Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTHR.
WASHINGTON, Mar. u, 1904.


have TO do is to sit still and make the best
use Of whatever comes its way. The post
Office scandal has now assumed such gigan-
tic proportions that it overtops everything
else, and there is prospect Of bitter war
between the legislative and executive
branches Of the government. Either the
scandal must be probed to the bottom or
the party in power will rest under the
charge Of being afraid to let the whole truth
be known The lid blew off in the House
of Representatives on the 10th instant,
when members had had time to examine
the so-called Bristow report, which charged
no less than $50 gentlemen Of the House
with irregularities and violations Of law.
The gist of the matter is that members OF
Congress have been flooding the post Office
department with applications for increase
Of rents for post Office buildings, for in
crease of salaries aud for more clerks. The
now indicted Beavers was the man who
to k these matters in hand, and obliged
the Congressman in many instances by
granting their requests. The Speaker Of
the House, the old twatch dog of the
Treasury is in the list 'of honor, y as it
has been designated, and many members,
Including Grosyenor, Of Ohio, Hepburn, of
Iowa, Hill, of Conn, and host besides.
The revelations made by the report of the
Committee on post offices, fell like a
thuuderbolt out of the blue, and for
several days Congressman were too angry
to be on speaking terms with themse yes.
An attempt was made to let Mr.. Biistow
down easy by asserting that he did not
write the report; but that proved to be too
thin, as he has for months been praised by
the Administration for doing that very
! thing. He is said to have been too sick to
attend to business for month, but when
the President sent for him on the 10Th
instant, he was able to get to the White
House
i A remarkable feature of the whole
business is that the report was adopted and
presented to the House by Committee APP
pointed by Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Oyer
street, the chairman, tried in vain to con-
vince the House that it was harmeless
document, which really meant nothing, and
that it had betterlie on the table Gentle
men whose names had been coupled with
/ Beavers, Tyner, Metcalf, and others OF mall
odorous reputation, decidedly objected
! And they prepared to sail in. The scene
in the House on the 10Th and 10Th instants,
when party lines disappeared like frost be-
fore the sun, was one long to be rernem-
bered. Applause from both sides of the
chamber greeted each speaker as he pro-
tested his innocence, and denounced the
report. The public galleries swarmed with
special RS, and the reporters for the press
were out in force. The confusion was in
describable. and busine was almost at a
stand still fsf6s-hen General Grosvenor rose
to make guest Of nrssAsse curiosity of the
Democrats vas s 81 It Pi itohf they left
their seats and filled the forum near the
Ohio Congressman, that every word might
be heard. II am a lawyer exclaimed
General Grosvenor, land am not afraid :
This report, holding it aIoft, "will be
| translated into all the languages of the
world, and 1t wi be believed that there
are $50 rascais in the American House Of
Represent ttivesn There was both laugh
ter aud dismay when General Grosvenor
holding up one # the most conservative
newspapers of the metropolis, read as fol-
lows. when men of the standing of Hill,
CulIom, Cannon, Payne and Hepburn, Of
Iowa, are taken rtdhanded, no one can
marvel that Beavers, Machen. and the
small fry OF department. suhordinates rush
for loot, with the cry, "now or never =
Sentiments like these, y said the speaker
sare being printed in IS per cent. Of ali
the newspapers Of the country
This new out-cropping of the post Office
scandal has caused great anxiety at the
White House, and there has been a hurried
consultation Of leaders, to devise way out
Mr.. Bristow was summoned from sick
bed, and taken to task. So serious is the
situation it may disturb all the plans of
/ the Republican campaign managers and
precipitte way between the Executive
and Congress. It is possible a drastic
Investigation of the Post Office Department,
/ by Committee Of the House, will result
when the whole truth will be searched
out.
While Congress was denOuncing the
Brist0w report, the President was arrang-
ing with Senator Foraker, of Ohio, who
should fill two or three pest offices in that
State. While Senator Hanna was alive
these were bone of contention. and the
President refused to act, not wishing to
offend either Senator. No sooner is Hanna
in his grave than the patronage goes to
For lxer The new Senator Dick had the
good sense to keep his hands clean Of such
matters.
The Land Office frauds continue to he ex-
posed The effect of the Bonaparte- Wood
ruff investigation of the Dawes Commission
to She five tribes of civilized Indians in
Indian Terri ory, is to discredit the tom
mission. 1t has taken advantage Of the ig-
norance of the Indians to induce them TO
part with their lands for less than they we're
worth, when they were Afterwards sold to
spectators at an advanced price. In view
Of these serious facts it is stated the Com
missioners will not be r moved, but may
-