The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-31
LIGHT BsHU70FF
An Investigation Of Pesta'
Affairs Again Blocked.
HOUSE GOES ON RECORD
Leader Of Democratic Minority, Mr..
Williams, Makes an Unsuccessful
Effort to Have a Probing
Committee Appointed.

A Washington special says: The
house OF representatives Thursday
again put itself on record against any
investigation Of the postof1ce depart
ment. Eight pages OF the postofice
appropriation bill we're disposed of.
The question OF an investigation OF
the postoface department was brought
up by Mr.. Williams, the minority lead
er. who proposed an amendment pro-
viding for selection of five members
Of the house and three senator's to
make a complete investigation into
the alleged frauds in that department.
He taunted the republicans for their
failure to order an investigation, and
said the party was opposed to it.
The chair sustained point of or
der by Mr.. Overstreet against the
amendment. and when Mr.. Williams
appealed, the chair was sustained 1873
to- 80.
Before the vote was taken Mr.. VIII
liams appealed to Mr. Overstreet 70
withdraw MS point OF order, which
Mr.. Oyerstreet refused to do.
Then the gentleman has a perfect
ly. stony heart" said Mr.. Williams.
HE stands in between this investiga-
ton Of the postoff1ce department by,
congress with his point Of ORDER
Thereupon Mr.: Williams appealed
from the decision Of the chair, which
brought from Mr.. Overstreet an ap-
peal to the house to uphold the chair.
To do otherwise, he said, would be q
reflection upon the chair and the dig
nifty of the house.
Mr.. Williams Inquired: What does
a miserable little rule Of the house
amount to when you consider 1t is the
only obstruction lying between you
and a righteousness far greater than
the righteousness of a technical decis-
ion?"
He declared that the very essence,
and soul Of good government is hon
esty in the public service and econo-s
my Of public administration.
'The only way we can secure hon
esty in the postoflce department"
he continued, fs either by the gen.
tleman withdrawing his point OF Or.
der or by the house. marching over
the point bodily"
He was loudly applauded by his col.
leagues on the democratic side.
He lmplored Mr. overstreet to with
draw his point "to save the country
from saying that rather than have an
investigation of rottenness, the house
will stand upon a bare little parlia-
mentary technicality, that amounts TO
nothing In any citizens mind" He
was again applauded.
He said the house can secure an In
vestigation by an outside authority
mot intermingTed with the corrup-
tions existing in the postofice depart
ment" by the two ways he had sus-
gested.
There is a power greater than the;
house, he declared, and it Is the peo-
pie of the United States. When gen.
tleman makes point of order, as rep
resentative Of his party, it is because
his party don't want the postofflce
department investigated.
won you," Mr.. Williams asked.
do something to keep the great body
of American citizenry from believing
the postofice department Is infa-
NOUS"
Mr.. Overstreet, he said, now had
the opportunity Of lifetime, 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 'fts discrimi-
nation and palpable favoritism against
the south in the establishment OF ru-
raj free delivery routes"
Provisions in the bill forbidding ru-
raj carriers engaging in business or
carrying merchandise and increasing
their salaries from $500 to $720 q
year went out on points Of order.