Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-03-16
SHARP TALK IN CONGRESS
7 =1smbsrs Get Warm Over the POST
y Y office Investigation r!atter.

publication Of the report involving
members of Congress in that con
nection was indicated by every ex
preston possible short of vote il
that body. With a whirlwind of pro
stest the report was taken UP by in
dignant members, their personal con
enection with it explained, and epi
;thets hurled at Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow.
1.-THE Bristow report was conceived
lin iniquity, born in sin, and has trav
eled its course until it has struck the
public Of the United States as a
great attack upon body of men as
free from wlong-doing, corruption
crime and irregularity as any equal
number Of men on the face of the
eaTth.' This was the parting shot
Of Representative Grosvenor, Of Ohio,
in paying his tribute to the report.
.:E"That document is the production
of liar and a scoundrel," shouted
Representative Hill. of Connecticut
on making an explanation of his con-
nection with certain leases. He add
Ell that he should vote to investigate
himself, and also the Fourth Assis'
tant Postmaster General. There Is
nothing in any Of it to impugn any
improper motive or conduct upon any
member Of the House," was the eN.
preston of Chairman Overstreet, CT
the committee who combatted the
idea of an investigation.
Mr.. Williams, the Democratic lead
e-, urged an Investigation of the
whole Postofilce Department, and re-
ccived the hearty applause Of both
sides Of the House and the galleries
which had filed during the discus
sion. 1t was soon found that the two
hours which had been allotted to the
subject vas moi going to be near
enough time for the personal explain
atoms which members were demand.
ing the right to make, and a motion
tc extend the debate until four o'clock
tomorrow was carried with vim.
Mr.. Overstreet proposed postpone.
ment of the discussion until Monday
in order to give the members more
time Mr.. TEay. OF Virginia.; Finley,
CT South Carolina, and others opposed
postponement.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican, CT Iowa;
said that any Investigation of the
PSstofiice Department would not
elicit any facts net brought out by
the committee report. 81 say that
an investigation would elicit further
facts, and that these facts have been
suppressed" retortei William Alden
Smith. amid loud applause from the
floor and galleries.
I Mr.. Williams said he wanted tho
corruption in the PDstoffice Depart
ment TO be investigated, not by the
friends Of the men who have been
guilty Of corruptions but by the House
of Representatives.
LAS to the Hay resolution, Mr.. Will
liarns said it did not touch the ques
Df 4hat somebody at M MAhfint tffGs :,
Is6Sa .rra,,i---has-cnSaSGiS h1an alter nian
In the House Of Representatives ana
in the Senate, guilty Of no apparent
wrong, guilty Of no violation OF any
law, guilty OF no moral obliqulty, gull
ty of nothing that bears even the
lingo Of criminality.'
'.What was the motive OF 1t! ne
vigorously inquired. Wasn't 1t 10
give the Congress notice that the De.
Dartment held something over Con-
gress and that Congress had better
let the Department alone?' he inqulf'
ed, his words being drowned by ap
plause from both sides.
MIR. Hay, OF Virginia, said he did not
altogether agree with Mr.. Williams
az believe there ought to be an inves'
tigation of the Postofiice Department.
and along with it an investigation OF
these charges against members.
Mr.. Cooper. of Wisconsin, declared
that President Roosevelt had directed
the prosecution Of members CT lis
own party.
Mr.. Moon, {. Tennessee, facing the
Republican side, said: These thieves
being yours and not ours, it is Tor
you, not for IFS. to say II they shaii
have your protection.
Mr.. Underwood. of Alabama. said
that mo man who is innocent is
afraid to face such charges as these,
But he said, "f man is guilty ha
ought to be required to appear before
the bar OF the House.
Mr.. Overstreet then withdrew his
motion to postpone, and the House
proceeded to discuss the resolution.
Mr.. Overstreet. referring to the rec.
concentrations made by member CT
Congress, said that there was in no
instance any violation of any law
whatever by any member OF Congress
In making any recommendation, eth
er for increase of clerk hire allow.
ance or increase Of rent OF postollce
buildings.
"The resolution proposes an investi-
CATION by five members of this body '
he said. whereas a committee OF sew
enteen members representing an
equal number Of States, of both par
ties in politics, which has already had
before it in proper way this infor-
nation, has unanimously reported 10
the House that there is no need for
further investigation.
Mr. Moon. OF Tennessee, insisted
that there should be an investigation
covering the Postofllce Department
and everybody connected with it,
"and whoever is guilty he said.
whether in this House or in the De.
partment, should he exposed. The
membership OF the House being ac-
cused," he said, "was entitled to vim.
dication, as were also the Department
officials, if guilty of no wrong; but, "
he said. 81 take it that no sensible
man will deny that there is anything
else but CRIME running all over that
Department"
w. w. Ntchin, OF North Carolina,
severely criticized General Bristow
and charged him with having deliber-
ately suppressed important and ma
terial facts-"facts," he said, pound
ing his desk, which could not be
overlooked, and which were suppress
ed, in my judgment, for the purpose
of giving a false impression to the
country and misleading the public.
"Bristow's action he said, was