The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-09
POSTAL FRAUDS AGAIN
DISCUSSED IN SENATE
Investigation for Alleged Partisan
Purposes Demanded by
Democrats.
TILLMAN AFTER HEATH
South Cardinals Pitchforker SAYS
the Salt Lake Editor Is a
TattOoed Man.

WASHINGTON. Jan. s.-Alleged post
Office frauds were under discussion
I'm the Senate to-day. the subject
being opened in a set speech by Mr.. Sim
mons. of North Carolina. who insisted there
should be an investigation by the Senate
into the charges Mr.. Platt, of Connecti-
cut, denied that the Republicans were try
ing to cover up the wrong doing in the post
office and said they simply were contend
ing that the postoffice committee should
ascertain what was to be investigated. The
discussion was participated in by Messrs
Burrows, DolIiver and Quarles on the
Republican side. and Messrs. Car
mack. Tillman and Teller OH the Demoo-
cratic side. The Republican contention was
that there has been a thorough investiga-
ton by the Postofice Department. and that
Senate investigation was now being
pressed by the Democrats for partisan pur-
poses. The Democrats insisted that they
wanted the facts and charged that the Re-
publicans We're trying TO smother them:
Perry 5. Heath was bitterly assailed and
former Postmaster General Smith was crit
icised by Democratic senators.
Mr.. Tillman. in course of the debate. said
that q number of years ago he had asked
that rural free delivery boxes be supplied
TO farmers at cost, and that he had sub
mitted a sample box which sold for 90
cents. This box. said Mr. Tillman, was
furnished later at $125 and $50 each. He
wanted to know whether any investigation
of this case had been made.
Mr.. Simmons answered that the Bristow
report exposed many such cases.
Mr.. Tillman charged that the opposition
to an investigation was characterized by
partisanship. There was an apparent at
tempt at congressional smothering. He did
not see how honest men could stand up in
the face of public sentiment and try TO
prevent an investigation and allow the stat
ute of limitations to prevent the proseeu-
ton of the rascals."
Mr. Dolliver said the disclosures of cor
ruption in the POstOffice Department in
stead of convincing him that general in
veStigatiOn is necessary showed that the
business department of the government
has been we'll conducted. The execution. he
said. were in cases where private or secret
contracts had been made for the purchase
of supplies. The fact that there had been
no entertainments or misapplication of gov
eminent funds, where "A strict auditing sys-
tenn was employed. proved, he said. that
the general business Is well conducted.
TILLMAN AGAIN.
Mr.. Tillman asked why Ii is that the Re
publicans were so anxious to prevent an
investigation. I'VE are trying to turn the
rascals out" he said, while you are try
ing to keep them in. You have much to gain
by refusing to shed light on the depart
ment. We have much to gain by exposing
corruption
Before answer was made to the question
Mr.. Tillman at the top of his voice pro-
pounded another question: What about
those rural free delivery boxes? The man
who had that business in charge has not
even been investigated"
You can't convince the chief Of the rural
free delivery service that he has not been
investigated responded Mr.. Dolliver.
NO. the inquiry concerning the boxes was
confined TO boxes for cities" said Mr.. Till
man. And what about Mr.. Heath? Bris-
tow says he needs investigating, but you
could not convince Mr.. Heath of that,
either. i suppose"
Mr. Dolliver replied that he had read the
Bristow report and had found no charge
that Mr.. Heath needed investigating. Mr..
Tillman started to read the references TO
Mr.. Heath and while looking for the place
said caustically: well, If he was not be-
smirched by the report he was tattoed, and
he Is q tattoed man."
Mr. Teller said the only suggestion of a
political purpose of an investigation had
come from the Republican side AS for the
qualifications of the Senate to make an in
vestigatiOn senators should not sit in their
seats unless capable of conducting such an
inquiry and people generally, he said, de-
mand that Ii shall be undertaken. IF ii is
not made In accordance with this demand"
he said, you will hear such a roar as will
make you tremble in your seats"
At $3.50 the Senate went into executive SEES
sion and at $40 p m. adjourned until Mon
day,