Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-07
58TH CONGRESS.
Senate Warns Up Over Alleged
Post Office Frauds.
Democrats Charge Lack Of Push in
Starting An Investigation.
Republicans Reply That EVERYTHING
Necessary Is Being Done.

washington, Jan. G.--Alleged irreru-
larltleS i'll the post office department.
constituted the only theme in the Sem
ate, today. The question came IN on
a motion first made by Mr.. Lodge and
afterwards by Mr.. Penrose to refer the
Carmack resolution looking to q SEN
atorial investigation of the post Office
department to The committee on past
offices and post roads. The Democratic
senators resisted the motion and con-
tended that the country would not be
| satisfied with an investigation of a de-
| rartmcnt made by the department it.
self
The debate was extremely spirited
from start to finish. Mr.. Carmack
| charged that Postmaster General
Payne had been lukcwarm at the be-
ginning of the department inquisition
ana Mr.. SpOOner replied in defense of
that official, saying that he had asked
for money for an investigation before
the department began it's work and
when it was undertaken had given ev-
cry assistance.
Mr. Clay said that the tenor of the
Bristow report had convinced him that
Mir. BriStOW considered Former AS
sistant Postmaster General Heath
more guilty tkan any one else connect
cd with the post Office Irregularities
Before the debate closed. Mr.. German
stated that he had had Il conference
| with MIR. Penrose, chairman of the post
office committee and was willing to
have the resolution referred. Further
consideration of the subject was de-
forl ed until Friday.
When the Senate met. today, Mr..
Morgan's resolution declaring that the
President has no power to declare war
was read, but at the request of Nor
gan it went over for the day.
The resolution of Carmack directing
the postmaster general to send to the
Senate the papers connected with the
post Office department irregularities
and providing for a senatorial inNesti-
cation was taken up and Lodge moved
its reference to the committee on post
Offices.
Elrmack resisted this motion declar-
ms, that if department Irregularities
Yer" to be investigated only by these
departments themselves it would not
II" long until they would be Il stencil
i'll the Eostrils of the people, The only
50 fcguard was in congressional invcsti-
cation he said. He urged that the i'll
Guiry be permitted.
Teller expressed the opinion that the
rost Office department would make a
thorough investigation hut contended
that the legislative branch should re-
tain the right t. make i'll inquiry.
Lodge did not believe that an invcsti-
CATION had been entered upon until the
matter had been inquired into by a
committee.
Clay expressed surprise that there
should he opposition to the resolution
and called attention to the declara-
tions by General Eristow and Counsel
lors Bonapartc and Conrad that the
investigation should be carried further.
He declared that the BristOw report
Demonstrated the absolute guilt of
the late First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath.
"Hc G'ristow) says that this leading
high official was guilty and the proof is
overwhelming. If this is true. Heath
should have been indicted. ] will do Bris-
tow the credit to say that his report
-HtNS tlI'tl tilc IIdutS VI l!lt I'sl oiiitt
department originated in Hcath's office
II 50 he must have had cognizancc of
them. Then why should the subordinatcs
in that Office be indicted and the princi-
pal be allowed to cscapc""
Clay quoted extracts from TIC Bristow
report to substantiate his argument, re-
ferring especially to the purchase of cash
registers, in which connection Bristow
said that the element of fraud could not
be eliminated.
IT." he said. this report speaks
truth, Perry Heath originated all the
frauds i'll his Office
AS for himself he did not want to
do any injustice to Heath or others,
and for this reason desired the inves-
tigation.
Clay said: In the interest of fair
play. in the interest of justice, in the
interest of good government and clean
administration, there should be an in
CURRY. and 1 am surprised that my
friend, the senator from Massachusetts,
Nodge) should object
Clay also declared that the Presi-
dent had reflected seriously upon
Heath and had desired the latter's re-
tirement from the secretaryship of the
Republican national committee.
Pcnrose, chairman of the committee !
on post Offices and post roads, eX-
pressed his wish for an investigation |
but added that inasmuch as there was
disa greement as to the phraseology he
preferred to have the entire question
referred to the committee on post
offices, pledging himself to call an early
meeting for the purpose Of taking up
the question.
Teller said that if for no other reason
than that criminal charges were made
against senator's and members Of the
House Of Representatives. investigation
should be made
Later he spoke Of the newspaper re-
ports that lease OF post Office building
I'LL .4c.x