The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-12

the midst of the uproar. Mr.. Over
street then asked for continuation
of the debate for three days.
democratic leader. Mr.. Clayton. facing
Mr.. Overstreet, said contemptuously:
You are the grandfather of this
The utmost confusion reigned. Mr..
Overstreet failed to secure any extern
sion of the debate.
Mr.. Wade of Iowa said he was one
of the few members from his state not
entitled to honorable mention in the
report" He wanted the lid taken off
the postoffice department and the in
terror Shown up.
Mr.. Mccall of Massachusetts argued
that the state of the public mind with
respect to the postoffice department
was such that. when a whisper was
made by anyone in connection with
postal affairs. that whisper reverbe-
rated from one end of the country to
the other. He opposed a general in
vestigation at this time.
Mr.. Mccall then submitted motion
TO commit the pending report of the
committee on postoffices and postroads.
and all accompanying papers and COM
municationS, to a select committee of
| seven, to be appointed by the speaker,
with instructions to consider said re-
port, its origin and all communications
therein contained relating to members:
I
by authorized to sit during the sessions
OF the house to examine witnesses on
oath, to compel the attendance of wit
nesseS and the production of papers"
The recommendation of the commit
| tee to lay the Hay resolution on the
table was read. Mr.. Moon proposed a
substitute providing for the investiga-
ton of the entire poStoffice department
by a committee of five house members.
Against this Mr.. Overstreet raised a
point Of order.
Mr.. Williams said that an investiga-
ton of the postoffice department ap-
parently was not desired, because it
| has not been thought best for the Re-
publican party" Members, he said,
/ had arisen and had not only charged,
partmenr was guilty of suppression of
| letters and documents, and he added,
suppression of the truth
Addressing the Republican side he
i said: 1.-THE country knows, the world
knows and you know that you have the
power and the right upon an appeal
from the decision of the chair to make
it in order. Are you going to do it, or
no?'
In passing on the question, Speaker
| Cannon said that the question before
| the house lis a matter of such high
privilege, touching the dignity of the
house and the integrity of members in
| their representative capacity, that it
| OlSplaC0S all OIner business. Ih6n, IN
an elaborate opinion, quoting many
decisions by Speaker Carlisle and 9TH
ers, he sustained the point of order
against the resolution Mr.. Griggs, OF
Georgia, appealed from the decision OF
the chair, whereupon Mr.. Overstreet
moved to lay that appeal on the table
The appeal was laid on the table by a
strict party vote.
Speaker Cannon then laid before the
house the committee recommendation
! hot 6l 4<11r
bic. By a viva voce vote the house re-
fused to table the resolution.
Mr.. Hay then claimed the floor. Mr..
| Mccall also commended for it, and after
considerable discussion Mr.. McCall's
resolution was read.
Mr.. Cooper, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin, was yielded the floor by Mr.. Nc
| Call, and vigorously assailed Mr.. Cal
derhead, of Kansas, for his remarks
against Bristow and insinuations
against the president. Mr.. Cooper adj
ded: This matter has degenerated as
I knew it would, into a covert attack
on the president of the United States
This remark was met with derisive
laughter and Kisses on the Democratic
side. Mr.. Cooper then defended BTiS-
tow, and said he never had attacked
the house of representatives or any of
its members. Let any member rise
and prove to the contrary" he insisted.
The challenge was answered by Mr..
Jenkins, who called attention to a
statement made on Wednesday that
the names of the members had been as
ISOLATED with that of "a. w. Machens
a convicted felon on his way to the
penitentiary." Then, shaking his finger
at Mr.. Cooper, Mr.. jenkins said amid
cheers: You are the gentleman that
made that statement"
Mr. Cooper declared he did not refer
to the Bristow report in his remarks.
He then further lauded ME-. Bristow,
and said he had worn himself out in
the cause of pure government, and had
received as his reward vi1lification and
abuse. There is not particle of
printed testimony" he said, ito justify
this onslaught on him"
When Mr.. Cooper concluded, Mr.. Will
liams read from the Congressional Rec
ord, and like Mr.. Jenkins, called at
tention to Mr.. Cooper's remarks of
Wednesday about associating members
names with that of Machen, and said
that, on Wednesday, Mr.. Cooper was
as rampagious as a roaring lion
against Bristow's charges, but now he
was standing up and defending him.
Mr. Mccall demanded the previous
question, and his resolution was car
ried. 256 to 2, Lind, Democrat, of Min
Texas, voting in the negative.
The vote had the effect of sending
the Hay resolution to the select COM
nnittee named in the Mccall resolution,
but does not provide for an investiga-
ton of the postoffice department.
offered a resolution providing for the
appointment of a committee of five
house members to investigate the post
office department. Mr. Payne demand
ed the regular order and made an OBJ
lection, which was carried.