The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-08
POSTAL AFFAIRS
 HAVE AN AIRING All Other Subjects Excluded for
 the Day 0VERSTREET STARTS IT Postoffice Appropriation Bill Causes Vigorous Arraignment of Present System By Representative
 Moon of Tennessee.

Washington, March 7-Fostal affairs eAgrossed the attention of the house to- day practically to the exclusion of all else. The subject was introduced by Mir Overstreet, chairman of the commit tee on postoffices and post roads, who submitted the report of that commit tee on the Hay resolution calling for cer- tain information regarding the use of ''in- fiuence' by members of the house to secure increases in salary for postmas- ters.
 Interest centered in the data accompa- nying the report which had been fur nished the committee by the postoffice department relating to member of the house. There was a full attendance of members on both sides of the chamber when MT. Overstreet stated that he had been directed by unanimous vote of the committee to recommend that the Hay resolution be tabled, as the information wanted accompanied the report Minority members urged that debate and vote on the resolution should be deferred. as they had not had an opportunity to read tho report so an agreement was reached to postpone further action until Wednes- day and 1000 copies of the report were ordered printed
 Postoffice Appropriation Bill.
 The postoffice appropriation bill was then taken up. and MT. Moon of Tennes- see, the ranking minority member of the postoffice committee, araigned the pres ent system employed in the postoffce de- partment and made an appeal for a gen eral investigation of the affairs of the department MT. Cowherd of Missouri also member of the committee, followed with an analytical review of the charges made in the Bristow report, which he referred to as a shameful story of fraud and misadminstration
 When the house convened a communi- cation from the postmaster general was read, in which 1t was stated that the department was burdened by a lot of useless documents. and Messrs. Bates of Pennsylvania and Bassett of New York were appointed committee to make rec ommendation as to their disposition.
 MT. Pinkney of Texas was appointed a member of the committee on expendi- lures In the interior department in place or MT. Candler of Mississippi, who re- signed from that committee.
 MT Overstreet, chairman of the com mittee on postoffices and post roads, called up in the house today the privileged re- port of that committee on the Hay resoIr- tion calling for certain information re- garding the use of Influence" by mem- bers Of the house to secure increases in salaries of postmasters. By unanimous agreement action on the resolution was postponed until Wednesday, when there will be three hours general debate on the motion to table the resolution.
 Full Attendance of Members.
 There was a full attendance, and when MT. Oyerstreet began to speak there was gradual crowding around his desk, the better to hear his statement MT. Over street said the committee had unani- mously directed him to report that the resolution be laid upon the table, but before making that motion he asked that an agreement be reached as to general debate on the motion before taking a vote
 MT. Maddox of Georgia suggested that the information which the committee had was not before the members. and they were not prepared to discuss the ques- tions involved.
 MT. Underwood of Alabama suggested that action on the resolution be delayed until the committee report giving the in- formation could be printed and placed in the hands of members.
 MT. Overstreet said that the committee has felt that there has been no violation of the laws in these recommendations for the increase of clerks and rent He did not think there was any instance in the cases cited in the report which reflects upon members. and that their only motive was to promote the interest of their con- stituents, and they trusted public of- fcials to discharge their duties. Con- tinuing, Mir Overstreet said that in view of the overwhelming sentiment that the committee was keeping something from the light, the committee recommends that they show to the country by the exhibit accompanying the report that there has been complete exoneration of members of the house. Instead of there being a reflection upon the members MT Over street said their honor and respect will be enriched.
 Williams Makes Suggestion.
 Mr. Williams, the minority leader, also suggested that the resolution go over. to which MT. Overstreet agreed and it was arranged that the resolution will be called up immediately after the reading of the journal Wednesday, when there will be three hours debate before a vote Is taken on the motion to table. It was also agreed that the report of the committee giving | the information bearing on the report be printed and the minority be permitted to move an amendment providing for a general investigation of office affairs sub 1 ject however, to a point of order to be | raised by MT. Overstreet.
 The house then went into committee oi 1 the whole with Mir Boutelle of Illinois | in the chair to consider the postoffce ap- l propriation bill.
 | MT. Overstreet made an explanation oi | the provisions of the bill and dwelt al | some length on the reasons for increasing l the pay of rural free delivery mail car | riers While Mir. Overstreet was speak 1 ing a messenger brought in and laid or 1 the doorkeeper's desk bundle of the re. ports accompanying the Hay resolutions | Members collected around the desk and business was suspended until every mem Der had procured a copy of the report. Cannot Solicit Business.
 Mir Overstreet said the committee in the l interest of the service had recommended | that rural free delivery carriers no longer | be permitted to solicit business for mer- | chants.
 MT. Moon of Tennessee, the ranking minority member of the postoffice com mittee, disavowed any political purpose 1T view of the evidence at hand, and urged l it to be the duty of the house to look | closely into the affairs of the postoffics I department. The system of administra | tion, he said, was weak. and an investiga | ton might enable the house to revise and | strengthen the system. The slime, h' | said, which had been found in one branch
 may have permeated other branches. 1 He said the names of 150 members hat been linked with the wrong doing in tht postoffice department not justly, h' l said. except in a very few cases, but hs | asked how this would be viewed. H, exonerated the republicans from any de | sire to protect wrong doers in office, bu said they were derelict in not providing | a hetter system It was not a partisan