The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-07
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
Gorman Uses Plain Language About
The Administration.
Senate.

GRAFTON of the poStoffice appropriation
bill and it was the signal for d revival
Of the Democratic demand for an in
vestigation into the charges Of Corrup-
ton in the Pcstoffice Department.
The debate was initiated ~ Mr. Cor
man. who spoke Tor almost two hours
in criticism of the course OF the Re-
publican party in the Senate in refus-
ing an inquiry. Mr. German referred to
the hasty consideration and report OF
the bill and asserted that there had
Leen persistent denial OF the investi-
CATION of the affairs of the Postoffice
Department. He urged that it was not
yet too late to take steps to prevent
further robbery" and thievery in the
department
, 1T is said,'' he went on, that Con-
gress must adjourn speedily; that from
Cne source a request amounting to Or
ders has gone out; that 1t is inconven-
lent for one branch Of the government
10 have Congress on its hands: that
if there is delay there are likely to be
disagreeable differences from what has
already been developed.
I'VE have reached time when there
is mucn preaching of honesty AID high
uindedness, but corruption bubbles
cut. 1t came like fog, and has not yet
lifted and we cannot tell whether all
the information is yet out.
Mr.. German referred to the charges
made by the Postoffice Department.
saying he believed they had been made
for the purpose of diverting attention
from the guilty ones who had filched
money from the Treasury and abused
their trusts. AS for himself he was or
the opinion that the members had not
gone more in the matter than their
public duties required. Mr.. German
called attention to the habit Of criti-
cising men engaged in executive work
and he concluded that this criticism
grew out of well-directed effort to
build up one-man, Czar-like govern
ment.
80 far, indeed. had this plan pro-
gressed that legislation has come to
be practically a farce, all important
measures being dictated by the execu-
tive. 1t was coming to be that only an
executive order was necessary to get
an appropriation. The result is that
Congress becomes mere recording
body.
I'VE are told" lie continued. that
having approved the plans OF the e1-
ecutive We must adjourn and go home
because OF the fear Of damaging dis
closures. The fe:.. is SO great that we
are to be sent away and not to be al
lowed to do anything"
He then referred to some OF the
pending legislation and included in the
list Mr.. Forakers bill for the amend
ment to the anx-trust law regarG
ing transportation He referred to At
torney General Knox..s statement re-
garding this bill. saying that it was not
a department measure. Think OF 1t,
said Mr.. German. Notice Is given to
Congress that nothing should be done
IN the way Of legislation without con-
srlting the administration"
The American people do not wan'
one-man control, Mr.. German contend.
ed He hoped that such action would
be taken as would prevent one-man
control in the next four years, whose
ever might fill the White House.
Mr.. German c,cccc::l, with the declara'
ton Of the conviction that the Post.
office Department was "honey-combed
with CORRUPTION and inefficiency."
Mr.. Penrose. chairman Of the COM
mittee on postoffices, said that while
he had originally favored an investiga-
ton, he has now reached the conclu-
sion that none was necessary.
Mr.. Penrose challenged the accuracy
Of Mr.. Germans statement that extra
ordinary haste had been exercised by
the committee on postoffices in the pre-
paration OF the bill. The subject mat
ter OF the measure had been receiving
attention, he said, since last Decem-
Der.
Mr.. Lodge sustained Mr.. Penrose's
statement that there had been no un-
Cue haste in bringing the postoffice
bill into the Senate. 1t was true that
the committee had done all In it's pow
cr to promote an early adjournment.
"The party in power" he proceed
ed. has deemed it best to bring about
an early adjournment il 1t could be
done. So far as I am aware there have
been no instructions received from any
body in any quarter. l was not on this
side OF the chamber that the express
sion cuckoo" originated. That word
is chargeable to the Senator from Ala
bama and applied to his side OF the
chamber" 1t also should be bronze in
mind. he said.. that the charge that a
President has said that he wanted to
set Congress off his hands was to be
traced to Democratic President. and
Mr.. German had gotten his Presidents
mixed.
In the House.