The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-25
WILL NOT DIG IN
ITS ROTTENNESS
P0ST0FFICE DEPARTMENT
MAY GO ITS WAY FOR ALL THAT
CONGRESS- CARES.

Democrats Defeated in Another En-
fort to Bring About an Investiga-
ton of the Department of the
Government That Has Been shown
TO He Corrupt and inefficient.
Williams Made a Strong Fight,
but the Republicans Won.
Washington, March 24.-The House
of Representative to-day again put
itself on record against any investi-
cation of the Postoffice Department.
Eight pages of the postoffice appro-
pration bill were disposed of. The
question of an investigation of the
Postoffice Department was brought up
by Mr.. Williams, the minority leader,
who proposed an amendment providing
for a select committee of Ave MEM
bers of the House and three senators
to make a complete investigation into
the alleged frauds in that department.
He tainted the Republicans for their
failure to order an investigation, and
said the party was opposed to it.
The chair sustained a point of order
by Mr.. Overstreet against the amend
ihNhts anu WHICH, NIL W lAAiotll0 dPPIAAS0
the chair was sustained, 1873 to 80.
Before the vote was taken Mr.. VIII
liams appealed to Mr.. Overstreet to
withdraw his point of order. which Mr..
Overstreet refused to do.
"Then the gentleman has perfectly
stoney heart" said Mr.. Williams. He
stands in between this investigation of
tba Dostoa3oo Toara.+noaYt yoxy CoY, erraua
with his point of order"
Thereupon Mr.. Williams appealed
from the decision of the chair, which
brought from Mr.. Overstreet an appeal
to the House to uphold the chair. To
do otherwise, he said would be a re-
Election upon the chair and dignity OF
the House.
Miserable Little Rule.
Mr.. Williams inquired: What does
a miserable little rule of the House
amount to when you consider it is the
only obstruction lying between you and
a righteousness far greater than the
righteousness of a technical decision 2"
He declared that the very essence and
soul of good government is honesty in
the public service and economy of pub
lie administration. THE only way we
can secure hon ssty in the Postofhce
Department" he continued, lis either
by the gentleman Withdrawing his
point of order or by the House march
ing over the point bodily"
Mr. Williams was loudly applauded
by his colleagues on the Democratic
side.
He implored Mr.. Overstreet to with
draw his point, ito save the country
from saying that rather than have an
investigation of rottenness the House
will stand upon a bare little parlta-
mentary technicality, that amounts to
nothing in any citizens mind"
He was again applauded- He said
the House can secure an investigation
by an outside authority mot inter-
mingled with the corruptions existing
in the Postoffice Department" by the
two ways he had suggested. There Is
a power greater than the House, he de-
olared, and it is the people of the
United States. When gentleman
makes a point Of order, as representa-
tive of his party, it is because his par
ty does not want the Postoffiee De-
partment investigated.
Appealed to Overstreet.
Wont you," Mr.. williams asked.
do something to keep the great body
of American citizenry from believing
the Postoffice Department Is infa-
mous?"
Mr.. Overstreet, he said, now had
the opportunity of q life time, that
may never come again, to remove blots
from the department and from the
administration.
Mr. Lever, of South Carolina, criti-
cised the department for its "discrimi-
nation and palpable favoritism'
against the South in the establishment
of rural free delivery routes.
Provisions in the bill, forbidding ru-
raj carriers engaging in business or
carrying merchandise and increasing
their salaries from 5000 to $3.50 year
went out on points of order.
The House adjourned until to-mor-
row.