Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-12
DEPARTMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Senator German Continues to Urge
Congressional Inquiry.

The Culberson amendment to the post
office appropriation bill. providing for
commission to investigate the Post Office
Department was before the Senate all Of
Yesterday and after being ruled out of order
in modified form was pending when the
Senate adjourned. Mr.. German made an
earnest plea for an investigation, saying
that the Post Office Department had cast
reflections upon members Of Congress and
that a thorough examination should be
had.
Mr. Aldrich answered that the amendment
as finally modified meant nothing; that Ii
an investigation was to be had 1t should
be "a live one" He said that If any spe-
cific charges were brought in they should
be looked into by Congress, but that the
demand should not be made part or
a general appropriation bill. Seml-polltcai
speeches were made by Messrs. Teller and
Simmons.
Speaking of the demands for congression-
al investigation of executive departments
Mr. Simmons said If it were found upon
thorough examination that the depart
ments were free from frauds it would result
in benefit to the republican party, and
perhaps injury to the democratic party.
Give us an explicit charge" said Mr..
Aldrch land we will take 1t up though
not on an appropriation bill There never
has been, and 1 hope to God there never
will be a time when this Senate has refused
to investigate a charge of misconduct
against an officer of the government But
If we are to have an inquiry let us have a
genuine one, and not an inquiry to meet a
mere political exigency.
Mr. Culberson said that If explicit charges
were necessary they could be found in the
| case of the Montague Indicator and in that
| of John w. Petit. In the former case there
| is he said, according to the Bristow report,
| a mystery as to whether former First AS
| sstant Postmaster General Heath had re-
ceived 1000 of the shares of the stock of that
| concern In the case of Petit, that indl-
| vidual 1t has been developed, had been on
| the pay roll of the Baltimore post office for
| four years without doing any work, and
| that it had never been shown whether he
! had been appointed to this work by Mr.
Heath or by Mr. Beavers.
Mr. Allison opposed the amendment as
| untenable, contending that the post office
| committee is perfectly competent to make
| any desirable inquiry To adopt the amend
| ment would be for the Senate to surrender
| It's powers to the House of Representa-
| tives.
| Mr. German referred humorously to Mr..
! Allison's power to postpone that which is
| unpleasant. He was familiar with that
| splendid gesture of the senator from Iowa
| in waving things off,
| Mr.. Aldrich questioned Mr.. German as to
| what particular investigation he wanted.
| IAN of it." said Mr.. German, Il want
! to know whether all of the apprOpi iations In
| this bill are proper. l do not believe that
| they are"
| Mr.. Aldrich said that If there are i'm
| proper appropriations in the bill they should
| be considered now, and not through Post
| Office Department investigation.
AT GIG the Senate adjourned, the post
| office appropriation bill still pending.