The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-12
MR.. CANNON IS PROPOSED
FOR PRESIDENT, AND THE
HOUSE BECOMES FRANTIC
Tumultuous Scere Follows a
Speech by William Alden
Smith, of Michigan.
SEVEN HOURS OF DEBATE
Ends in Order for Investigation of
Bristow's Influence" Report,
but No General Inquiry.
VIEWS OF INDIANIANS
Speeches by Hemenway and Crum-
packer-Overstreet AsSailed
and Overruled.
SEVEN HOURS OF DEBATE
VIEWS OF lINDIANIANS

Special 10 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. March u.-There was q
tumultuous scene in the House to-day when
w. A Smith. Michigan Republican. after
denouncing the administration. proposed
Speaker Cannon for President Democrats.
as we'll as Republicans. cheered. yelled and
shouted until they were hoarse. The scene.
however. was merely an incident of an i'm
portant days proceedings.
The Republican leaders were successful
in their efforts to bring order out of the
chaos which followed the publication OF
the postofice committee report and the
Bristow findings regarding members OF
Congress. The Democrats were defeated
in their efforts 10 force a congressional in
vestigation of the Postofice Department;
the committee on postoffices was rebuffed
by the adoption of the resolution providing
for the investigation of the cases OF men,
bers who were mentioned in the department.
report, which committee will do precisely
what the postofice committee should have
done with the whole matter. The super
heated congressman are cooling off and the
final result will be satisfactory TO every
body.
Representative Mccall. Of Massachusetts,.
who presented the resolution for the investi-
names are mentioned in the report of the
department probably WIFI be chairman OF
the special investigation committee. This
is just as ii should be- said an Indiana
member tonight "Mr Mccall is an able
man and a good lawyer. He elected
as a Republican and generally acts with
the Democrats He should be satisfactory
TO both sides"
special committee one of high class and il
is probable he will name some OF the
strongest men in the House TO serve upon
it. He will naturally take only members
whose names are not mentioned in the
"Bristow report" and it is suggested that
Representatives Dalzell, of Pennsylvania,
and Hit, of Illinois. are considered likely
TO be named, and possibly Representative
Williams of Mississippi the Democratic
leader may be appointed. If it is regarded
as proper to select one of the Democratic
| leaders who served on the Overstreet COM
mittee, possibly Mr.. Moon. Of Tennessee.
may be one of the minority members.
1t was a fiery day in the House and the
Indiana delegation contributed 10 all
phases by discussion on the floor Chair
man Overstreet was in charge of the fight
on the Republican side. The plan out
lined by him at the outset would undoubted-
ly have been successful under ordinary cir
cumstances, but the members were aroused
and Mr. Overstreet and the House had 10
bow to the investigation ordered to-day.
The remarks of Representatives Hemen-
way and Crumpacker. calm and temperate
in the midst of bitter and vindictive
speeches on the part OF some members
named in the report, attracted attention
and contributed a great deal TO the progress
of the cooling off, process. Mr..
Hemenway demonstrated that the
port was unjust in its allegations
of excess allowances 10 postofices in his
district He proved beyond question that
instead of an excess Of allowances there
yet remained an unexpended balance TO
the credit of clerk hire" OF $4,000. He
showed by figures secured from the de-
partment that the government. instead OF
being the loser in many postofice leases
in the First Indiana district was the gamer
by hundreds of dollars. and that the net
outlay for rental in the eight instances
cited IN his district was about $50 per an
mum.
Representative Crumpacker explained the
relations that exist between members and
the department. and he defended General
Bristow, whom he said had performed
great service for the country.
JOHN Z. MONK