The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-05
House Chaplain Calls for Peace
in The Far East
POSTOFFCE MATTER AIRED
Resolution Was Offered Authorizing
Speaker to Appoint Committee to
Investigate Charges Which
lmplicate Members.

Washington, January 4.-With the as
sembling of congress today after the
recess, the chaplain of the house, in
opening the session of that body, prayed
that war between Russia and Japan
might be averted by a peaceful adjust
ment of their differences.
A privileged resolution offered by Mr..
Hay, democrat, reciting that certain
statements contained In the Bristow post
office report reflected on the membership
of the house. 1t provided for an investi-
cation by a committee to be appointed
by the speaker. A vote on ordering the
previous question resulted in tie the
minority supporting Mr.. Hay. The vote
developed no quorum and the house ad-
journed.
The resignation of Mr.. Mcclellan of
New York was announced at the opening
of the session.
Privileged Resolution Offered.
Mr.. Hay, democrat of Virginia, offered
privileged resolution as follows:
Whereas, the fourth assistant post
master general, In his report to the post
master general, dated October IA, 1903.
and which report has been transmitted
to a committee of this house, has charged
that long time leases for postofhce prem
ises were cancelled, and rent increased
upon the recommendation of influential
representatives; and
Whereas, 1t Is charged In the same re-
port that if a member of congress re-
quested an increase in the clerk hire al
lowed a postmaster. Beavers, usually
complied regardless of the merits of the
case And,
whereas. Certain cases of an aggra-
waited character are cited on pages 133
1s4, 135 of said report to sustain the above
charges. and,
Whereas. On page lbs of said report
1t Is charged that members of congress
have violated section 3739 of the revised
statutes, and in face of the statute Beav-
ers has made contracts with members of
congress for the rental of premises eth
er in their own Names the names of their
agents or some member of their families,
and
Whereas. These charges and other con-
tained In said report reflect upon the in
tegrity of the membership of this house
and upon individual members of this
house, whose names are not mentioned,
therefore, be 1t
Speaker to Appoint Committee.
Resolved The speaker of this house
appoint a committee consisting of five
members of this house to investigate said
charges that said committee have power
to send for persons and papers to enforce
the production of the same; to examine
witnesses under oath; to have assistance
of stenographer and to have power to
sit during the sessions of the house and
to exercise all functions necessary to a
complete investigation of said charges,
and to report the result of said investiga-
tion as soon as practicable"
Mr.. Gardner, republican of New Jer-
sey, raised a point of order contending
that there was no specific charge against
any member of this congress.
Mr. Hay eontended that the resolution
was privileged and he was supported by
Mr.. williams of Mississippi, the minority
leader who insisted that 1t was due the
membership of the house that such an
investigation be made.
Mr. Grosvenor, republican, Ohio, asked
Mr.. Hay If 1t would not be better to
adopt a resolution calling on the fourth
assistant postmaster general for the
names of congressman but Mr.. Hay In
sisted on his resolution.
The speaker overruled the point of or
der.
Mr. Payne. republican, New York, ask
ed IL Ii would be in order to move to
refer the resolution to the committee on
postoffces, but was informed that 1t was
not.
| On Mr. Hays motion that the previous
question be ordered on adoption of the
| resolution. the speaker announced the
vote as rs to rs, no quorum.
The speaker ordered the doors closed
for call of fhp housr