The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-31
Cracking Whip and Bid
ding Congress Adjourn.
ITS POWER WlTHERS
German, Pointing to the Signs of the
Times, Shows that Congress is
Now Rapidly Becoming
Mere Recording
Body.
(By the Associated Press) }

(By the Associated PreSS)
| Washington, March 30-The Senate to-
| day begun consideration of the Postoffice
| for revival of the Democratic demand
| for an investigation into the charges of
corruption i'll the Postoffice Department.
! The debate was initiated by Mr.. Cor
man, who spoke for almost two hours in
criticism of the course of the Republican
party in the Senate in refusing an inquiry.
Grafton and report of the bill and assert
cd that there had been persistent denial
of the privilege of investigation of the Of
fairs OF the Postoffice Department. He
urged that it was not yet too late to take
steps to prevent further robbery and
thievery in the department
1T is said he went on, that Congress
must adjourn speedily; that from one
source request amounting to orders has
gone out; that it is inconvenient for one
branch OF the government to have Con
gress en- its hands; that If there is delay
there is likely to be disagreeable infer
ences from what has alreaay been devcl-
oped.
I'VE have reached time when there is
much preaching of honesty and high
mindedness, but corruption bubbles out.
1t came like a fog and has not yet lifted
and we cannot tell whether all the intor-
nation is yet out
MIR. German referred to the charges
made by the Postoffice Department, say
ing he believed they had been made for
the purpose OF diverting attention from
| the guilty ones who had filched money
| from the Treasury and abused their
trusts AS for himself, he was of the opin-
ion that members had not done more in
the matter than their public duties re-
ouired. MIR. German called attention to
the habit of criticising men engaged in
legislative work and he concluded that
this criticism grew out of a well-directed
| effort to build up one-man, Czar-like
government.
So far, indeed, had this plan progressed
that legislation has come to be practical
" farce, all important measures being
dictated by the executive. 1t was coming
to be that only an executive order was
necessary to get an appropriation. The
result is that Congress, becomes mere
recording body.
1--WE are now told he continued, ''that
having approved the plans OF the execu-
tive we must adjourn and go home be-
cause of the fear OF damaging disclosures.
The fear is so great that we are to be sent
away and not to be allowed to do any
thing" He then referred to some of the
pending legislation and included in the
list Mr.. ForaEer's bill for the amend
ment Of the antitrust law regarding the
situation. He referred to Attorney Gen
cral KnoXs statement regarding this bill,
saying that it was not departmental
measure. "Think of it," said Mr.. Cor
man. "Notice is given to Congress that
nothing should be done in the way of leg
islation without consulting the admins
tratonW
The American people do not want one
man control, Mr.. German contended. He
hoped that such action would be taken
as would prevent the one man control in
the next four years, whosoever might FL
the White House
/ Mr.. German closed with the declarat tion
OF the conviction thai the Postoffice De-
partment was honeycombed with corrup.
ton and inefficiency."
Mr.. Penrose, chairman of the Committee
on Postoffices said that while he had
originally favored an investigation be
had now reached the conclusion that none
was necessary.
Mr.. Penrose challenged the accuracy of
Mr. Germans statement that extraordin-
airy haste had been exercised by the Com
mittee on Postoffices in the preparation
Of the BIZ
The subject matter of the measure had
been receiving attention. he said, since
last December.
Mr.. Lodge sustained Mr.. Penrose's state.
ment that there had been no undue haste
| in bringing the Postoffice bill into the
Senate. 1t was true that the committee
had done all in its power to promote an
early adjournment.
THE party in power,' he proceeded,
has deemed it best to bring about an
early adjournment if it could be done
no Instructions received from anybody in
any quarter. 1t was not on this side of
the chamber that the expression of
Cuckoo" originated. That word is
chargeable to the Senator from Alabama
and applied to his side of the chamber .
1t also should be borne in mind. he said
that the charge that president had said
that he wanted to get Congress off his
hands was to be traced to a Democratic
president and Mr.. German had gotten his
presidents mixed.
| Mr. Lodge declared that the Democrats