Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
THE RUMOR DENIED
That House Committee Has
Been Avoiding Action.
OVERSTREET EXPLAINS
HIS ASSOCIATES WILL NOT "SIDE-
STEP ANY PROPOSITION.
Have Been Busy With Post Office APP
preparation Bill, but Will Take Up
Alleged Charges in Due Time.

There have been rumors about the Capitol
for several days that the House committee
on post offices and post roads had found
itself with white elephant on its hands in
the shape of some alleged disclosures in the
post office investigation which, IL made
public would reflect upon democratic and
republican members of both houses of Con-
gress These rumors have been vague and
indefinite, but somewhat malignant in their
insinuations.
1t was limited that the committee in con-
sidering the resolution of inquiry offered
some time ago by Representative Hay,
democratic members of the committee call
ing for all of the evidence gathered by Mr.
Bristow, had in it's possession testimony
connecting members of Congress with al
legged violations of law in the matter of post
office rentals and recommendations for in
creases of salary.
The current rumor was to the erect tndt
the committee did not want to publish the
disclosures and yet heSitated TO Wlthhoiu
them for fear that the idea might get
abroad that grave scandals were being
suppressed.
Overstreet's Statement.
1.-THE committee has not any white ele-
plant on it's hands" said Chairman Over
street of the committee to a Star reporter
who interviewed him at the Portland
today Mr.. Overstreet has been con-
fined to his room by illness for some time.
In fact. about one-third of the committee
are either abed or on clutches at this time.
1.-THE committee" continued Mr.. Over
street, has not sidestepped any PROPOSE
ton brought before it, and will not do SO.
The committee will work out all questions
before it when it has been given time. We
have been pretty busy with the post ofhce
appropriation bill up to this time, but we
will yntQ md n
season, If we can ever get back from our
sick rooms to work.
Mr. Overstreet had nothing to say about
the nature of the alleged evidence before
the committee. He added, in closing, that
the statement that the committee was with
holding action was entirely gratuitous and
erroneous.
Moral Turpitude Not Involved.
Representative Moody (dem) Of Tennes-
see, one of the old members of the commit
tee, said at the Capitol today:
Il don't think that the facts reported
by Mr.. Bristow involved any members of
Congress in moral turpitude. They do in
dictate, in my Judgment, some indiscretions
on the part Of certain members, and per-
hapS there mas been an occasional violation
of law. But the report involved the depart
ment itself IN more wrongdoing than the
members of Congress.
Il would not be willing to discuss these
things specifically, since the committee has
not yet determined what action to take
under the resolutions before it. We have
had no opportunity to reach a conclusion
from the fact that we have been busily en-
gagged on the appropriation bill, and except
as this report has a bearing upon the ap-
preparation we have not had time to take
it up.
Il am altogether willing to see the whole
thing go to the public, and 1 think there
will be no difference of feeling on this
committee as to the propriety of this
On yphn ha inna al ntrch T
have right to speak for anybody but
myself. Nor is it for me to say what in
depreciation shall be given to the report.
The public when it gets the facts can
make it's own interpretations"
It was said at the Capitol today that in
the light of newspaper publications upon
the subject if the committee does not act
upon the resolution of inquiry soon. and if
rumors continue to be circulated that grave
disclosures affecting the honor and integ-
rity of members of Congress being
withheld some member may, as question
of personal privilege, bring the matter up
in ha