The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-13
Committee TO Investigate All
Post-Office Officials Who Dealt
With Congressman.
NAMES ARE MADE PUBLIC.
Chairman Mccall Says He Is Not
in Favor of a "Star Chamber
Proceeding and Wants to
Take Plenty of Time.

PEPCBLIC SPECIAL
Washington. March 12.-Spesker Cannon
to-day announced the committee the
House authorized him to appoint after its
discussion OF the Bristow report. This
committee was at once notified BY Rep
resentative Mccall of Massachusetts, its
chairman. to meet at 100 o'clock in the
room OF the Ways and Means Committee.
The Speaker selected the committee
without consultation. AS named by him.
it stands as follows:
Representative Mccall of Massachusetts.
Representative Hit of Illinois. Represen-
tative Burton Of Ohio. Representative Met
calf Of California. Republicans: Repre-
sentative McDermott of New Jersey. Rep
resentative Bartlett of Georgia. Repre-
sentative Richardson of Alabama. Demo-
Gratis.
All of these members were present at
the initial meeting except Messrs. Hit
and McDermott. Two hours were spent
behind closed doors. On adjournment Mr..
Mccall. who had been formally elected
chairman. stated hat the only things
which nae been actually decided upon
were that the next meeting would be held
at 10 o'clock Monday morning and that
lne FOFSlSn Affairs COTnmlttee-rOOTl
would be the headquarters.
Individually each member of the COM
mittee regards the work to be don't as a
most serious undertaking
THE House has demanded an investiga-
ton of its members. and it is going to get
the investigation. There is to be no
whitewashing."
This was the sentiment expressed.
In order that the investigation may be
conducted with as much expedition as
possible, ard at the same time in a sys-
tematic and thorough Mariner, the COM
mittee will devote as much time as may
be necessary in going over the various re-
ports which have emanated from the
Post-Office Department as a result Of the
recent investigation.
The two documents taken up to-day,
and on which consideration Monday will
be continued, were the report containing
the Indictment of members and the
Bristow report embodying the details Of
the various irregularities found by him
which was transmitted to the House by
President Roosevelt. November "a, 1903.
WILL INVESTIGATE OFFICIALS.
While the committee has been carefully
restrained from entering upon a general
investigation OF the Post-Office Depart
ment. by the terms Of the resolutions,
there is held to be nothing in this restric-
ton which will prevent the examination of
the conduct OF officers of the Post-Office
Department who lave had dealings with
members of Congress. In this connection
it is expected to develop the exact his
tory of the report which has so worked on
the nerves of the members of the House
The entire record in every transaction
mentioned in this report will be taken up
by the committee. In addition every Post
Office official. who mad or handled those
records, will be called upon to explain his
connection Herewith.
The member in question will be given
opportunity to give his side OF the case,
and this will be presented in such form
that, although It must necessarily be a
report to the House. it will not omit to
record findings relative to the acts of
post-Ofice officials on which executive
action may or may not be taken.
"As understand my duty as a member
of the committee" remarked one of the
Republicans. at means that we have got
to take up every single one of the cases
mentioned in that report and thoroughly
INV eSIlSilb II. IHdL ILLS may NC uOhC M
diligently. it may be necessary to first
go through the entire report and classify
the cases. This will undoubtedly permit
of greater expedition"
In this classification work the committee
will undoubtedly sit in secret session,
Until persons are summoned before the
committee. the indications are that the
meetings will be public. This question
was not discussed to-day, but Chairman
Mccall. as well as other members of the
committee. stated that their personal sen.
timent in the matter was mot to make
the investigation a star chamber proceed.
ing
As TO the length OF time. which will be
consumed in the investigation. Chairman
Mccall remarked his afternoon:
Whether It will take ten days. two
weeks or longer. l am unable to say. The
work will be prosecuted with the utmost
diligence To ifs cOmDletioD.'