Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-19
MRS. MORRIS WILL 60
Newspaper Non May Be Secured at
Any Time, but Must Be
Subpoenaed.

Mrs. Morris VIII appear before the SEN
ate committee on post offices and post
roads to tell the committee OF her expert
ences In being elected from the White
House upon order of Mr. Benz. F. Barnes,
whose nomination to be postmaster of this
city Is now before the Senate for con-
f1rmation.
From present appearances Mrs. Morris
Il about the only witness that is apt to
go before the COMMITTEES, unless the commit
tee determines to issue subpoenas fer 9TH
ers who were eye-wftnesses to the events
connected with her ejectment These other
witnesses. mostly newspaper men, can be
secured by the committee at any time, as
they are all IN the city. most Of them be-
ing detailed by their papers to look after
news OF the White House.
It - to be seen whether the Senate COM
mfttee that Is charged with making an In
vestigation into this nomination Will care
to proceed with the inquiry by having the
witnesses brought before them. The wit
nesses to the affair are not inclined to vol
unteer to 30 before the committee or to go
merely upon invitation.
This disinclination arises from the fact
tnaf the present occupant of the White
ouse has several times shown that he Is not
abov attempting to cut or news supplies
to newspaper men whose opinions do not
agree with his own.
1t has not yet been decided when Mrs.
Morris will be heard by the committee.
Senator Tillman wishes to have her tell
her story Of brutal treatment at the White
House before the entire committee on post
offices and post roads and will ask that the
full committee be called together for that
purpose.
But whether or not tho full committee
hears the testimony. IL Will be heard by the
subcommittee, and after the members have
heard what she has to say they will have to
decide. whether they will subpoena other
witnesses toAget ell the facts.
The subcommittee has not yet decided
when II will begin this investigation. II
may have a meeting tomorrow or the next
day. The members desire to proceed with
out unnecessary delay and so far as Mr..
Tillman's plans ara concerned they can
begin at once
To Prevent Farce.
It is quite well understood that unless
the committee decides to subpoena the
witnesses to this affair at the White House
the so-called Investigation will be a farce.
It Is declared that IT will be worse than a
whitewash, because 1t will be no investiga-
ton at all. Those senators who feel espe-
cially indignant over the brutal ejectment
of Mrs. Morris do not see how the COM
mittee can ignore the charges that have
been made against Mr. Barnes and report
his nomination to the Senate favorabiy
without having the charges disproved- They
say it Is very simple matter to disprove
them II they are not true.
On the other hand. II the charges are
true they declare that there should be no
question about the course to be pursued by
the Senate They say that the verifcation
Of the charges would be ample proof that
Mr.. Barnes Is unfit to be the postmaster OF
this city or to occupy any public Office.
Letters to Senators.
A good many senators are receiving let
ters stating that in various places in the
country people who have discussed these
charges declare that to appoint man
guilty of the conduct charged against Mr.
Barnes would be disgrace to the nation
end would set a low standard of conduct
for public officials, with the result that 1t
would be an injury to the public service
generally. Many of these correspondents
cannot understand why the Senate refuses
to investigate a matter of this kind.
One of these writers declares that the
hesitation of the Senate to make this inves-
tigation is in itself admission of guilt
Surprise Is expressed by writer that the
President himself does not insist upon the
making of an Investigation in order to give
Mrs. Morris square DEAL, in having the
facts Of the case properly laid before Con-
gress.