The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-09
I'ublic. Convinced This Is State
3l95 Of the Postonfice De-
partt1lert.
DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE
It Dealt Entirely With Question
Of a Congressional Iivestiga-
ton of$tl1e Department.
(By Associated Prcss,)

III tho Senate to-day, the subject being
opcncd in Il set speech by Mr.. Simmons
North .Sart,llnaj who insisted there
should DO an investigation ry the Son
ate into the charges. Mr.. Plat (Con-
nccticutt) denied that tho Republicans
wero trying to cover up my wrong-do-
ings iii tho Postoffice Department. and
said they were simply contending that
tho Postofflco Committee should nsccr-
tain what was to be Investigated. Tho
discussion was participated In by Messrs,
Burrows, Dolliver and Quarles, on the
Republican, side, and Messls. Carmnck,
TiNman and Teller, on tho Democratic
SIDE
Mr.. Simmons said It was clearly the
purpose of the Republicans not to per-
nit any further inquiry into the frauds
and scandals OF tho department He
predicted that when the resolutions came
back from tho Senate Committee. they
would be defeated by practically tho
unanimous vote of the Republicans. 4 t
was apparent, 6hc said, that no further,
investigation would be permitted on the
eve Of n presidential elections. n
A Speaking Of tho Bristow inquiry, Mr..
Simmons said tho reports or that inquiry
showed It to be one directed solely into
Grimes committed within tho depart
ment and TINT the various bureaus were
not subjected to the general search for
tho disclosure OF Irregularities, not pun
isEablc as crimes.
SHOULD RECOVER MONEY.
"I do not charge that every branch Of
tho department Is rocking with fraud"
said he "but it will be difficult to cor-.
f,,v IT. fn~ m Il
The investigation that has boon had, Is
merely Of a legal character"
Mr.. Simmons made the point that
frauds exposed by Mr.. Bristow, in nearly
every instance form q civil liability and
that government funds, which had been
wasted, SHOULD abe recovered In q court
Of law.
Mr.. Tillman said that number of
years ago, no had asked that rural free
delivery boxes be supplied to farmers at
cost. and that he had submitted q sam
ple box. which sold for fifty cents. This
box, said N1r.RTlllman. was furnished
later at s1.25 and $3.50 each. He wanted
to know whether any investigator OF
this case had been made.
y Mr.. Simmons answered that the BrlstoW
renort exposed many such cases
s. Mr. Simmons referred to former Assist
ant Postmastor-Gcncra Heathi and SAID (
that there wastevery reason why analn- !
u,liry should be directed to finding out
what his connections We're with the post
office scandals. He did not say Perry
Heath was guilty. but If he was not
connected with the frauds no was sur
rounded by the most curious set OF err
cumstances that had ever been kno"n'
Mr.. Simmons also criticised former POST
master General Smith, because ne did
= yIt,,11D ia, oh
Speaking of Mr.. Tulloch's experience
IN tho Postofflce Department, Mr.. Sim
mons said:
..Who knows but what his dismissal
was for the purpose of intlmidating other
employees who might have had intorfna-
ton for the exposure Of frauds
MIR. PLATT DENIES IT.
When Mr.. Simmons concluded, Mr.
Plat (ConnecucuO said 1t had been
charged by the Democratic senators IN
direct terms that II an Investigation IS
not had, 1t would be because the Repupll-
cans objected to the investigation. He
said that such was not the case; that
what the Republicans had demanded was
that the Postoflce Committee silould con-
duct an inquiry to determine whether
congressional Investigation Is necessary.
TAception to the Republican position
vas taken by Mr. Carmack, who said
that the Democrats are not agreed 20
leave the matter entirely to the Commit
te,, on Postoi4ices and Post Roads. I'VE
admit" he said that Mr.. BrlstoW's IN
vestigation was thorough, SO far as 1t
went, but we deny that it was elaborate
or comprehensive"
Mr.. Plat commended that the committee
should report to the nateAWhethers an
Investigation is necessary. and Mr.. Car
,n1,7 or, trrf n
would Save the entire matter In the
hands OF the committees Tho Senate
row he said, should order nm investi-
CATION. No course short Of this would
meet the demands OF the situation Ito
declared that the Postmaster-G General had
stood In the way OF an honest invests
cation, and in view of'hls obstinate oppo-
a;tion and in view or the fact that rot
ter ress had been found In some dv1-
.s,ons Of the Postoflles Department. the
inference was that there had been cor
rurtion In other divisions. For THIS rea-
son he wanted m Investigation. and he
would have It non.partlsan IN character,
PARTIsANRY. ri @,
Mr.. Tillman charged that the opposition
to an Investigation was. characterized
b. craftsmanship. Th,srs was an apparent
attempt at congressional smothering. He
did not zoe how honest mon could stand
up In the face of public sentiment and
try to prevent an investigation and allow
III. statute of limitations to prevent the
persecution Of tho rascass,
Mr.. Quarles criticised tho remarks made
by Mr.. Carmack concerning the Post
rnabtcr-General and Mr.. Carmack ex-
plrjned that he referred entirely to Mr.,
Paync's predecessor, "In respect to tho
Tniloch chargcs,' said MI, Carmack, "
do not think tho present Postmaster
GcHaral was ns dlllgent as he might have.
been. Perhaps he relied too much upon.
VIA, had been tho course Of his pre-
decssa0r" 4
Mr.. bolivar said the disclosures OF
corruption In the Postofiice Department,
INSTEAD OF convincing him that general
investigation Is necessary. has had the
srsct of showing him that the business
Experiments of tho government have
tgsn vel, conducted. 81
Mr Tillman asked why It Is that tho
Republicans were SO anxious to prevent
an inYesiigntion, I'VE are trying 10 turn
the rascals OUT said he. while you are
trying TO keep them In. You have much
to gain by refusing To shed light on the
department, We have much TO gam by
ssposipG eorruption." Before answer was
funda In he ourut i'm Mr.. JplllnA n. at the