New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-15
AN INQUIRY IN PROGRESS.
CONGRESS- NEED NOT ACT.
Conrad and BOnaparte Still InUesti-
eating POstOHce Scandals.
[FRom THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington. April 14.-Republican leaders Of
the Senate to-day realized that any investiga-
ton OF the Postofice Department by a commit
tee of either house of Congress would he
work of supererogatfon. The non partisan COM
mission, consisting of Messrs. Conrad and Bona
part. which the President employed last sum-
mer to assist in the work of investigating the
postoff1ce frauds. and which was largely instru-
, mental in securing the eight convictions and
thirty indictments already obtained. is still at
work. This commission is now engaged in prob
ing to the bottom certain developments in the
New-York the Washington and some other
postofices and other branches of the service.
and is empowered to bring to the attention of
the grand jury it's initiative. any EVIL
dence which in its opinion would warrant APP
plication for an indictment. Messrs. Conrad
and Bonaparte will probably have to continue
their work all summer and it is pointed out that
any Democrat who has a specific charge to
make easily bring It to the attention of this
bipartisan commission, which will give II
prompt consideration If it bears evidence of
being worthy of attention or has not already
been sufficiently disproved.
Moreover. as the work of Messrs Conrad and
Bonaparte is still unfinished. any investigation
by committee Of Congress might defeat their
efforts bring an official 10 justice should they
find one who has rendered himself subject to in
dictment. The thorough and effective work
which these men have already done and the as
sistance they have given to the officials of the
Postoff1ce Department and the Department of
Justice are sufficient earnest of the relentless
manner in which they work and the futility Of
political influence as a factor in their delibera
tions. The majority of the Senate. therefore, is
now content to leave the matter in their hands,
with the firm conviction that no guilty man will
escape
There has heretofore been no occasion for re-
vealing the fact that Messrs. Conrad and Bona
parte were still at work and they have desired
that their names should be kept out of the public
prints so far as possible. they believe that
the more quietly they worked the more effective
would be their Investigations but when there
seemed to be some possibility that Democratic
demagOgy might seduce the Senate Committee
on Postofflces and PostrOads into undertaking
investga ton which must inevitably hamper
the work OF these able investigators, II was de-
cided that the time had come to make known
the fact of their continued employment
Prominent members Of the Senate and the
President himself are amply satlsned with the
progress made by this commission, and all are
practically agreed that no committee Of Con-
gress could do half so effective work as Is being
accomplished by these skilled attorneys ana ex-
perenced investigators i'm purgng the postal ser
vice Of rascals so il is unlikely that there VIII
be any further discussion of general postoff1Ce
inquiry by n committee OF the Senate, especially
any Democrat who says he possesses ihlor-
nation frauds not yet probed TO the bot
tom will lie promptly invited to lay the facts
before the commission. one member OF which is
a Democrat
Within the last few days the rumor of POST
master General Paynes retirement has again
been dragged into the rezround. It may be
said with authority that unless Mr. Payne's
health becomes much worse he will not quit
the Postoffce Department until an the ia TAX OF
Investigations is ended To resign while any
shadow OF doubt rested on the men In the ser
vice or on the service itself would be too much
like running away from the enemy TO SUIT MT