The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-23
THE GOSSIP OF WASHINGTON.
Congress Rushing Work in inter
est oflEarly Adjournment.
The Bristow Report in Red
Cross Society.

StVoS SOCtCtys
Washington, March 19.-Work is be-
ing crowded along SO fast in Congress
that it seems as if adjournment might
possibly come a week or so before the
1st of May. The appropriation bills
that have not already passed are pass
ing, without such opposition as will
cause much delay. Several bills in the
interest of the labor unions are on the
calendar and some are reported from
committees. But there is little pro-
liability that any will pass this year.
The service pension bill will now be
Withdrawn, for. this session at least,
in view of the action Of the Commis-
sioner Of Pensions in so Interpreting
the law as to grant old age pensions to
veterans Of 81 without regard to dis
ability.
The Posto6ice appropriation bill has
been before the House this week, and
has again been the storm centre. The
minority leader, John Sharp Will
]iams, Miss, declared that the Post
Office Department was rotten from
turret to foundation stone, and the
Republicans were trying to reorganize
it in an appropriation bill. He said
that only one division of the depart
ment had been investigated, and that
only partially, while other divisions
we're equally corrupt. Mr. Payne,
the Republican leader, and General
Grosvenor threw such explanations as
they could into the discussion, and
MI. Overstreet, Rep, Ind, the IN
happy father of the report declared
that nothing in particular was the
matter and nobody injured. Mr..
Williams came back with the charge
that public moneys had been repeatedly
diverted to illegal uses in contempt OF
law, that buildings had been rented,
fuel bought, and clerks appointed and
promoted in defiance of Civil Service
regulations. "These officials" he
declared vehemently, violate the
laws whenever they please and grant
favors to their friends whenever they
please, and tell you cody that it was
because of construction put upon
the Law by somebody, God only knows
who.''
Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General, who has been
almost two months sick and confined
to lis bed, was dragged out Thursday
and Friday and given roasting in
the third degree by the Mccall Com
mittee appointed to Investigate him
and his famous report. He explained
that he had been disabled from service
for several weeks and that he did not
make and was not responsible for
the report that had been sent to Con-
gress. The most of it was the work
of First Assistant Postmaster Wynne.
At the same time he defended the re-
port in general terms, said there had
been improper clerk-hire allowances in
Offices and that various measures had
been forwarded at the earnest request
Of Congressman. He had cited some
cases and said a hundred other similar
cases could be cited. He was asked
whether the report came directly from
the hands of the Postmaster General,
or whether some other official was
consulted. He said he had been told,
but did not know. He was asked by
Mr. Bartlett of Georgia whether any
suggestions had come from the psesi-
dent. Before it could be answered,
MI. Burton Of Ohio interposed an OBJ
lection to "any such question being
asked,'' and it was ruled out by the
committee.
. The American Red Cross Society is
rent in twain. Definite charges OF
mismangement were yesterday filed
against Clara Barton and her coterie
of friends by large majority OF the
directors-an eminent and honorable
body of citizens. They found that
not less than S715, 600 have been COL
lected and that no part of it was ever
received or disbursed by the Treasur-
er, and that the accounts, If accounts
were kept, have never been audited.
There have been no public reports
of receipts or expenditures. Money
paid in has been used for anything
that the president wished to use II
for. without consultation with the d.
rectors It is charged that the char
ter of the society has been grossly and
repeatedly violated. Miss Barton has
now to show why reorganization should
not take place in the public interest
The 'sWorld's Fair Industry cou-