During the debate il was with
difficulty, and much pounding Of the
desk that Speaker Cannon could
maintain sufficient order for the
transaction fbusiness. Congt tessmen
who have been in the House ten and
twenty years, white with anger,
denounced the charges and insinua-
tions as exaggerated, uncalled for,
garbled, and improperly included as
a part of the document. It suppress
ed the truth and suggested that which
was false. The best that can be said
is that many congressman on both
sides of the house, since the govern
ment was organized, have been in
the habit Of making recommendations
and suggestions to the post Office
department, regarding the identical
matters charged up against them in
the report. This is not what they
were elected for and the practice
should be reformed altogether.
All departments of the government
shared in the excitement, and nothing
else was talked Of among politicians.
In brief the Bristow report contained
the names of about one hundred and
fifty members of congress out Of a
total Membership Of four hundred and
eighty. These have been held up TO
public scorn and their integrity inn
peached. The discussion would have
been continued on the 10th inst, but
for an adjournment of the house for
the day occasioued by the death Of q
member, Hon. George w. Croft, OF
South Carolina. The specific charges
were that the members named had
gone to the department asking for an
increase in the salaries of certain
postmasters, requesting more clerks
for certain post Offices, and desiring
an increased allowance for the rent
of buildings. 1t was charged that a
few were owners Of the buildings
which were to be leased by the-gov'
ernment. While there was not
a technical violation oflaw, it appears
that certain regulations Of the depart
ment were violated by Beavers, whC
had these matters in charge and who
is under indictment. During the two
days dicusslon congressman tried L
purge themselves Of all wrong doing
but the report has gone broadcast anC
many a political career is nipped. A
the conclusion Of the debate, th'
House voted to appoint a select com
mittee to investigate the charge
made against members Of congress
There win be no further general in
vestigation Of the post office depart
ment.