The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-29

Washington. March 24.-The house
of Representatives today again put it
self on record against any investigation
of the pOstoffice department. Eight
pages of the postofice appropriation
bill were disposed of. The question Of
an investigation of the postofice de-
partment was brought up by Mr.. Will
liams, the minority leader. who pro-
posed an amendment providing for a
select committee OF five members of
the House and three Senators to make
a complete investigation into the al
legged frauds in that department. He
tainted the Republicans for their fail-
ure to order an investigation and sail
the party was opposed to it
The chair sustained a point of order
by Mr.. Overstreet against the amend
ment and when Mr.. Williams appealed,
the chair was sustained 1873 to 80.
Before the vote was taken Mr.. Wit
liams appealed to Mr. Overstreet to
withdraw his point of order. which Mr..
OverStreet refused to do.
Then the gentleman has a perfectly
stony heart" said Mr.. Williams. He
NN1AAN III Ills ~ ~
the postoffice department by Congress
with his point of order"
Thereupon Mr.. Williams appealed
from the decision of the chair, which
brought from Mr.. Overstreet an appeal
to the house to uphold the chair. To
do otherwise, he said. would be a re-
Election upon the chair and dignity OF
the House.
Mr.. Williams inquired: What does
a micpra hln li4tln rnla nf the HnncA
amount to when you consider it is the
only obstruction lying etween you \
a righteousness far greater than the
righteousness of a technical decision %
He declared that the very essence and
soul of good government is honesty i'll
the public service and economy of pub
lie administration. The only way We
can secure honesty in the pOstoffice de-
partment." he continued, lis either by
the gentleman withdrawing his point
of order or by the House marching over
the point bodily.
He was loudly a~pplauded by his col
leagues on the Democratic side.
He implored Mr.. Overstreet to with
draw his point Ito a the country
from saying that rather than have an
Investigation of r~OttenneSS. the House
will stand a bare little parliamentary
technicality. that amounts to nothing
in any citizens mind" He was again
a~pplauded.
He said the House can secure an in
yestigation by an outside authority
mot int~ermingled with the corruptiOnS
existing in the postoffice department"
by the two ways he had suggested.
There is a power greater than the
House, he declared. n it is the people
of the United States When a gentle
MAJ makes a point of order. as repre-
sentative of his party. it is because his
party don't want the poStOffice depart
ment investigated.
won't you" Mr.. Williams asked,
do something to keep the great body
of American citizenry from believing
the postofice department is Infamous"
Mr.. Overstreet, he said. now had the
opportunity of a life time. that may
never come again. to remove blots from
the department and from the admins
tration-
Mr.. Lever. of South Carolina, criti-
cised the department for Its discrimi-
nation and p~alpable favoritism"
against the south in the establishment
of rural free delivery route.
Provisions in the bill forbidding rural
carriers engaging in business or carry
ing merchandise and increasing their
salaries from 5000 to s720 a year went
out or points of order
The House adjourned until tomorrw.