Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-04-06
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
German Uses Plain Language About
The Administration,
Senate,

SCuGICb
The Senate Wednesday began cohsid-
Grafton Of the postoffice appropriation
bill and 1t was the signal for revival
of the Democratic demand for an in
vestigation into the charges OF corrup-
ton in the Postoffice Department.
The debate was Initiated by Mr.: Cor
man, who spoke for almost two hours
in criticism of the course OF the Re-
publican party in the Senate In refus-
ing an inquiry. Mr.. German referred to
the hasty consideration and report OF
the bill and asserted that there had
Eeen persistent denial of the investi-
cation OF the affairs OF the Postoffice
Department. He urged that it was not
yet too late to take steps to prevent
further robbery" and thievery in the
department.
It is said," he went on. that Con-
gress must adjourn speedily; that from
one source request amounting TO or
ders has gone out; that it is inconven-
lent for one branch Of the government
20 have Congress On its handa; that
if there Is delay there are likely to he
disagreeable differences from what has
already been developed
''NVe have reached time when there
is much preaching Of honesty and high
minledness, but corruption bubbles
out 1t came like fog, and has not yet
lifted and we cannot tell whether all
tic information is yet out"
Mr.. German referred to the charges
made by the Postoffice Department.
saying he believed they had been made
for the purpose of divertlng attention
from the guilty ones who had flched
money from the Treasury and abused
their trusts. AS for himself he was of
the opinion that the members had not
gone more in the matter than their
public duties required. Mr.. German
called attention to the habit Of cciti-
cising men engaged IN executive work
and he concluded that this criticism
grew out Of d Well-iirected effort to
build up a one-man, Czar-like govern
ment.
"so far, indeed. had this plan pro-
sressed that legislation has come to
be practically farce. all important
measures being dictated by the cxecu-
tive. 1t was coming to be that only al
executive order was necessary TO get
an appropriation. The result is that
Congress becomes a mere recording
body.
I'VE are told he continued. that
having approved the plans OF the ex-
ecutive We must adjourn and go home
because OF the fear OF damaging dis
closures. The fear is SO great that we
are 10 be sent away and not to be al
lowed to do anything
He then referred to some OF the
pending legislation and included iii the
list Mr.. Foraker's bill for the amend
mept to the antitrust law regard
ing transportation. Ee referred to At
torney General Knoy's statement re-
ga:dIng this bill, saying that it was no:
a department measure. Think OF 1t,
said Mr.. German. Notice is given to
Congress that nothing should be done
il the way Of legislation without con-
sultlng the administration"
The. American people do not want
one-man control, Mr.. German contend
ed. He hoped that such action would
be taken as would prevent one-man
control in the next four years. whose
ever might fill the White House.
Mr.. German closed with the declara-
tion CT the conviction that the Post
office Department was "honey-combed
with corruption and inefficiency.
AIr. Penrose, chairman of the COM
mittse on postoffices, said that while
-Ee nNzasrtgiru irui iff,'-f -farered -iihTestlga--
ton ,She has now reached the conclI-
sion that none was necessary.
Mr. Penrose challenged the accuracy
of Mr. Germans statement that extra
ordinary haste had been exercised by
the COMMITTEES or postoffices in the pre-
paratca of the bill. The subject mat
ter OF The measure had been receiving
attention, he said. since last Deccm-
ber.,
Mr. Lodge sustained Mr.. Penrose's
statement that there had been no un-
due haste in bringing the postoffice
dill into the Senate. 1t was true that
lnG pSQ uOIlS ulI LA ITO Po"
er to promote an early adjournment.
"rhe party in power" he proceed.
ed, "has deemed 1t best to bring about
an early adjournment II it could be
done. so far as | am aware there have
been 70 Instructions received from any
body In any quarter. was not On this
side Of the chamber that the expires,
sion "cuckoo" originated. That word
is cha.geabIe to the Senator from Ala
bama and applied to his side of the
chamber" 1t also should be bronze in
mind. he said. that the charge that q
President has said that be wanted to
eet Congress off bis hands was to be
traced to a DemOc: .itic President. ana
Mr.. Cormau had gotten his Presidents
mixed.
In the House.
Substantial progress was made
wednesday, by the House, In the con-
sideration CT tie sundry civil BILL