Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-04-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular Correspon dent :,

I
Washington, D. c., March 25.-The
Republican party in Congress has this
week done its utmost to make dis.
graceful record for itself. That this
record will be exhibited on every plat.
form, at every crossroads, during the
coming campaign, goes without say
ing. What it has done is to refuse by
a strict party vote to investigate the
Post Office Department-that breeding.
burrow of scandal and corruption. In
voting not to investigate the frauds or
punish the boOdle-snatchers the Re-
publicans do not by any means deny
their existence; they only deny the ex-
pedieDcy of letting in any more light.
When Bristow's report was flung into
the House with its charges against Isl
members, the guilty ones were too an
cry to speak except in pr0fane ejacula-
tiUns. They did not spend time deny
ing the accusations; they simply de-
nounced the accuser. Though a high
official OF their own party. they called
him slandered and scandal, monger,
| a liar and a scoundrel. Having dipped
their tongues in gall, they did not
hesitate to extend their inectiye to bis
superiors.
After week s turbulence it occur
red to some members that there was
quite as much Call for an investiga-
ton as for vituperationt and an effort
was made to have the House of Rep.
resentatives do its duty in this respect.
To majority of Republicans the pro-
posal to investigate seemed an addi-
tional outrage. For two days, during
the consideration of the pOstoffice APP
preparation bill they have stormed aud |
ragged against 1t and have finally de-
feated investigation by strict party |
vote-although the committee that was !
proposed five in the House and three
in the Senate) would have been wholly |
In the hands of Republicans. They
declared that it was mot germane'-
their real objection, of course, being
that it was altogether too germane.
John Sharp Williams, the Demo-
cratic leader, eloquently pleaded for
investigation. Tine only way we can
secure honesty in the postoffice De-
be declared, us by the gen.
tleman withdrawing his point of order
Or by the House marching over it |
bodily. The people of the United
States are greater than Congress. and
they demand an Investigation of the
rottennest. 80, won't you,n he plead. j
ed, do something to keep the great
body of American citizenery from be.
ieving that the Post Office Depart.
nent is infamous No, they would
lot do any such thing, and thew did ]
lot. The House decided not to inyes. |
igate-99 Democrats to 1873 Republi- I
cans. General Grosvenor, Ohio. had f
declared that to investigate the scan.
ial would be a reflection upon the
ligniiy of the House." A curious no :
ion OF dignity The posGoffice bill pass.
ID at the close of yesterdays session n
The case of Senator Smoot of Utah,
will not be decided till after the presi-
!entlal election, for partisan reasons.
several needy gentlemen, probably five
will be appointed "a commission to
lslt Utah during the summer and try
0 ind out why Smoot has only one r
wife. Incidentally. they Can make
lump speeches on the way.
scandals seem to break out all round
he sky this year. The postal scandal
as held the focus IN the lime-lght but
oW IL Is The Dawes Commission. 1t
vas organized under Harrison to close
p the affairs of the Five Civilized
'rloes In Indian Territory, and it has
cen Kept alive by favor of Mr.. Secre-
airy Hitchcock. A committee reports
hat lt IS so submerged in scandals and II
rauos as to have lost its usefulness r,
nd IL MuSt now cease to exist. The r
ames of all the Commissioners are b
they have all entered into II
in Indian lands. and 8
rontleI trust companies; they have 80 ii
ostered JealOusies AS to be scarcely on t,
peaking terms with one another, and k
ave entirely lost the confidence and n
aspect OF the Indians. In fact, the
i've Civilized Tribes seem now to be e.
,vestigating the five uncivilized com. al
lissiOnerS. r
Ten thousand applications for ma S
mt are held up in the United States b,
atent Oi11ce ON account of informal c;
resentation or unskillfuI prosecntion 81
A; Snow & Co, Patent Lawyers of $.
'ashlpgton, make speciality of snch fr
ases, fees moderate and contingent on in
access. y" ~