The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-09
TnLMANGETSNT SNT0DEBA1E
Says Perry Heath Was Tat
 tOOed by Brist0w.
Democrats Charge That the Majority
 f. is Attempting to Smother 1nves- tigation and Shield Practi-
 sces of Corruption.

Washington, Jan. S.-Alleged postohice frauds were under discussion in the Sen- ate today, the subject being opened In set speech by MT. Simmons. (N. CD, who Insisted there should be an inves- tigation by the Senate into the charges.
 MT. Platt (Conn.). denied that the Re- publicans were trying to cover up any wrong doing :n the Postoffice Depart ment
 The discussion was participated in by Messrs. Burrows Deliver, Carmack, Tili- man and Teller
 The Republican contention was that there has been a thorough investigation by the Postoffice Department, and that a Senate investigation was now being press ed by the Democras for partisan pur- poses. The Democrats insisted there were more facts and charged that the RepuD- licans were trying to smother them.
 Perry s. Heath was bitterly assailed, and former Postmaster General Smith was criticised by Democratic Senators. The Senate adjourned until Monday.
 When the Senate met to-day MT. Scott, West Virginia, offered joint resolution providing for an investigation of the Darien canal route. He made brief speech in support of the proposition for d waterway would be only thirty miles in length The routeynever had been care fully investigated by engineers, but he felt sure that when it was thoroughly examined it would be found that it was wholly practicable. He said that the tunnel which a sea level canal would require was not impossible in this day of electricity and invention.
 Mir Bacon interrupted to ask where fha O I0Catnd view of the recent geographical changes in South America. New Route in Panama.
 tIt is in the State of Panama" re- marked MT. Stewart. about l50 miles from Colombia"
 EFkze Scott said,sthat although he had always believed in sea level waterway, he had heeltated to press the matter be. cause he might be accused of an effort to delay and hinder the construction of a canal, but such was not his purpose. He wanted canal but wanted the best one. He asked that the committee on inter-oceanlc canals make an early re- port upon the resolution he had pre- scented.
 The Scott resolution was referred to the committee on interoceanic canals. The resolution for the investigation of the postohlce department was then taken up. MT. Simmons, of North Carolina, said it was clearly the purpose of the Republicans not to permit any further inquiry into the frauds and scandals of the postoffice department He pre- dicted that when the resolutions came hack from the Senate committee they would be defeated by practically the unanimous vote of the Republicans.
 It was apparent, he said, that no fur ther investigation will be permitted on the eve of a presidential election.
 MT. Platt contended that the Commit tee should report to the Senate whether an investigation is necessary.
 Smith Stood in Way.
 Mir. Carmack argued that such an arr rangement would leave the entire matter Tn the hands of the Committee. The Senate now, he said, should order an in- veshgation. No course short of this would meet the demands of the situation He declared that the Postmaster General has stood in the way of an honest inves- tigation and in view of hls obstinate op- position and the, fact that rottenness had been found in some divisions of the Post Of1ce' Department. the inference was that there had been corruption in other di- visions. He would have the investigation non-partisan in character.
 MT. Tillman charged that the opposi- ton to an investigation was characterized by partisanshtp. There was an attempt at Congressional smothering. He did not see how honest men could stand up in the face of public sentiment and try to pre- vent an investigation and allow the stat ute of limitations to prevent the prosecu- ton of the ra5cals.
 Mir. Quarles criticised the remarks made by 4Ar. Carmack concerning the Postmas- ter General, whereupon Mir. Carmack ex- plained that he referred to Mr. Payne predecessor.
 Payne Not Over Jealous.
 ''In respect to the Tulloch charges ,'' said MT. Carmack, "I do not think the present Postmaster General was as diIi- gent as he might have been. Perhaps ne relied too much on what had been the course of his predecessor"
 Commenting on the reports of officials on the investigation MT. Deliver said he could not find that the President. the Postmaster General or MT Bristow has D recommended that they could have had more thorough investigations had they been given more time and had they had the benefit of the pOstoff1ce inspectors and other machinery which had made the In- uuiry more thorough than Congress couId make it.
 Mir. Tillman asked why it is that the Republicans were so anxious to prevent an investigation. We are trying to turn the rascals out" he said. while you are trying to keep them in. You have much to gain by refusing to shed light on the Department; we have much to gain by exposing corruption.
 Before answer was made to the oues- tion, MT. Tillu1an. at the top of his voice. pronounced another question: What about those rural free delivery boxes The man who had them in charge has not been investigated"
 You can't convince the chief of the rural free delivery service that he has not been investigated" responded MT. Deliver.
 'No. the inquiry concerning the boxes was confined to boxes for cities" said MT. TIllmau. And what about Mir. Heath? Bristow says he needs Investigating, but YOU could not convince MT. Heath of that either, 1 suppose"
 MT. Tillman is Caustic. AGr. Deliver replied that he had read