Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-03-16
SHARP TALK IN CONGRESS
r1smbers Get Warm Over the Post.
ne office Investigation F!atter.

l.
pSblication Of the report involving
members of Congress in that con
nection was indicated by every ex
preston possible short of vote il
that body. With whirlwind of pro
test the report was taken up by in
dignant members, their personal con
.nection with it explained. and epi
thets hurled at Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow.
sa"The Bristow report was conceived
in iniquity, born in sin, and has trav
elsd it's course until it has struck the
public of the United States as a
great attack upon a body Of men as
free from wrons-doing. corruption
crime and irregularity as any equal
/ number of men on the face of the
egrth." This was the parting shot
Of Representative Grosvenor, Of Ohio
in paying his tribute to the report.
t"That document is the production
OF. a liar and scoundrel," shouted
Representative Hill, of Connecticut
on making an explanation of his con-
nection with certain leases. He add
ell that he should vote to investigate
himself, and also the Fourth Assis
tant Postmaster General. There is
nothing in any Of it TO impugn any
improper motive or conduct upon any
member Of the House," was the eX.
preston of Chairman Overstreet ct
the committee who combatted the
idea of an investigation.
Mr.. Williams, the Democratic lead,
e.. urged an investigation Of the
whole Postoflice Department, and re-
ceived the hearty applause Of both
sides OF the House and the galleries
wl!ic,, had filed during the discus
sion. 1t was soon found that the two
hours which had been allotted to the
subject was moi going to be near
enough time for the personal explain
aLlons which members were demand.
ing the right to make. and motion
to extend the debate Until four o'clock
tomorrow was carried with vim.
BIT. Overstreet proposed a postpone
mont of the discussion until Monday
in order to give the members more
time. Mr.. FIay. OF Virginia; Finley,
CT South Carolina, and others opposed
postponement.
Mr. Hepburn, Republican, Of Iowa:
said that any Investigation Of the
FGstoffice Department would not
elicit any facts not brought out by
the committee report. 81 say that
an investigation would elicit further
facts, and that these facts have been
suppressed" retortei William Alden
Smith, amid loud applause from the
floor and galleries.
Mr.. Williams said he wanted the
corruption in the POstofilce Depart
ment to be Investigated, not by the
friends of the men who have been
guilty Of corruptions hut by the House
of Representatives.
5s,iAs to the Hay resolution, Nh Will
5liams said it did not touch the ques'
ss4hat somebody dnn,f atn shffnS 81 6. an
txi man aller naii
i'm the House OF Representatives and
in the Senate, guilty of no apparent
wrong, guilty of no violation OF any
law, guilty CT no moral obliqulty, gull
ty of nothing that bears even the
lingo of criminality
What was the motive OF 1t: ne
vigorously inquired. Wasn't 1t TO
give the Congress notice that the De
partment held something over Con-
gress and that Congress had better
let the Department alone?' he inquif'
ed, his words being drowned by ap,
plause from both sides.
Mr. Hay, of Virginia. said he did not
altogether agree with Mr.. Williams.
'I believe there ought to be an inves'
tigation of the Postofiice Department:
and along with it an investigation OF
these charges against members.
Mr.. Cooper. of Wisconsin, declared
that President Roosevelt had directed
the prosecution OF members CT his
own party.
MIR. Moon, of Tennessee, facing the
Republican side. said: These thieves
being yours and not ours, 1t is for
you, not for us. to say II they snail
have your protection.
Mr.. Underwood. of Alabama, said
that mo man who is innocent Is
afraid to face such charges as these.
Butt he said, "if man is guilty he
ought to be required to appear before
the bar OF the House.
Mr.. Overstreet then withdrew his
motion to postpone, and the House
proceeded to discuss the resolution.
Mr.. Overstreet, referring to the rec
concentrations made by member CT
Congress, said that there was in no
instance any violation OF any law
whatever by any member of Congress
In making any recommendation, eth
er for increase of clerk hire allow.
ance or increase OF rent OF postollice
buildings.
"The resolution proposes an investl'
CATION by five members of this body,
he said. whereas committee OF sew
enteen members representing an
equal number OF States, of both par
ties in politics, which has already had
before it in a proper way this inlor
nation, has unanimously reported to
the House that there is no need fot
further investigation
Mr.. Moon. of Tennessee. insisted
that there should be an investigation
covering the Postoflce Department
and everybody connected with it
"and whoever is guilty he said
whether in this House or in the De
partment, should he exposed. The
membership CT the House being ac
cused," he said, was entitled to vim
dication, as wore also the Department
officials, if guilty of no wrong; but,
he said, 81 take it that no sensible
man will deny that there is anything
else but CRIME running all over that
Department
W. w. Mtchin, of North Carolina
severely criticized General BristoW
and charged him with having deliber
ately suppressed important and ma
terial facts-"facts, he said, pound
ing his desk, (which could not bt
overlooked, and which were suppress
ed, in my judgment, for the purpose
of giving q false impression to thu
country and misleading the public.
"BristoWs action" he said, IVA: