The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-07
Deep Interest During Its
Reading by Members
of the House.
DISCUSS IT WEDNESDAY
Specific Cases Of Laws Vio-
lation--Integrity of Repre-
SentativeS Not Doubted.

Representative Overstreet (Rep., Ind)
in the House today, by direction Of the
Committee or PostOfiices and Post
RoaGs. reported the Hay resolution call
ing for the appointment Of a committee
OF five members Of the House To inves~
tigste the charges made in Mr. Bris-
tOw's report that members Of Congress
were implicated with Beavers in leas>
ing buildings to the Government for
postal purposes, and in obtaining in
creased allowances for clerk hire in
various postofhces.
Accompanying the resolution. which he
asked 10 lie upon the table. he submit
ted the detailed report of Fourth AS
sistant Postn aster General BristOw, set
ting forth the circumstances upon which
his charges are based. The action of
Mr. Overstreet was anticipated. and
. ii caused a greater furry OF excitement
IN the House than has been seen at any
time this season. Members gathered
about the Representative from Indiana
and in the center aisle and listened Ia.
tently 10 everything which was said,
not knowing whether their names were
included in the list and the statements
made by Mr. Bristow.
Take It Up Wednesday.
Although a motion to lie upon the
table is not. under the rules. debatable,
Mr.. Overstreet asked unanimous con
sent for two hours debate upon the
subject matter OF the Bristow report.
This brought half a dozen protests from
the minority side. Mr.. Underwood
CDem. Ala). taking the lead in all
matter. insisted that inasmuch as it has
been stated that the integrity of half of
the membership of the House had been
reflected upon, two hours time was al
together too short TO consider the mat
ter, especially as members had not rad
an opportunity 10 read the report, which
has not yet been printed.
Honor Not Questioned.
Mr.. Oversueet declared that in his
opinion there was not an instance which
reflected upon the integrity of any
member Of the House. and that their
only motives had been TO promote the
interests of their constituents. Even
in the three cases where members had
rented buildings 10 the Government Mr..
Overstreet declared that there had been
no criminal violation The committee
had decided 10 make the entire matter
public
After further discussion Of the mat
ter, Mr. Overstreet asked unanimous
cor sent. which was given. 10 cal up The
resolution on Wednesday. Immediately
after tho approval OF the journal and
70 lint debate upon the matter 10
three hours. IL was then ordered that
Z 0oa copies OF the Bris,ow report be
printed for the use OF the members OF
the House.
Resume Of Report.
The Hay resolution was introduced on
January 8. calling for an Investigatioa
By five members OF the House of the
charge made in the Iristow report that
longtime leases for postofiee premises
were cancelled and the rent increased
upon the recommendation Of influential
Representatives. and further that IF a
member OF Congress requested an In
crease iu the clerk hire allowed a post
master, Beavers usually complied. re-
gardiess Cf the merits Of the case" and
also that Beavers made contracts with
members OF Congress for the rental 81
premises either ~ their own names, the
names of their agents or some mmber
o. their families"
II appears from the data which the
Committee on PostOfiCes and Post
Roads obtained from the PostoMce D.
partment and submitted by Chairman
Cverstreet with his report upon tuo
resolution. that in the vast majority OF
Instances where members Of Congress
made application for Increased allow
arces for clerk hire. there was no viola
tiou Of law. but rather "a violation Of the
rules and regulations OF the Postoaico
pepart-1cut. In fact Mr. B-istow
states as much in his letter OF January
- o. Chairman Cverstrect which is q
part Of the data.
Rules Of Department.
II appears that the postoMce Depart
uent has certain tests set forth in IT'S
(C5utirueI on Second PageJ