The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-22

Washington. January lS-The post
cesce inquiry resolution and the
Panama canal question divided the
attention of the Senate today. The
first half of the session was given
ND 10 the inquiry and Messrs. Hale
and German were the speakers. Mr.
Hale made a plea for the reference
of all he resolutions looking To an
Investigation 10 the m on
postoffices and Mr. German repeated
his assurance that he would be sails
fed with that disposal OF the ques-
ton. The question went over until
tomorrow. with the understanding
hat after a few more speeches the
resolution would be allowed 10 go To
the committee.
The discussion of the Panama ca
nal question was confined TO the CON
~nuatio of Mr.. Teller's
that the course OF the United States
in the recent revolt of Panam was
contrary TO International law and
sound morals.
Mr.. Hale said a number OF Demo-
cratic Senators had been disturbed,
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia-'by the APP
partition OF Perry Heath in h post
office scandals, and Mr.. German
said Mr.. Hale. Naturally looks upon
himself in the role of prosecutor or
the Republican party for all the de-
Iiquincies in the investigation"
Mr.. German said it had been far
from his purpose to become a public
prosecutor. What he had uttered on
the subject, he said, was to bring out
the facts that the Investigation was
incomplete and ought 10 go further
and that 1t could do no harm to have
the work reviewed by persons not
N~z
IF there are further frauds In the
departments we ought to have light
on them" he said.
Mr.. Clay asked Mr.. Hale IL lac be-
lieved all the guilty persons in the
postoffice department had been ex-
posed. indicted, punished or will be
punished through the investigation
conducted by the department.
| Mr.. Hale answered that he could
| not say that the full results had been
| reached, but that the department had
| been committed to the investigation
and he repeated that never In the
| history Of the country had there been
an investigation SO relentless
Mr.. German responded 10 Mr.. Hale
saying that he could agree with him
| in most things, but that concerning
| congressional Investigations he be-
lieved that much good could be ae-
| complished il only in detecting the
flaws in the laws which permit such
frauds as those which nave been dis
| closed in the postoffice department.
He said that h party in power must
be ready TO take the credit or the
blame for all that t~ranspired in gov
ernmental affairs. The Republicans
are taking the credit for the expos
ures in the postoffice department."
he said. And / suppose if the posi-
tons were reversed we would do the
same thing"
The Carmack resolution calling for
information concerning d report OF
an investigation alleged to have been
made into the conduct of A. r. Cru
zen. formerly collector of customs for
Porto Rico, was adopted with slight
amendments.
The Senate adjourned until toner
row.
THE HOUSE
Washington. January 1S.-The
House devoted a brief session today
to District of Columbia business.
While in committee OF the whole on
one bill, n postofice scandal was
discussed. Mr.. Bartlett, of Georgia.
introducing a letter from Ii. w.
Louis who felt aggrieved at certain
statements in the Bristow report. Mr..
bartlett stated. previous to its read
ing, that he had advised Mr.. Bristow
on the nature Of the letter and that
MI. Bristow had stated to him that
his father and son had been regular
l appointed. The letter written by
Ar. LOUIS protests against state
ments in the Bristow p~ostofice re-
port and among other things. y
Mr.. Brtstow himself injected into
the classified service, without exam
lnaion. more than thirty persona,
some rf them p~ostoffice inspectors
employed In this very investigation,
and among them his own father, who
was appointed a $500 Iaborer on
March 5, 1901, charged to the sixth
congressional district OF Kentucky,
who now draws $1,000 a year an
a p~ostofice inspector in the Denver,
Colo, postof1ce, and also his own
son. who. during his school vacation,
drew a salary at the rate Of S71s O.
D. G..
1T Is not amiss to state that even
nov Ar. Bristew's father Il not per
FORMING inspectors duties, and that
the son performed no work at all to
warrant the payment of a salary"
rollowing the reading of the letter,
hr. Cowherd, Democrat OF Missouri,
said:
1t seems to me that the point is
mat Louis was appointed on his par
ucuiar and precise day. the seventh
OF April. in order that he might be
at the head OF the division of sup
plies on the sixth day Of May when
a contract was to De let and that by
reason Of his appointment in this
irregular way he got into a position
where they let contracts improperly
to h loss of the government of AT
least some $40, 900 and probably very
much more"
The House adjourned until tomor-