The San Francisco call., 1904-03-12

every member of the House, whether
he was mentioned in the report or not,
owed it to himself TO insist on the full
est investigation of the Postoffice De-
partment.
William Alden Smith of Michigan
said: Il denounce this report as vol
untary and gratuitous insult by great
executive department of this Govern
ment." 1t had gone out of its way to
keep facts back which should have been
given. He then threw the House into
wild excitement. Men of the highest
character, he declared, had been as
sailed by the report, among them the
Speaker of the House. L hope" he
said, his words being almost drowned
by the cheering and handclapping with
which his remarks were received on
both sides of the House and in the gall
leries, that the day is not far distant
when with the general consent of the
American people the Speaker will be
lifted into the executive office.
MEMBERS WILDLY CHEER.
The entire membership of the House
wildly cheered. Speaker Cannon mean
time was vigorously rapping for order.
When quiet was restored Smith said
there was not a bureau of the Govern
ment that showed proper respect for
the direct representatives of the people.
Smiths time had expired, whereupon
Clayton of Alabama, amid shouts OF
approval, moved that Smith be given
thirty minutes to conclude.
oh Chn
midst of the uproar Overstreet then
asked for a continuation of the debate
for three days. Overstreet failed to Sc
cure an extenson of the debate.
Mccall of Massachusetts argued that
the state of the public mind with re-
spect to the Postofice Department was
such that when a whisper was made
by any one in connection with postal
affairs that whisper reverberated from
one end of the country to the other.
He opposed a general investigation at
this time.
The recommendation of the commit.
tee TO lay the Hay resolution on the
table was read. Moon proposed a sub
stitute providing for the investigation
of the entire Postoffice Department by
a committee of five House members.
Against this Overstreet raised a point
of order. Williams said that an in
vestigation of the Postoffice Depart
ment apparently was not desired, be
cause it has been thought best for the
Republican party"
Addressing the Republican side, he
said: The country knows, the world
knows and you know that you have
the power and the right, upon an ap-
peal from the decision of the chair. to
make it in order. Are you going to do
it or not?"
APPEAL LAID ON TABLE.
In passing on the question Speaker
Cannon said that the question before
the House lis matter of such high
privilege, touching the dignity of the
House. of the integrity of members in
their representative capacity, that it
displaces all other business" He sus-
tanned the point of order against the
resolution. Griggs of Georgia appealed
from the decision of the chair. The an
peal was laid on the table by strict
party vote
Speaker Cannon then laid before the
House the committee recommendations
that the Hay resolution lay on tbe
table. BY a viva voce vote the House
refused to table the resolution.
Cooper (R.) of Wisconsin vipor-
ously assailed Calderhead of Kansas
Tor his remarks against Bristow and
lnslnuations against the President
Cooper added:
This matter has degenerated os
knew 1T wOu1d into n o[,,..
the President of the United States -
This remark was met with darisi,,o
laughter and Kisses on the Democratic
side. Cooper defended Bristow and
said he never had attacked the House
of Representatives or any of its mem
bers. Let any member rise and
prove to the contrary" he insisted.
CHALLENGE is ANSWERED.
The challenge was answered hv
Jenkins, who called attention to a
statement made on Wednesday that
the names of members had been as
sociated with that of "W. A. Machen
a convicted felon on his way to the
penitentiary.' Then shaking his
finger at Cooper, Jenkins said, amid
cheerS; YOU are the gentleman who
made the statement"
Cooper declared he did not refer to
the Bristow report in his remarks. He
then further lauded Bristow and said
he had worn himself out in the cause
of pure government and had received
as his reward vilification and abuse.
Mccall demanded the previous ques-
ton and his resolution was carried,
256 to 2, Lind CD of Minnesota and
Gillespie CD of Texas voting in the
negative.
The vote had the effect of sending
the Hay resolution to the select com
mittee named in the Mccall resolu-
tion. but does not provide for an in
vestigation of the Postoffice Depart
ment.
Ware of Mississippi offered a reso-
luton for the appointment of a COM,
mittee of five House members to in
vestigate the Postoffice Department.
Payne demanded the regular order
and made an objection, which was
carried.
Adjourned.