The San Francisco call., 1904-03-18
MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE
SCORES POSTOFFICE MANAGEMENT
Congressman Williams Opposes Increased
Salaries of Clerks and Says Department
Is Rotten From Turret to Foundation

as to contend that an appropriation for
He then spoke of the independence of
the Civil Service Commission and its
absolute contempt for the law.
They do not hesitate a minute" he
declared, ito violate the law any time
they please, and tell you with suavity
that 1t was because Of a construction
put on the law by somebody, God only
knows who"
He said the most discoura ging thing
in American citizenship as represented
in the House was for an honest man
to come to Congress and find him
self hedged all around with wilder
ness of misinformation, overinforma-
ton and non-information, whichever
happens to suit the fellows who write
their DEGREES and send them here to
be registered in appropriation bills"
The hour Of adjournment was at
hand when Southwick of New York,
referring to Williams remarks yester-
day on the subject Of trusts, had read
an editorial from the New York World
saying that the antitrust law was
framed by a Republican, passed by
a Republican Senate and signed by a
Republican President, and that 1t had
remained a dead letter on the statute
books during the second term of Presi-
dent Cleveland The Republicans Wig
orously applauded.
Williams said he was more than de-
lighted to see the Republican majority
on the floor cheer the hounds on to
hunt down the combines and trusts of
this country"
GIVES VAN SAINT CREDIT.
Already, he continued. Attorney Cen
eral Knox had been careful to be in
terviewed and to permit the country
to know that the Northern Securities
case just settled the Northern Securi-
ties case, and that it does not mean
anything particular, anyhow. One
statement in the article referred to,
he said, credited this administration
with being the author Of the prosecu-
tion. 1t happened to be, he declared.
one Van SAINT, out in the West some
where, who started the case, and for
very shame, after he had got the case
upon the docket, the administration,
prior to an election, could not hold
itself still. Governor Van SAINT was
blanket Indian Republican" and he
did not consult headquarters" but
precipitated the litigation.
Continuing, Williams said he had
seen blanket Indian Republicans be-
fore, and he had seen them "quelled'
when the time came.
And" he declared, IF you dare to
attack the men who are furnishing
your campaign expenses and carry it
far enough to persuade them you are
in earnest, you will be quelled, too. II
you don't do it, you will be quelled by
the people,
Tawney OF Minnesota stirred up a
hornets nest when he inquired of Will
liams if he could state how the Demo-
Gratis in the Fifty-first Congress voted
when the Sherman law was up for con-
sideration. He declared that every del
egate voted against it.
The House was at once in an up
roar.
Gaines OF Tennessee, gesticulating
wildly, asserted that every one voted
for the bill when it was passed in the
House and that it passed the House
and Senate unanimously. His remarks
were met by laughter and jeers from
the Republican side. He stated that the
first bill had been introduced by Sena-
tor Teller and began to give a history
of the legislation, when he was inter
rupted by Tawney, who said that
when Mckinley presented the rule for
the consideration of the antitrust law
the Democrats opposed it.
"Ah, get OUT" shouted Gaines, amid
great confusion.
An inquiry from Grosvenor as to
what had become of the postoff1ce ap-
preparation partly restored good order
Mr.. Williams, getting the floor, said
it was not true that the Democrats op-
posed any legislation calculated to
down trusts or combines.
The House at 500 o'clock adjourned.