The sun., 1904-04-14
TO PROBE POSTAL SCANDALS.
REPUBLICAN, SENATOR'S DECIDE
no DO 1T IN THEIR OWN WAY.

House Members, in Panic. Exhort Presi-
dent TO Stop It--He Summons Senators
to the white House and They Assure
Him There In No Occasion for Alarm.
WASHINGTON, April ia.--Members Of the
House Of Representatives are excited over
tho knowledge that a m&5ority OF the Re-
publicans Of the Senate are disposed to
call the bluff OF their Democratic associates
and order the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads to make an investigation
OF the Post Office Department.
For eome unaccountable reason the
Congressman have been in a state OF mild
panic ever since the day when Representa-
tive Overstreet, chairman Of the Post Office
Committee, stupidity or thoughtlessly re-
moved the lid from Pandora's box,
and have been unable apparently to con-
elder any question relating to the Post
Once Department in q calm and states
manlike manner.
When Senator Lodge, in charge OF the
Post Office bill in the Senate, let the cat
out Of the bag yesterday by saying, Just
before the final vote was taken on the Dill,
that the Republicans would conduct the
investigation OF the Department in their
own way and in their own good time, the
House members suffered a rew attack OF
rattles. This morning they read in the
newspapers Senator Penrose's admission
that he contemplated the introduction oil
a resolution authorizing his committee
to sit during the recess and they rushed
up to the White House to unbosom them
selves to the President.
Thev told the President that it would be
an. awful load to carry during the cam
paign, and that theparty would be seriously
embarrassed by having the committee in
session, unearthing all sorts of rascality,
and the Democratic newspapers publish
ing each morning distorted reports OF the
testimony, and they exhorted the President
to do something to head off the invests
cation; 49, ,o.s .saot.d
by this hysteria and he telephoned TO some
OF the Republican leaders in the Senate,
with whom he talked during the afternoon.
He talked with more of them tonight
These old campaigners told the President
that there was no real cause for alarm, and
that IL the members Of the House were able
to forget the Bristow report for few
moments and fhe shsa }Sav on havs
souealed before they we're hurt.
The President was assured by the Senate
leaders that it is proposed by the terms OF
the Penrose resolution to have the com
rnittee look into the general organization
to turn out the rascals as to assure the
people Of the country that the rasoals have
keen turned out and that their contention
that there is no Wholesale corruption in
the Department is founded on fact. -,
The Investigation, II decided upon, will
not be conducted with g brass band, and
the Republican personnel OF the COM
raittee is suoh as to make sure that no cam
nairn material will be ground out from
day to day for the benefit OF the Democratic
stump speakers and newspapers. Sena-
tors Penrose, Dollver. Lodge, Beveridge,
anything but novices.
fhe fact was not concealed from the
President that the Republican Senators
are divided as TO the wisdom Of having, any
inyessaon q. Az some q - taem snu theK ther
Democratic colleagues to force them into
An Investigation Of abuses which they do
mot think exist. Others believe 1t will be
rood thing to show the country that they
do not fear an investigation, put stand
tion Of the Post Office Department, which
wound up in such unexpected and dramatic
fashion. BY the publication Of Bristow's
report OF blacklisted congressman, was
thorough and complete. -,
The Republican Senators believe that
while there may be some petty population
yet going on, as there must always be in
Suolo q vast business bureau as that OF the
Post, Office Department. public or private.
that the ring Of grafters and thieves has
ton OF Postmaster General Payne and that
the ofioers now on duty, high and low
are hon,s and patriotic men.
The ,Repu 'lioan managers, therefore,
have uraed upon the President and the
stampedsa Congressmen that TN. tne w Pese P;ah
will be con Quoted on broad lines, but which
will not b, allowed to result in flooding
the county with misinformation, In ire
sponsibie dpinions and false testimony,
such as ma rked the earlier stages Of the
Department investigation. In addition. TO
looking into the question of the organiza-
ton OF the Department and suggesting
methods Of improving 1t. the Republican
Senators intend to make provision for
investigating. definite charges OF wrong
doing offered by any responsible person
Republican OF Democrat.
The form of res olution providing for the
proposed investie alton has not yet beer
prepared ard will not be presented, il at all
until there has been full and free'discus
sion between the president and Republican
luton is to be pass ed not for gratifying the
Democratic demani for the purpose of sen
sational campaign material. but for the
purpose Of demonstrating to the countr,
that the Republicans are not afraid v
expose the inneTnbost workings of the De
partment and to free themselves from the
charge Of being afraid to meet the chal
lenge of the Democrats for an mvestiga
tion.
Democrats as wall as Republicans ar
on the blacklist Of the Bristow report, ano
Democrats as we'll as Republicans arr
among the grafters indicted and convicte'
under the Payne investigation. The Re
publican Senators felt that II they did no
meet the challenge of their Democratic
opponents the country might misunder
stand their. attitude. They will prob
medicine to the patient themselves, bu
they will prescribe their own kind Of medi
cine.
Pan-Ameetcan Arbitration.
WASHINGTON, April 1s.-The agreemen
49, Dop A Ar,oriCap Con uroel nj the (ity