Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Editor Press
Not within this generation has
there been witnessed such scene
of excitement and confusion in the
House of Representative as that
which transpired on Wednesday
and Thursday of this week. AS
with whirlwind party lines went
down before the whitening blast of
the Bristow report upon the alleged
connection of Congressman with
the Post Office frauds. Not an
hours delay was tolerated to en-
able the Committee on Post Offices
which gave the report to the
public, to lay it upon the table.
Mr.. Overstreet, chairman of the
committee tried to extract the
string from the document, but fail
ed, and the whole question was
thrown open for discussion.
Members proceeded with alacrity
to take the bull by the horns. He
had got into the political china shop
and must be hustled out. The
public pressed the into the CALLER
les until they were overfowing,
and great crowds awaited at the
doors.
During the debate it was with
difficulty, and much pounding of
the desk that Speaker Cannon could
maintain sufficient order for the
transaction of business. Congress
men who have been in the House
ten and twenty years, white with
anger, denounced the charges and
insinuatiOns as exaggerated, un-
called for, garbled, and improper
ly included as a part of the docu-
ment. 1t suppressed the truth and
suggested that which was false.
The best that can be said is that
many Congressman on both sides
OF the House, since the govern
ment was organized, have been in
the habit of making recommends
tions and suggestions to the Post
Office department, regarding the
identical matters charged up
against them in the report. This
is not what they were elected for
and the practice should be reform
ed altogether.
All departments of the govern
ment shared in the excitement, and
nothing else was talked of among
politicians. In brief the Bristow
report contained the names of about
one hundred and fifty members Of
Congress out of total member
ship of four hundred and eighty.
These have been held up to public
scorn and their integrity impeach-
ed. The discussion would have
been continued on the 10th inst.
but for an adjournment of the
House for the day occassioned by
the death of a member, Hon. Geo,
w. Croft, South Carolina. The
specific charges were that the
members named had gone to the
Department asking for an increase
in the salaries of certain postmast-
ers, requesting more clerks for GER
tain post Offices, and desiring and
increased allowance for the rent of
buildings. 1t was charged that q
few were owners Of the buildings
which were to be leased by the
government. While there was not
Il technical violation of law, it APP
pears that certain regulations of
Jne department. were violated by
Bervers, who had these matters in
charge and who is under indict-
ment. During the two days dis
cussion Congressman tried to purge
themselves of all wrong doing, but
the report has gone broadcast and
many a political career is nipped.
At the conclusion of the debate.
the House voted to appoint select
committee to investigate the charge
made against Members of Con-
gress. There will be no further
general investigation of the Post
Office Department.
For sale.
A good farm containing 70 acres, with
necessary buildings and we'll watered.