The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-11
.BRISTOW'S INFLUENCE"
CHARGES TO Be PROBED
Lower Branch of Congress Will
Investigate Conduct of
Own Members.
DEBATE AGAIN TO-DAY

Special 20 the Indianap polls Journal
WASHINGTON. March 10.-The House of
Representatives has determined to inves-
tigate itself. An inquiry will be authorized
tomorrow TO ascertain the justification for
the insinuations directed against 80 mem
bers and about forty senators in the Bris-
tow report, submitted on Monday by Rep
resentative Overstreet. chairman of the
committee on postoffices.
II was Mr.. Overstreets original intention
TO move that the Hay resolution lie on the
table. Other prominent Republicans. among
them Representatives Hemenway, Charles
B. Lands Crumpacker and Watson, insist
ed that the matter should be probed TO the
bottom. Not only will a special committee
be authorized to ascertain whether men,
bers are censurable for their transactions
with the Postoffice Department, but the
committee will be further empowered to
determine who is responsible for the publ
cation OF the names of members, admitted
by the author OF the departmental report,
and the House committee be in no way open
to criticism for the manner in which ii
submitted recommendations for clerk hire.
fuel. light and rent. or the making of leases
for the postoffice premises.
The criticism of representatives was
turned to-day from General Bristow, since
the fact came out that he did not prepare
the supplemental report to the committee
on postoffices. The claim is made that the
committee blundered in dumping the de-
partment report upon Congress and the
country without accompanying Ii with a
detailed statement prepared by the COM
mittee showing the members who may
have committed indiscretions and those
who had done nothing wrong. AS the re-
port is made public no distinctions are
made All mentioned are treated alike.
There is malice in the criticism d.
rected toward Chairman Overstreet and
the committee. but the members believe
that If the matter had been handled with
more care IL would not have been neces-
sary now for the House to authorize an in
vestigation- The supplemental Bristow re-
port is receiving some attention at the White
House. Speaker Cannon. Representative
Overstreet and Mr. Bristow discussed the
matter with President Roosevelt to-day.
When the House met to-day the chaplain
feeingly referred to the death of Repre-
sentative Croft. of South Carolina.
The speaker announced the appointment or
w. Bourke Cochran, of New York, as
member OF the ways and means committee.
Mr.. Finley Is. c. then was recognized and
George William Croft. The usual resolu-
tons of sympathy and regret were present.
ed and adopted.
Mr.. Overstreet Qnd.) secured unanimous
consent for a continuation tomorrow OF
the order limiting debate on the report of
the Postoffice Department involving rep
resentatives and senator's until o'clock
The speaker announced the following as
the committee to represent the House at
the funeral of the late Mr.. Croft:
Messrs. Finley, Aiken. Johnson, Legare,
Scarborough. Lever. Loudenslager, Patter-
son, Richardson, McLain, Houston, Sibley,
Weisse and Jackson. AS a further mark of
respect the House at 1910 o'clock adjourned.