The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-16
Mr., CROMER SPEAKS FOR
RURAL MAIL CARRIERS
.Muncie Congressman Says They
Should Have More Pay and Priv
ilege to Do Other Work.
SPEECH BY MIR. GRIGGS

WASHINGTON, March 15.-During the
discussion of the postoffice appropriation
bill in the House to-day the recent report
of the Postoffice Department regarding con-
gressional solicitation of clerk hire allow
ances and rental of quarters to the gov
eminent was again brought up. Mr. Griggs,
of Georgia. got into an argument with Mr..
Cooper. of Wisconsin, as to the author
ship of the document, and insisted, over
the protest of Mr.. Cooper. that it was pre-
pared under the direction of General Bris-
tow. He defended the committee of which
he is a member. in giving publicity to the
report. saying that the United States is
too powerful and too great to convict any
man by a suppression of the facts. He
said the members of the House. after
threats TO tear the roof off the depart
ment," had turned tail and voted that the
department should investigate the congress
men.
There were men in the inspection service.
Mr.. Griggs declared, who were afraid to
nave their reports see daylight; such men
ought to be got rid of and men put in who
were not afraid. There was yet more of
the report, he said, the reports of in
spectors who ought to go before the public.
de called attention to what he termed the
ridiculous position the House had placed
Itself In" We sought to investigate the
Postoff1ce Department" he said. land you
gentlement turned out here like hornets
and insisted that the whole department
from top to bottom must be investigated"
Both the Republicans and Democrats. he
said, had declared that they would tear
the roof off the old thing and he inquired
what did you do? The House got scared
and turned tail"
Amid laughter and applause he chided
members OF the House with having start
ed out TO Investigate the department and
N ing fh.a1 lear1f
investigate them. THAT was a great coup
on the part of the department" he said
with sarcasm. He poked fun at the Repub-
licans for having so readily yielded to the
persuasons of the party leaders and voting
against departmental investigation,
adopting instead a miserable resolution in
vestigating themselves. THE Republican
organization, he said, sis the finest In the
world. There is nothing like it, he con-
tinued, from Julius Caesar down to Gen
erai Roosevelt. which latter remark pro-
he said, ever marched before better drilled
hosts than does the Republican leader, Mr..
Payne, at which there was more laughter,
only TO break out again when he referred to
Mr.. Dalzell lieutenant"
The claim of the letter carriers for in
creased pay was espoused by Mr.. Cromer,
of Indiana. He spoke of the insufficiency
of the pay of the rural mail carriers and
said they should not be denied the privilege
or acting as agents for newspapers.
AT whose suggestion was it, inquired
Mr. Mann, that this privilege has been
denied?"
Mr.. Cromer said il came from Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow first
and then from the postoffice committee. He
had, he said. no criticism to offer against
General Bristow. Il think" said he, ''he
has been honest in the administration of
postal affairs" and he received Republican
applause when he added: Il am so well
satisfied with the investigation he has made
in the Postoffice Department that | believe
no fraud or corruption yet remains there to
be exposed to the people" Until the status
of rural letter carriers should be fixed and
| their pay increased, he thought they should
be allowed to serve newspapers to the pat
rons of their rural route.
Mr. Gaines. of Tennessee was in favor
of the proposition If the rural mail carriers
| were given the right to solicit subscriptions
! for all newspapers, and not for any one
! publication, and to transact for pay any
| other business for the patrons of the route.
Mr.. Burton. of Ohio delivered a care
| fully prepared speech on the question OF
| increases in national expenditures, and
warned the House against extravaganza
Under the latitude of debate Mr. Rucker,
| of Missouri. attacked the protective tariff
| system of the Republican party, while Mr..
| Fitzgerald, of New York, discussed labor
| legislation and the decisions of Judge Alien
| b. Parker on labor questions
The right of the President of the United
| States to utilize the yachts Mayfower and
! Sylph was questioned by Mr.. Cochran, of
| Missouri, who argued that there was no
| authority of law for il.