New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-12
DEFEND THEMSELVES.
Defeat S7ceePing Investigation by
Party POte-Hurrah for Cannon.

Washington. March 1.-THE House Of Represen-
tatves INDUCED itself to-day in nearly seven hours
or explanation. accusation and vftuperatfve de-
nunclation and then ordered. with only two mega
tive votes an investigation OF postal affairs so far
a. members Of the House are concerned. by a
special committee OF seven members to be appointed
uS 'He speaker, who likewise are to examine into
the origin Of the Bristow report so far as it con-
Germs members OF the House. The demand Of the
in'loIlty for sweeping investigation OF every
oIaI'eH OF the PostOffce Department was
eiailleu- Inc test on this question came on a vote
which resulted 14a TO l25 a strict marty, vote
Inc climax OF the day reached when Repre-
sei'd'Ne william Alden Smith Of Michigan. con
ueiiied every executive department of the govern
ment for its arrogant restrnent Of the only branch
OF the government in direct toucb with the raora
OF the Countrywide House of Representa- tives-lnd
shouted out the nomination Of Speaker Cannon for
PRESIDENT Of the United States
-, nc pa iIatientary struggle between the Repub-
means and Democrats came late in the dav The
recommendation OF the committee tb,t ,bo I9av
esoi1uoh ne on the table brushed aside lnani-
Hously. The Democratic demand for \ f1rI In
''S'Is4tion hnaLy came to in the shape Of
an appeal from the decision OF the Chair and was
deIeated IA TO l25 a strict partv yo+e A raeol,,-
oh ior an investigation Of the connection Of mem
oefs with the department offered by Representa-
i've Mccall Of Massachusetts. then was agreed to.
only Representatives Lind dem MINI, and On
lespie dem, Tex opposing if
AT the opening Of the session Nj C,-,arq+raat s,,r
Iii''eo TWO propositions: first. that the discussion
De extended until Monday at 4 O'Clock and second
i'H o CLOCK Tomorrow, To both Of which Mr..
nay ohJected. He then renewed his motion for
leave to print. which brought Mr.. Williams Oiissl
quickly to his feet with declaration that what
ever Is said on this subject should be SAID in the
open House. and he therefore objected He was
greeted with applause.
Mr.. Cowherd MOI was recornizs7 md 5as.r7o7
the action Of the committee presenting the re,,trt
mere was no occasion. he said. to refer ths mat
Ter To the committee to see whether the charles
against members had been made. The report OF
General Brlstow had gone out with the approval
OF The President Il say now" ne vigorously de-
cIared. that II must answer whether the
charge is true that Beavers usually cor,rle5 with
ue requests Of members OF Congress REGARDLESS
q me merits Of the case. the answer IS that the
charge is true
Continuing. he said: rs Beavers to blame? Yes
SIR. Are the members OF the House to blame for
IL No II members had made unusual requests
upon the department he said. the propriety OF
'h'sr conduct was a question between themselves
and their constituents 1T is not 4 violation OF
law he insisted. with emphasis. The committee.
he said. could not undertake to edit the icuar;-
nents report. nor could it discriminate between
the cases cited II II had done So the committee
he said. would have been dashed from the floor 81
the House.
Mr.. Burleson. OF Texas vigorously asserted that
the department had given the committee fnforna-
ton not asked for and vet" he said you laid II
And say that the committee could DO nothing
else" holly retorted Mr.. Cowherd. The members
OF the House. he said owed it to themselves that
the truth be given.
William Alden Smith, Of Michigan jumped up
and holding up copy OF the report. called atten-
ton 20 the fact that OF the exhibits showed the
words white House" IT, He had. he said ex-
amined the original papers. and the words White
House were them. Il would Ike to know"
he asked with considerable warmth. who had the
audacity TO write the name white in that re-
port"
The Committee on Postofices and Post Roads
never added a word" answered Mr.. Cowherd.
smarting under the imDutation.
Somebody did" said Mr. Smith with equal
warmth.
Well. IT done in the department. then" Mr.
Cowherd replied. amid applause.
DEPARTMENT DEFENDED.
Mr.. Cowherd entered upon a vigorous and en-
phatic answer to the charges and epithets which
members had hurried at the department Mem
bers he said. had stated the department had lied
and published malicious ISLANDERS against members
OF the House They said the department did Il for
a purpose, and then they say the membership %
the House viii appoint committee before which
members go and have the particular case in
vestIgated But" he added. his words being
ed with applause when you come 10 Investigate
the department II must be done by yourselves"
Continuing, he inquired, Are you going TO say
to the country that the department that lies about
you tells the truth about its own actonsE Do you
people Of the United States and say that this great
department which has published this report con
and best and the most capable TO examine into its
iniquites?" Loud applause followed this ut
terance. He was. he said. partisan and party
man. but he put the honor of the House and the
honor and welfare Of the people Of the United
States aye" he said. Il put the hon
esty and honorable management Of great de-
partment of the government above the demands
Of any party that ever lived, The American peo-
pie are not hysteTical, he said, and members need
not be afraid Of their censure because they go TO
the department and demand their just rights and
the rights OF their constituents The American
continued In the hrst agsh aud heat Of this dis
these great papers. editorials may be published that
never ought TO find a place In the press or the
examine the facts they viii eXculpate every man
who did only his duty. but no man who did what
here and now" he continued. that the sunlight OF
publicity never hurt honest man or an honest
esiit ..if here Is an unvhoesome and unhealthy
be an honest and wholesome growth. that sunlight
viii only make it blossom into better fruition for
gcstion that there Is but one path you can tread
and that is a fun examination Of the entire pos
tai affairs both to themselves and 10 as"
WHAT THE LAW ALLOWED
Mr. Hepburn. Of Iowa then took the floor. and
said there was nothing in the report he did not
ayow What he had done. he said. within the
limitation OF the law. This. he said a custom
which had grown up and made a member Of Con-
gress the means OF communication between the con-
sttuents interested and the executive department
They have no other agents here he said, TO rep
resent them but ourselyes- ,
way e Indiana declared that the department had
failed $4,000 OF the appropriation made Tor
purpose. the office in connection Win
which he accused, the Postmaster gets a sal
airy Of 94oo year OUT OF taS ne pays S 80
ten hours a day. And yet the department SAYS
allowance