The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-10

censurable conduct nor improper acts on their part He said that the recommen- dations relative to increased allowance for clerk hire at third and fourth-class post offices, and the matter of rent of postof- fee buildings. The test, which governed the allowance of clerk hire at such eff fees, was the test known only to the , postal officials
 ''It can be said with absolute assurance of accuracy" he continued that there was in no instance any violation Of any law whatever by any members of con- gress In making any recommendation either for increase of clerk hire allowance or increase of rent of postoffice build ings."
 Committee Should Be Appointed.
 The resolution proposes an investigation by five members of this body, he said' whereas a committee of seventeen mem bers representing an equal number ol both parties in politics, has had before IL in a proper way, this information, ana has unanimously reported to the house that there is no need for further investl- gation. nor would any further investiga- tion elicit additional facts, sufficient to change its conclusions. If a committee or five should be appointed, he said 1t would be compelled to report the same conciu- sions which would be that there is nothing on which to impunge any motive or con duct of any member of the house.
 MT. overstreet moved that debate con- tinue until o'clock tomorrow, which was agreed to unanimously.
 MT. Moon of Tennessee insisted that there should be an investigation covering the postoffice department and everybody connected with it, adding:
 And whoever is guilty, whether In this hourse or the department should be ex- posed-''
 The membership of the house being ac- cused was entitled to vindicaton, as was also the department officials, if guilty of no wrong.
 But" said he, q take 1t that no sensible man will deny that there is any thing else but crime running all over that department
 He closed by asking if the criminals in the department were to be shielded, and declaring the house should waive all tech nicalities and meet the matter.
 Deliberately Surpresses Facts.
 w. W. Kitchin of North Carolina charg- ed General Bristow with having deliber- ately supressing important and material facts, facts" he said, pounding his desk, which could not be overlooked, and which were suppressed, In my judgment, for the purpose of giving false im- pression to the country, and misleading the public"
 MT. Bristow's action, he said, was neith- CT courageous nor honest, but for parti- san purposes. He knew the country de- manded an investigation, MT. Kitchen said.
 He undertook, in my judgment, to blackmail congress, to silence congress, and to silence the country. It is a species of intimidation"
 He asked if the republicans would sit still and stop the investigation and thus give the back-biters an opportunity to attack the character and integrity of those whom Bristow accused.
 Amid a storm of applause lasting for several minutes, General Grosvenor of Ohio, who was named in the report, said that this was a pretty good specimen the readiness with which the newspapers of the country, and the great body of the people grasp a publication or statement, and assume evil, where they might assume good. He convulsed the house by read ing an editorial which referred to Speaker Cannon and Representatives Payne and Hill. as having been taken red hand ed,' but speaking seriously, he said 1t was in accord with the views of 95 per cent of the newspapers of the country. The report was a malicious libel on 191 members of the house and senate.
 Is an Outrage.
 T submit" he said, that the inyestiga- ton which the gentleman from Indiana has been apologizing for is an outrage and violation of every principle of justice"
 Prolonged applause followed this state- ment. He wanted to know by what right the Bristow report had been published before the action of any tribunal had es- tablished the truth of it. In order to show what he termed "the infinite rascal ity" of the Bristow report. MT. Grosve- nor explained the cases in which his name was mentioned.
 q will resign my seat tomorrow" he said, pounding his desk, If there is any thing irregular or improper in what l did"
 Then showing the effects of his indigna- ton, MT. Grosvenor pounded his desk again and said:
 'I condemn the man that sent that into this house. Can any self-respecting con gressman ever enter the office of the man who will produce such a document as that?'
 The Brfstow report, he said in conclu- sion. was conceived in iniauity and born in sin. and had travelled It's course until 1t had struck the public of the United