New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-16
TO BROADEN P 0. INQUIRY
PROBE ALL DEP RTNENTS.
General OUerhauIing You'd Last
Until Far in the Summer.
rFRox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington. March 15.-Members OF the
House. still smarting from the sting OF the
Payne report. forced by the fact that the report
was prepared under the immediate supervision
OF the chairman OF the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads 10 desist from their
wholesale condemnation Of its author. and de-
termined ''to make trouble for somebody" APP
parently. regardless Of the consequences to
themselves or their party. are reverting to their
former demand for a general investigation OF
the Postofice Department. and even insisting
on a general investigation Of all the executive
departments. with a view to asCertaining Il
each cent of each appropriation bill had been
expended in exact accord with the intent Of
Congress IN framing these measures.
In fact. this movement has gained such head
way. with. apparently. the encoura cement OF
some members VINO would hardly be expected
20 lend themselves to a general movement hav-
ing revenge for it's chief end. that in the opin-
ion Of certain well posted Representatives. a
general overhaulng, which will last far into
the summer is regarded as assured. No charge
is made that there has been any dishonesty in
the administration Of the funds allotted to the
various departments or even that there has
been any juggling with the moneys appropriated
but It Is explained that some officials have
ercised a wider discretion than conferred
on them by Congress. and II IS believed that the
dignity Of the House can be sustained by a gen
eral investigation. which will at least annoy. If
not embarrass. the various heads Of the depart
ments.
WOULD TAKE UP APPROPRIATIONS.
The select committee Of which Representative
Mccall Is chairman has full power to investi-
gate the relations Of members OF Congress with
the Postoflce Department. and will. doubtless.
DO thoroughly and conscientlOusly. but it is
now urged that the scope of its inquiry he
broadened to enable it TO Investigate the
duct OF the department in handling It's annual
appropriations.
It has long been maintained by members Of
the House that executive departments have
failed to comply with the provisions OF the sup
ply bills. in that the authority conferred by
them was frequently exceeded. and it is assert
ed that q discretion has been assumed as 20 the
lions that was not contemplated when the meas
ure5 were drawn and passed.
Should this investigation be authorized. an ef-
fort will be made to extend it to all OF the great
executive departments OF the government and
this will make necessary the appointment of a
committee, OF committees charged with the
duty Of ascertainng the facts and presenting
them TO Congress. Such an inquiry It is be-
ueVed, would prove at least annoying 10 the
heals or the various departments. and that very
fact seems TO constitute formidable factor in
determining the House upon this course \
comprehensive investigation Of this character
would necessarily take COnsidera ole time, but,
II ordered. permission would doubtless be grant
ed 10 the committees 10 sit during recess as by
such action the session would not be prolonged
because Of the investigation