New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-12
POSTAL TUNULT IN HOUSE
DEFTLY TURNED.
Corscr-atire Steps Adopted-Sc-
Iecf Committee to Investigate.
rrrov THE TRIBUNE BUREArl

frTE
- s,. Che greatest excitement witnessed IN
49,. ~ rcureaeutatiyes since the spirited
-...e of -rc IIsi Congress. and spent In the
-. tI,ter 5enurciat,0n 90 every one IN any
s,,.,elle for the Payne report, the Re-
- members recovered their equanimity
,.5r-rcrt and adopted the conservative
- advocated by the leaders and predicted
a. .bese dispatches of last night
90 r-,+a that was practically unanimous the
-,.n resolution. Troyi5inr for "a select com
&C IN investigate the relations of faemners
- ~,,er-es with she Postofice Department was
'sor+e5 Mary extravaEaut outhufsis OF lnlls-
-tio, found utteruuCe in the early nart OF 10
-. seesio,, rut from the FIRST 81 was clearly
..ireanlc that whenever a Democratic mem
ave expression 20 his chagrin at the course
= .s Postmaster General or OF The Postoihce
,-.,,rlttee ne concluded with demand for a
-s-sl fr,,estieation % the Postofice Depart
,-e-t and gradually the Republican members
rolra TO a realization OF che fact that their or
.rorerte were endeavoriug TO precipitate an IN
g,-rr which must last throughout the coming
,a1-a,r7. ana waich would afford abundant
cruorturitv for sens, +onal reports ana lIo'e
.,us~cptIrlo of great partisan bias.
eo.-,o OF tha Republican leaders secured tine
sn which 10 explain thelr own reasons ior tle
actions which had made them the suo5eC1 %
criticism fn the Payne report but they o'-I ei i-s
,,-,,5s5 a-oo,,raring the sentiment IN favor oi n
general investigation. some hepuoh'a"S 'A-
,.ressad themselves In terms that knew no
5,,,,,ss referring 10 Fourth Assistant Bristow IN
,1, -7osr caustic language. and. IN one instance,
20 the Postmaster General in Unparlianentafy
,arr5aee. but such fulmirations were compara-
ttvcly rare on the Republican side
TIE CANNON DEMONSTRATION.
FINALLY William Alden Smith. Of Michigan.
,arreive5 "a psychological moment, and with a
dramatic speech digpeIed an rancor and struck
q RESPONSIVE chord on both sides Of the chamber.
He declared that when the Republican party In
the rast had sought a popular candidate for the
Presidency il had come 10 the House of Repre-
rsn;atives He thcn paid a high tribute 10 the
Sneaker. adding. 81 hope the day is not far dis
,art when the people win crown the Speaker Of
This House who has stood for years the de-
Gender Of the Treasury, and lift him, with the
general consent Of the people. into the Execu-
tive oflce'
moment before the House had been filed
,-atb -arcor and denunciation and the most
,xrravagant and excited recrinination had been
followed with bursts Of applause. For mo-
,nert after this statement there was silence
sn6 then .he House burst into deafeuing ap-
rlause followed by cheers. not from the Re
publican side alone. but from Democrats as
well such a spontaneous demonstration of
admiration and regard has seldom been wit
sessed in the halls Of Congress. i was like
the oathurst after the nomination Of a popular
rsrdisata at a National Conventon-and Il
soo she aa, GOOD feeling WAS once more
restored. bitterness was forgotten and the Re
rubucan members were ready 10 follow the
leadership Of those whose long and able service
has cuslifed them 10 become the party leaders.
--rg.- ma - ore.
:f ny magic Representative Smith became the
centre of n group OF Republicans who con-
Eratulated him upon his achievement. and not
e. few declared that Uncle joe would b. tho
party nominee IN 1905
Probably no one was more surprised at the
Demonstration than the Speaker himself AL
though in the chair. he failed 10 observe the
remark of Teuresentative Smith. and was only
brought 10 a realization of the fact that some
thing unusual had occurred by the outburst
which followed g.. Calling TO him one OF the
clerks. Mr. Cannon asked the occasion Of the
demonstration. and when he learned 81,
attempted 10 call the House to order but for
several moments his efforts were without avail
After this incident general good feeling pre-
vailed. Some members continued 10 explain
sbsir connection with the Payne report. but
there was no further evidence Of bitterness. and
aualy The Mccall resolution was adopted.
HOW INFORMATION WAS SECURED.
one of tho incidents o. the day which contrib
rtod To- O. considerable extent 10 the victory OF
'ths better thought" was the introduction Of
le.te- discovered by Representative Cooper and
introduced hv Representative Overstreet. and
which Demonstrated that the postal officials Were
rot 10 blame for the information sent 10 the
Comrrittea on Postofices and Post Roads 1t
appears thar The Postmaster General and First
Assistant POSTMASTER General Wyune protested
against sending 10 the committee The iniorma-
tIor demanded. and Ecpresentative Overstreet
then ,rrota 20 the Po=t-1aster General the letter
which be- to-day asked leave 70 print Il is as
follows:
January %. 1904.
Hon +. C. Payne. Postmaster General wash
Sir: During the hearing before this committee
recently tle statement WAS T1aoe 10y nj. waters
ilat from about nine hundred offices allowances
ior Separating purposes had been taken away
lecalSe the Offices were mot entitled 10 inen
ron conversation had with Mr.. Waters over
fhe telephone IL was understood that "A state
rent had been made boy the Fourth Assistant
h.~tunaster General in regard TO these disallow-
anres, ar1 that COPY OF TINS statement could
lrolahlV he furnished without much difficulty.
I would De pleased 80 have you furnish me- for
tso of the courlittee. copy u the statement
conn. trtec desires 10 know what Offices have
been -eected Boy these cisaloWances. what the
,flovrs-,oe was before any reduction discon-
rfr...--.-a Was made and what u Is now. and
$50 80. connie nsation allowed postmasters NJ
ssc1 81 rfe offices Son question II may be that
IN ~ :Nig information is nos easily o5iainab.e
,.-,.r,r cor,ei 5o~abe DELAY. and Y so pioase ac-
,see -. ..,-ll..E .atolv. But IN aIN event. ta7
., ,--e, 5..s-ee TO have such iufor.--.tio1 as Be-
.---.-t-., .e soon as 0css.Ii.. Very
Erectful'y. Ji.f'9i- ~ ''-'''' ,.,. .,lI-
The o-,r.cn tnat prevails u tho Repuilican
r,5e 81 .te House is that Chairmen overstree'.
b. n r,uoe-o desire to 90; ~ al thc Facts ana un-
- 49, ..-..---Llcs ttn llre.nface