Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-11
HOUSE.

executive session LOT tue PURPOSE
HOUSE.
The discussion of the Bristow report
bearing on the charges that members of
of Congress interferred unlawfully with
the conduct of postal affairs, was resum-
ed Immediately after the reading of the
journal.
Mr.. Overstreet announced that the
demand for time to participate in the
debate exceeded all expectations. He
asked that the debate, instead OF closing
at 1925 today, be extended until Monday
at p. m. There was objection also to
the motion to extend until four p. m.
tomorrow, also, to give all members
leave to print.
"Vhat is said on this delivate sub
iect," declared Mr.. Williams, of Missis-
sippi, "should be said in the open or be-
fore committee endowed with the au-
thority to go into the subject, so that
all that is said and done there may
90 before the country"
Mr.. Cowherd, the first speaker today,
defended the action of the committee in
bringing the BristOw report before the
House. He declared that the members
of Congress were not responsible for the
increased allowances which are now de-
nounced as irregular. 1t was Beavers
work. To influential members he grant
ed even more than they asked. Beavers
knew that he was violating the law T;
the members did not know it. He said
that he was a party man and that he
stood for party fidelity, but when a
question arose thatinvolved the integrity
of the House, he was more than party
man and desired full vindicatiOn. "The
sunlight of publicity" he said, "never
hurt an honest man or an honest ad-
miuistration, and there is only one path
of Justice to ourselves and honesty to
our constitutions, and that is through a
full investigation of the department" "
Ms. Kluttz defended former Senator
Pritchard, a republican, now a judge Of
the District of Columbia, who presided
over the trial of Machen, Lorenzand the
two Grofs, and former Representative
James Moody, of his State, now de-
ceased. who were "besmirched" in 9TH:
infamous report" The hyena, the
lowest of the animal kingdom, he said
despoils the dead in the night. "FaI
more degrading than this hideous animal
he declared, sis the hyena in human
form who defles the memory of deat
men. Republicans and democrats al
applauded the statement
Mr.. Smith, attacked the secret regu'
Iations of the Postofice Department
concerning allowances for clerk hire
which, he declared, were the source o
the rottenness in the department.
Mr. Babcock, said his connections Will
the department we're legitimate.
Mr.. Wanger attempted to pour oil OIL
the troubled waters. He said that he ap
proved of the action of the House com
mittee on postofIices, in presenting
the report to the House, instead of send
ing it back to the department.
During the debate which followed
was asserted that only 81, LOG, 00Os ha
been spent out of the 81, 300, 900 appro
, priated for clerk hire in third-class Of
fees. and that in some instances post
, masters were compelled to pay more TO
such helf than their salaries amounted to
: Mr.. Burleson said that the Postma;
: ter General was responsible for the docu
ment and its purpose was to intimidat
+ and discredit Congress to prevent
congressional investigation.
S Mr.. Clayton referred to Mr.. Payne
the 'the distinguished imbecile who al
pears to be the Postmaster General OF ID
limited States -