The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-19
German and Hale Debate POst-
 office Question
THE INVESTIGATION STYLED
Maryland Senator Shocked By State ment That the Republican Major
 ity Would Not Permit Air
 Ing Without It's Consent.

Washington, January 1S.-The postoffice inquiry resolution and the Panama canal question divided the attention of the sen- ate today. The first half of the session was given up to the inquiry Messrs Hale and German being the speakers. The question went over until tomorrow.
 The discussion of the Panama canal question was confined to the continuation of MT Teller's argument that the course of the United States In the recent revolt of Panama was contrary to international law and sound morals.
 Resolutions Joking to an investigation by congress of the postoffice department was laid before the senate before the opening of the session. and MT. Hale spoke In defense of the administration and criticism of the democratic side. con corning the insufficiency of the Bristow inquiry.
 He declared there never had been so ruthless an investigation as that which had exposed the frauds in the depart ment. Mir Hale said it had been settled by general consent that all of the reso- lutions coming from different senators be sent to the committee on postoffices and railroads for consideration.
 Investigation Has Been Severe.
 "So far as l am able to observe, there never has been any disposition to prevent or stihe further Investigation said Mr. Hale. T see the investigation has been thorough and severe-an example such as has never been shown in the history of this government"
 He said a number of democratic sena- tors had been disturbed-Mr. Bacon of Georgia, by the apparition of Perry S. Heath in the scandals and MT. German, said MT. Hale, naturally looks upon him. self In the role of the prosecutor of the republican party fur de.. uency in the | investigation.
 MT. German said he was surprised that such a conclusion had been reached in regard to his position, asking for an in vestigation; that it had been far from his purpose to become a public prosecutor What he had uttered the subject, he sa1d was to bring out the facts that the investigation was incomplete and ought to go further, and that It could do no harm 10 have the work done by persons not connected with the administration
 Ought to Have Light on Them.
 If there are further frauds in the de- partment we ought to have light on them" he said.
 What have complained of is that the senator has stated and reiterated again and again that the investigation has been stifed," said MT. Hale.
 MT. German answered that he had made the statement that for two and a half months the senator from Pennsylvania and the senator from Tennessee and him self had been trying to secure the passage of resolution asking for further inyesti- gation.
 And" said he. "the senator from Mas sachusetts (Mr Lodge) informed us blunt 1y and frankly that the republican party was in the majority and would not per- init us to obtain information except by permission of that party l was shocked by that expression It was new to me and naturally, we have resented It. Such a condition ought not to be tolerated in the senate"
 MT: Hale interposed that that was a per- sonal controversy between the two sena- tors, and added that all were agreed that these resolutions should go to the post office committee to determine to what extent congress should follow up, search out, find. expose and punish crimes in the postoffce department
 MT. Clay asked Mir. Hale if he believed all the guilty persons in the department had been exposed, indicted. punished or will be punished through the investigation conducted by the department.
 Fullest Results Not Reached.
 MT. Hale answered that he could not nat ba fft1Ia reached, but that the department hae been committed to the investigation and he represented that never in, the history of the country has there been an investi- gation so relentless He spoke disparag- ingly of congressional investigations In comparison with Investigations pursued with all the machinery of the various de- partments.
 Mir. Hale prophesied that as the cam paign. progressed the Investigation by con gress, if one is ordered, would dwlndle into contest between the two parties to see which should gain the advantage of the other. He said that the other demo- crats were trying to make the republican party responsible for all the short-com- ings in the postoffice department.
 As a republican" said MT. Hale, '1 am willing to risk that contest
 MT. German said he could agree with
 
 cerning congressional investigations he believed that much good could be &C., complshed if only in detecting flaws In the laws. which permit such frauds as those disclosed in the postoffice depart ment. The party in power must only not be ready to take the credit but the blame for all that transpired In govern mental affairs
 Republicans Are Taking Credit.
 'The republicans are taking credit for the exposures in the postoffice depart ment," he said. 'I suppose if the posi- tions were reversed we would do the same thing"
 At the conclusion of MT. Germans re- marks the resolution went over until to- morrow
 The Carmack resolution, calling on the secretary of the treasury for information concerning report of an investigation alleged to have been made into the con- duct of A. R. Cruzen. former collector of customs for Porto Rico. was adopted af- ter being amended so as to call upon the President for the information if not incompatible with public interests. Mir Germans Panama resolution being placed
 lcontInusd on second Paae)