The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-13
HOPKINS CLASHES WITH MR. TELLER Colorado Senator Thinks He
 Was InsuIted ACCUSED OF FALSIFYING Illinois Senator Says Teller Would Be Perfectly Wiling to Accept Ills
 Authority From the
 Sums.
ACCUSED OF FALSIFYING

Washington. April l2.-A sharp colloquY occurred in the senate today between Senators Teller and Hopkins, growing out of the reading by Mr. Teller of a letter written by the late Gen. H. II. Thomas of Chicago. attacking the civil service administration of the treasury depart ment. MT. Hopkins took exceptions to the quoting of the letter and declared that the Colorado senator would be will ing to accept authority from the slums.' .. whereupon Mir. Teller declined to yield further, declaring MT. Hopkins refer ence to the slums to be insulting.
 The incident occurred in connection with the discussion of the postoffiee appropria- tion bill. That measure was under dis cussion during the first half of the ses- sion and was passed, all amendments of fered by the democrats being voted down.
 The bill providing a form of govern ment for the Panama canal zone was taken up, but debate on it had not be- gun when the senate adjourned.
 Senator Teller was in the senate chamber for the first time in six weeks. His absence was caused by illness and he was congratulated by all his collea- gues upon his recovery and return to duty.
 MT. Hansbrough called up a bill modi- flying the agreement with the Indians of the Devils lake reservation In North Da- kota. The bill fixes the price of the ceded lands at $450 per acre, and MT. Dubois sought to have it amended so as to pro- vide for settlement under the homestead law
 Postoffce Measure Taken Up. He had not concluded when the bill was laid aside, and the postoffce ap- propriation bill taken up. MT, Germans amendemnt providing for the appointment of commission to investigate the af- fairs of the postofflce department was on motion of Mir. Lodge. laid on the ta- ble 40 to IS. The division was on strict | ly political lines.
 MT Teller presented an amendment for an investigation committee composed en- tirely of senators. MT. Teller said that any senator who said ne did not know what the charges were could not have read the Brstow report or the public press. He said such a charge in one newspaper that more than one hundred senators and members had been caught in the Bristow trap
 He also said that such charges had been made against the treasury department. as would, under any other administrations have caused the head of that department to call for m independent Investigation. He referred to the controversy oyer the willingness or unwillingness of republi can senators to have an investigation into postal matters, when MT. Aldrich inter rupted with a denial that republican sen- ators were trying to avoid an inquiry and Mir Teller repeated his statement that no investigation was wanted
 '"The senator can speak for himself, but not for any one else" Mr. Aldrieh re- piled sharply. and MT. Teller responded by saying that every resolution looking to an inquiry had been voted down. It Is in the power of that side ol the cham ber." he said Ito secure an investigation If 1t desires 1t. and l charge that it does not order 1t because republican senators fear the effect on the next campaign" Cant the senator of his own knowl- edge make a specific charge of malfeas- ance in office that has not been investi- gated?" Mir Aldrich asked. and added, If so, let him name the man.
 Would Not Give Names. Mr Teller replied that he did not in- tend to give any names, adding that 1t was an insult to ask him to do He de clared, however. that 1t was evident to all that there was corruption in the post office department that had not been un- covered and that the republicans were afraid to let in the light In support of this last statement he referred to an orig
 nal resolution of inquiry offered by MT. Penrose, chairman of the committee on postoffices saying that evidently at that time Mir. Penrose had had sufficient m- formation to justify the belief that there was fraud in the department.
 MT Penrose interrupted to say that he never thought so and never had said so. 1 Mir Teller quoted statement from the | congressional record to the effect that the 1 Pennsylvania senator had voted for an l investigation and declared that the chair man of the committee originally had re-