New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-14
TEE rcALL COMMITTEES VERDICT

TEE MCALL COMMITTEES VERDICT.
The special committee authorized by the
House OF Representatives 60 report on the pro
rriefy OF certain transactions between Its mem
bers ana various under officials OF the Post
Once Department has returned finding which
apparently exonerates everybody but the cher
investigator. whose too exhaustive researches
uncovered the transactions II question. Over
any fndiscretions committed by its own present
membership the committee magnanimously
Draws the mnntIe OF charity. 1t fnds, on ex-
aiming the so-cailed charges against MEM
bers OF Congress" that nothing IN them tustihes
fhe conclusion that ANY member Of the House
~of Representative has prohted financially IN
~the slightest degree. or that any member was
~guilty OF improper conduct In connection there
with, or that any member has done. IN con-
rpection with any OF said cases, anything that
rdic not appear 70 be within the lines Of his off,
~cial duty according 10 long esta blshed custom"
This generous nonsuiting Of the charges"
made public by Mr.. Overstreet's committee
must be held 70 extend not only to members
who merely sought to help constituents TO Sc
cure clerk hire, rerstings and other extra allow
Rnces but 70 members whose dealings with the
department involved them unknowingly IN ACT
usi violations OF the federal statutes. Igno-
rance OF the Law is accepted a valid excuse
Tor transactions clearly against its letter, but
tuvolv1ng no corrupt or criminal intention. The
committee IN fact congratulates itself on fnd-
ing 90 little % cr1ticise IN the conduct OF the
members charged with soliciting small-change
farors from an executive department In the
correspondence carefully fled away BY Beavers
and others Mr. Mccall and bis colleagues are
delighted &c discover $50 little Of an unfaTor-
able character.
On the whole. no doubt, the COMMITTEES IS
justified in oismissing the offences Il was
charged 20 investigate es venial and pardon-
able. Apart from the leases az property 20 the
department the practices complained OF, as we
fave repeatedly stated. were not in actual vio-
lstion OF law. Congressmen undoubtedly laid
themselves open TO suspicion and criticism
when they used their official influence TO over
rfce cepsrtment regulations for some constitu-
ept's or dependents benefit But they broke
no statute; and. as they alleged, they were even
prompted by a sense OF patriotic duty IN hang
fne. bat 81 hand. about the Offices Of patronage
dispensing department magnates like Beavers
and Machen. They clearly lowered their credit
and impaired their usefulness by such petty
ofhce brokerage. They offended against good
taste. against the discipline Of the service they
1.iteTmeddled with and against their own sense
OF self-respect and legislative Independence.
Yet, the Mccall committee puts IT. If they
wanted 20 commit all these indiscretions they
could shelter themselves behind a consciousness
os legal immunity, fortified by the excuse Of
<long esta blished custom"
= Yet even the Mccall investigators realize that
Gle House cannot afford 10 sanction any lo.-e-
tie activities disclosed 81 i.e o-~r---sf CORE
Spondsnce. While literally 2 past