Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-09
Animated Debate in the House
This Afternoon.
THE MOTION TO TABLE
MR.. oVERSTREET DEFENDS AC-
TON OF THE COMMITTEE.
Desired to Postpone Discussion Until
Monday, but Yielded to
Wishes of Colleagues.

When the House assembled today there
was an unusually full attendance of MEM
bers in anticipation of lively debate on
the post office committee report the
Hay resolution, calling for certain informa-
ton regarding the use of Influence by
members of the House to secure increases,
etc, in salaries of postmasters. The sub
ject matter before the House was motion
to lay the resolution on the table. The mo-
ton to lay on the table was unanimously
recommended by the committee on post Of
fees and post roads.
Proposed Postponement to Monday.
1t had been agreed that there should be
three hours debate on the resolution, but
Chairman Overstreet has been so besieged
by members with requests for time i'm which
to debate the resolution that he felt con-
strained to ask for extension of time to hve
hours debate, and in order not to interfere
with the post office appropriation bill, he
asked unanimous consent to postpone the
debate until next Monday.
Mr.. Hay of Virginia. democratic member
of the committee, objected TO unanimous
consent and Mr.. Overstreet made formal
motion to postpone. In explanation, Mr..
were undecided whether the resolution
should lie on the table or be adopted. and
it was deemed advisable to afford more
time to consider that question
Alleged Suppression of Facts
Mr. William Alden Smith, republican
tossed a bombshell into the midst of the
already excited House. wrought up to a
pitch of nervousness and Indignation over
the Bristow report. He declared in COLO
guy with Mr.. Hepburn. that he knew that
facts had been suppressed which would be
elected by a congressional investigation.
This produced round of applause from
the democrats and the retort from MI.
Hepburn, his party colleague. that the
democrats would later give opportunity 1of
eliciting the facts.
Mr. Smith holly replied that the repub-
licans ought to take the opportunity. TINS
gave further delight to the democratic side
Mr.. Hepburn rejoined the republicans
would take all opportunities to throw light
on the situation, as no one on the republi-
can side wanted to screen any one. The
republican membership applauded this SEN
tinent.
Minority Leader Takes the Floor.
Minority Leader Williams then took the
floor He declared that the democrats
wanted to go further in this post office in
vestigatOn.
1--WE want the corruption in the Post Of
flee Department investigated. not by the
friends of the officials but by a committee
of this House. remarked Mr.. Williams. He
said that Mr.. Overstreet had already given
notice that a point of order would be made
against the proposition for investigation
by Congress.
Mr.. Walliams said that somebody in the
Post Office Department has somehow in
cluded in report the names of 80 repre-
-I..1 ion of Ia Va
guilty of no moral obliquty. but who are
held up to the country In connection with
the post office investigation.
What was the motive in that?" asked
Mr.. Williams; was it not the motive tc
give Congress notice that the department
had something holding over Congress, and
tn Congress would better let the depart
ment alone?
THE department has put 100 of you on a
list" said Mr.. Williams. ''and sent you into
the newspapers as violators of law. Isn't IL
about time to investigate the department.?
Mr.. VIM. Alden Smith explained at this
point that in his remark to MIR. Hepburn ne
had meant to say that the facts which had
been suppressed would clear the members
of the House of the imputation OF wrong
doing.
Wants Immediate Consideration.
Mr.. Cooper( Wis., was recognized
LAS one of the members Indicated, re
marked MIR. cooper, Waiit iihuieuidts
considerati ton of this question:.
He declared that members owed it II
themselves to- have this matter settled a.
soon as possible. No member, he said, who's
name was connected with that of A. w
Machen ought to want moments delay
Mr. Cooper reproved Mr.. Hepburn of lows
for an alleged attempt to inject polite:
into the question.
Mr.. Moon CTenn.) and Mr.. Underwood
(Ala) were in favor of a full investigation
by the House.
Mr.. Hill Comm was of the opinion thai
the House should act at once on the reso
luton before the House.
Mr. Overstreet yielded to the general sen
timent for speedy action on the resolution
and withdrew his motion to postpone con
SideratiOn.
The resolution then came up and Mr.
Overstreet proceeded to discuss it.
Action of the Committee,
1.-The post office committee of the Hous,
properly had before 1t all of the informa
ton contained in the Bristow report saw,
the exhibits given use In the trial in tn
cases. 1t had properly before it the rec
concentrations of members and the ex
PLANTATION made by the department which
were called for by the resolution now be
fore the House. All of these matters wer
carefully considered and fully weighed b,
the committee on post offices of the House
consisting of seventeen members repre-
senting seventeen states of the Union an,
representing both of the great political par
ties. 1t was and is the unanimous senti
ment of that committee that there has beef
no act by members of the House relativ
to the recommendations commented upol
In the Bristow report which initiate
against the integrity of members nor vic
lateS the law in any respect except iii
technical violations in the three cases abov
referred to.
Proposed Committee Opposed
This resolution proposes an investigation
by five members of this body. II a com
uittee of five should be appointed it woul,
be compelled to reach the same conclusion
which would be that there is nothing in an,
OF 1t to imDugn any improper motive o
conduct nnon any member of The Hnu 90