The San Francisco call., 1904-03-10


investigation of the Postoffice Depart
ment by the House of Representatives
will result from the publication of the
report naming members of Congress IN
that connection was indicated by every
expression possible short of a vote in
that body to-day. With whirlwind Cf
protest the report was taken up by in
dignant members, their personal con-
nection with it explained and epithets
hurled at Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow.
Williams, the Democratic leader,
urged a complete investigation of the
whole Postoffice Department and re-
ceiVed the hearty applause of both sides
Of the House and the galleries. 1t soon
was found that the three hours which
had been allotted to the subject would
not be nearly enough to meet the per-
sonal explanations which members were
demanding the right to make. and a
motion to extend the debate until 4
o'clock tomorrow was carried.
When the House met the invocation
was delivered by Rev. j. ]. Dolliver,
father of Senator Dolliver. Immedi-
ately thereafter w. Bourke Cochran,
who was elected to succeed Mayor Nc
Clellan from the Twelfth District OF
New York, was sworn in.
Overstreet of Indiana, chairman of
the Committee on Postoffices and Post
roads, was recognized He had, ne
said, consulted with members on both
1 sides of the House who desired more
time than three hours to discuss the
Hay resolution bearing on the Bristow
charge in connection with postal af-
| fairs. He therefore suggested post
ponement of the consideration of the
resolution until next Monday.
He was applauded at this remark and
continuing said
Il want to go to the very bottom
| We have shown our willingness"
DEMANDS INVESTIGATION.
Williams said he wanted the corrup-
ton in the 'Postoffice Department in
vestigated, not by the friends of tbs
men who have been guilty of the cor
ruption, but by the House of Represen-
! tatives.
|
! said it did not touch the question
| adding Somebody at the postofIice has
somehow included in the report The
fname Of man after man in the House
! of Representatives and Senate guilty oi
no apparent wrong, guilty of no viola
tion of law, guilty of no moral obloquy
guilty of nothing that bears even the
tinge of criminality.
What was the motive of it? Wasnt
! it to give the Congress notice that the
I department held something over Con
| gress. that Congress had better let the
| department alone?" he inquired. hi:
lewords being drowned by applause from
both sidesJ
Are you going to meet it?' he de-
manded.
Hepburn of Iowa said that any in
vestigation of the Postoffice Depart
ment would not elicit any facts no
| brought out by the committees re
port
II say an investigation would elici
further facts, and that the facts have
/ been suppressed retorted William AL
den Smith, amid loud applause from
the floor and the galleries.
Replying, Hepburn said:
There is no member of this Houst
who desires to screen anybody in thil
matter"
This remark elected loud applause
from both sides of the House and il
the galleries, which by this time hat
filled up 70 the limit
MEMBERS GROW WRATHY.
Overstreet took the floor and saiC
that whatever may be the truth of TIM
allegations in the several Indictment
against postal officials the mere fac
that the various recommendations o
Representative in Congress passed
through the hands of men whose con
duct has been severely criticized anC
whose liberties have been threatenet
imputes neither censurable conduct no
improper acts on their part.
1T cannot be said with absolute
assurance or accuracy, he continued
that there was in no instance an.
violation Of any law whatever by an,
member of Congress in making an.
recommendation. either for increase o
clerk hire allowance or increase of ren
of postofice buildings"
Overstreet moved that debate con
tinue until o'clock tomorrow, whicl
was agreed to unanimously.
Moon Of Tennessee insisted tina
there should be an investigations Gov
ering the PostofTice Department an
everybody connected with it, addins
"and whoever is guilty, whether IL
this House or in the department
should he exposed -
w w. Kitchen of North Carolin'
charged Bristow with having de
: iberately suppressed important an
material facts, facts" he said. pound
ing his desk, which could not be over
looked and which were suppressed, 1
, my judgment, for the purpose OF givin
| a false impression to the country an
misleading the public" Bristow
action. he said, was neither courage
Gus nor honest, but for partisan pun
poses
BLACKMAILING CONGRESS.
He undertook. in my judgment. I
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