The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-12
Will Have the Effect Of Bringing
All tic Postofice Scandals Be
fore Investigating Committee.
Mr.. HAY WORKED IT
THROUGH IN ASTUTE WAY
Ic Passed this, til &, Measure e on Il the
Ground That It Was Privil- -8
eyed, as 1t Pcrtaincd5to Mem
bcrs Of Congress- Rcso-
luton Put Republicans
iii. a Deep Hole.

(From Our Regular correspondent)
s5 WASHINGTON. y. c., Jan. 1l.-Rep-
resentatiyc Hay. OF Virginia, is beins.
congratulated today on the prospect Of
the speedy passage of his resolution cali
Ing for an investigation Of charges. made,
Ii, the report Of The Fourth Assistant
ostr1aster-Gencral, that members Cf
Congress had been guilty in matters af-
fectlng tho lease of buildings by the
government for purposes Of tho depart
ment. 1t was stated to-day by the senior
Democratic member Of the Committee On
Postoffices and Post Roads, Senator
Moon, to which the resolution was re-
}ferrcd by q close vote, that the reso-i
luton III question would be reported Ia
fvorably. This makes its passage cer-
tain. asked Mr.. Hay this morning u
tho, effect of the resolution would be-
Z to have n congressional investigation OF
charges against members sof Congress-
"Certalnly not he replied. 1t VIII
have the effect Of bringing all the post
office scandals before the committee for
Sthc resolution, and the Republicans knew
IT when It was proposed. That caused so
many of them including the leaders. to op-
pose It. am satisfied that all charges
AFFECTING the Integrity Of members OF
Congress and Of officials OF the DEPART
mcnt Will be fully investigated
4. AN AsTuTI# PLAN.
Mr.. Hay got his resolution through
in {. very shrewd. though perfectly legit-
innate way He pressed 1t and asked for
Its immediate consideration, on the
ground that it was privileged. as it per-
taincd to members Of Congress. The
chair decided when the point was made
against it. that there were some things
In the resolution which could not be
regarded as privileged, and that there
fore it could not be regarded as a priyi-
legged matter. Thercupon Mr.. Hay
promptly struck out Of the paper the
portion to which, the speaker referred,
and though lie did not get It through
on that day, he did succeed III having It
taken IN and passed the day following,
Tho resolution put the Republicans In
a deep hole When they voted against
lit, they were lii the attitudc0b before tho
country OF opposing an investigation OF
charges made against themselves, In
common with the Democratic members
or the House. TO vote for5i was to open
mn all Investigation which is bound TO
be productive OF sensational develop
ments. More of them voted against tho
adoption OF the resolution thnn voted
fo,fit, but all the Democrats were on
tie aye side. and 1t was adopted,
OPEN HEARINGS.
This investigation by the committee
from the House will be far different
from the star chamber proceedings con-
Quoted by tho department last sprlns
ana summer 1t is not known that tho
sittngs wil be public, hut there Will be
on the committee men who arc not M
tcrcsted In keeping things from the pub
lie, and there will not be so nue.; SUP
nression OF facts as in tho invcstga ton
conducted by the department. In strict
newspaper rarlancc the committee VIII
- lc,a,,4 4ln,,nd IN. Sncnnd Ioapel ~. ~