Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07
THE HAY RESOLUTION
Report Submitted to the
House Of Representatives.
DEBATE ON WEDNESDAY
SENATOR DICKS CREDENTIALS
PRESENTED BY FORAKER.
Offered to Naval Appro-
priation Bill in the Senate-Factory
for Armor Plate Proposed.

When the House convened today a COM
munication from the Postmaster General
was read, in which 1t was stated that the
department was burdened by lot of use
less documents, and Messrs Bates (Pa.)
and Bassett On. " were appointed a COM
mittee to make recommendation as to their
disposition.
Mr.. Pinckney Tex) was appointed a
member of the committee on expenditures
of the Interior Department. in place of Mr.
Gambler (Miss.). who resigned from that
committee.
Mr.. Overstreet. chairman of the commit
tee on post offices and post roads, called up
the privileged report on the Hay resolution,
calling for certain information regarding
the use Of influence" by members of the
House to secure increases. etc. in salaries
Of pOstmasters. There was a full attend
ance Of members, and when Mr.. Overstreet
began to speak there was gradual crowd
ing around his desk to better hear his state
ment. Mr.. Overstreet said the committee
had unanimously directed him to report that
the resolution be laid upon the table, but
before making that motion he asked that
an agreement be reached as to general de-
bate on the motion before taking vote
MIR. Maddox (Ga) suggested that the in
formation which the committee had was not
before the members and they were not pre-
pared to discuss the questions involved
Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) suggested that
action on the resolution be delayed until the
committee report giving that information
could be printed and placed in the hands of
members.
Mr.. Overstreet said the committee has felt
that there has been no violation Of law in
these recommendations for increased clerk
hire and rent. He did not think there was
any instance in the cases cited in the report
which reflect upon members. and that their
only motive was to promote the interest of
their constituents, and they trusted public
officials to discharge their duties. Continu-
ing, Mr.. Overstreet said that in view of the
overwhelming sentiment that the committee
was keeping something from the light the
committee recommends that they show to
the report that there has been a complete
exoneration of members of the House. In
stead OF there being reflection upon the
members, Mr. Overstreet said their honor
and respect will be enriched.
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader, also
suggested that the resolution go over. to
which Mr. Overstreet agreed and it was
arranged that the resolution will be called
up Immediately after the reading of the
journal Wednesday, when there will be
three hours general debate before a vote
is taken on the motion to table. 1t also
was agreed that the report of the commit
tee giving the information bearing on the
report be printed and that the minority be
permitted to move an amendment for a
general investigation of post office affairs,
subject, however, to a point of order to be
raised by Mr.. Overstreet.
The House then went into committee of
the whole, with Mr.. Boutell UlI.) in the
chair. to consider the post office approp-il-
ton bill