Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-13
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Congressional Investigation
of Post Office.
TALK WITH ALLISON
THE SENATOR HAD QUITE AN IN
TEEvIEW WITH PRESIDENT.
Portland Exposition Bill Signed by
President-Two Judges Selected
Delaware fractional Troubles.
TALK WITH ALLISON

or the PRESIDENT. In the senate, anu oeiiA-
| tor Penrose, chairman of the Senate post
| Office committee, were among the repup-
| hcan leaders who conferred with President
| Roosevelt during the day. Whether they
talked to him about the proposition for an
| investigation by the Senate Of the affairs of
the Post Office Department could not be
| definitely learned, but it Is extremely prob
able that this was so. Senator Aldrich has
| been one of the republican leaders who has
I consistently advised that the republicans
| call what he has termed the democratic
| bluff and meet their request for an investi
CATION President Roosevelt apparently con-
ours in the judgment of Senator Aldrich,
whose opinions he holds in high esteem,
and there is reason to believe that the
President will interpose no suggestion that
Will defeat the aim of the democrats for
an investigation.
There is reason to believe, however, that
the republican leaders Will not consent to
the investigation being conducted by some
body to be named by the democrats. The
republicans VIII name the Senate post Of
nee committee, of which the silent and as
tute Senator Penrose head.
This committee will be suggested by rea-
son OF the fact that 1t is equipped for such
an investigation, Its members understand
ing the many phases of the subject in "a
way TO save time and expense After the
investigation has been committed to this
body the republican members will proceed
to take their time in an investigation, call
Ing upon the democratic managers to name
what branches of the postal service they
wish investigated and who they wish called
for the purpose of testifying. The demo
Gratis will be allowed to furnish the ma
terial for the investigation, inasmuch as it
is the members of that party who have
hinted at more scandal in the department.
The republicans, it is said, do not fear an
| investigation and are willing to conduct
one fairly and fully, but they will put up
to the democrats the matter of making
good their claims, allegations and insinu
atoms.
For Political Purposes.
1t is pointed out that such an investiga-
ton would be little more than demo-
cratic effort to uncover dishonesty, mis-
management and misconduct solely for po-
litical purposes. Inasmuch the investi-
CATION would be in effect political one its
being placed in the hands of the Senate
post office committee would match the
great political intellects of the country,
and the maneuvering that would result
throughout the investigation would be
worth going many miles to see and near, 1t
| is declared. Among the republicans on the
committee are Boies Penrose, who is promf-
nently considered for the chairmanship of
| the republican national committee, and
protege of Senator Quay, the greatest nv
| ing political general, many believe; Senator
Doliver a skilled and experienced states
man and political manager; Senator Lodge,
personal friend and adviser of the Presl-
dent, and such noted and brilliant repuo-
| licans as Senators Beveridge of Indiana,
Mitchell of Oregon Burrows of Michigan,
and Scott of West Virginia. On the demo-
| cratic side of the committee are Senator
| German of Maryland represented as the
| equal of any democrat in the country IN
political foresight and management; Sen
ator Clay of Georgia, position OF no
mean ability, and Senators Cu!persoh ol
l Nlor do nd
| of North Carolina, anl able and shrewo
democratic chieftains. ,.
| There Is no committee of the Senate that
| contains greater proportion OF the Poit
| icaI leadership of the respective parIes.
| The republicans are especially fortunate III
| that respect and in a contest that Woula
| have for its object little but poiitlcal aoNah-
| tage or disadvantage to one party OF an
| bershin on the committee would be able to
| hold its own in a manner decidedly satis-
| factory.
| chairman of the special committee which
| investigated the charges against members
| of Congress in connection with the POST
Office Department, spent short time with
| the President. During the time the lnVesu-
| CATION was being made by the committee
| Mr. Mccall did not visit the President, but
| having concluded the subject, he desired to
| talk with the President Mr.. Mccall SAID
| that he believed the conclusions of the com
| mittee would be regarded las temperate
and fair He did not believe, he SAID
| that thinking people would approve of the
| demand for prosecution persecution OF
| various persons solely to satisfy political
| demand The fairness of American people
! demanded that trials of persons charged
| with offenses should be from judicial as
| pect entirely and not from the political.
Exposition Bill Signed.
| The President this morning signed the bill
making an appropriation of s475,0GO for the
| Lewis and Clarke exposition at Portland
| Ore. The bill was taken to the White
House by Major William M Palmer. repre-
| senting the committee on enrolled bills OF
| the Senate, and Senator Mitchell of Oregon
| was present when the President appended
| his signature. The pen with which the
measure was signed was given to Senator
Mitchell. who will turn it over to the Oregon
| Historical Society. Senator Mitchell thank
| ed the President for his interest in the eX-
| position and his advocacy of governmental
/ assistance. declaring that the President S
recommendations in his annual message
| had been extremely beneficial In aiding IN
| bringing about the much-desred appropria-
| ton.
Senator Dryden of New Jersey, of the
Senate committee on interoceanic canals.
| discussed with the President some of the
features of the bill for the government OF
! the canal zone.
| The President shook hands during the
| morning with four or five hundred people.
! Included in the number were several hun
dred members of the order of Knights of
Columbus and delegates to the Grand Lodge
| OF the B'nai Birth. Tomorrow afternoon
| the President will receive about 500 men,
| bers of the order of Knights of Columbus.
Senator Dolliver introduced party of his
! friends from Iowa. including Captain Merry
of Manchester. President Tucker of Memo
rial University, Mason City, and DIR. Pres
| ton of Usage.
Governor Hunt Becomes Judge.
Governor William H. Hunt of Porto Rico
was today selected by President Roosevelt
and Attorney General Knox as United States
district judge of Montana in place of Hiram
Knowles, who has Just announced his re-
| tirement. Judge Knowles was appointed in
| $780, and is eligible for retirement. The
President has not announced who will sue
| ceed Governor Hunt as chief executive OF
| Porto Rico Governor Hunt has been in
| charge of Porto Rican affairs for several
years. and it is known that he will be glad
to get away and to return to this country.