Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-26
To CONFIRM BARNES
Committee Declines to Enter on
Investigation.
A STRICTLY PARTISAN VOTE
Against ANY Inquiry Into the Mrs.
Morris Case.
so THOROUGHLY CUT AND DRIED
That Barnes Has Already Arranged
to Give His Bond as City
Postmaster.
A STRICTLY PARTISAN VOTE
so THOROUGHLY CUT AND DRIED

Mr.. BENJAMIN F. Barnes who became
known from one end of the country to the
other because of his connection with the
election : of Mrs. Minor Morris from the
White House. and who has been nominated
by the President to be postmaster of this
city, is on the high road toward confrma-
tion by the United States Senate without
being subjected to any Investigation of his
conduct.
In taking this action the committee on
post offices and post roads, after lively
meeting today. did not attempt to give any
reason for its conduct, except that it did
not wish to investigate Mr.. Barnes The
committee met at IL o'clock and for an
hour and half indulged In a debate that
at times was rather stormy to determine
what 1t should do on this matter. From the
first 1t was seen that everything was cut
and dried SO far the republican majority
of the committee was concerned
It was a stand-pat proposition There
was no effort to explain anything except
the one purpose that aimated them,
which was not TO permit any investigation
They refused to permit the subpoenaing of
any witness. 1t clearly understood
that the committee had no testimony what
ever before IT except that which was favor
able to Mr.. Barnes. 1t was not only favor
able to Mr.. Barnes but it was acknowI-
edged by common consent to be of a
partisan nature, that is, originating with
those who would be expected to uphold the
action of Mr.. Barnes.
Vote Against Investigation.
The vote against investigation was eight
republicans against four democrats All
the members of the committee were pres
ent except Senator Dolliver, republican, and
Senator Taliaferro. democrat. The repub-
hcans voting against any investigation were
Senators Penrose, chairman; Proctor, Bur
rows, Scott. Crane Fulton, Hopkins and
Carter.
The democrats who voted in favor of in
vestigating the charges against Mr.. Barnes
We're Senators Clay, Culberson, Simmons
and Rayner
Very soon after the committee got to-
gether 1t was evident that by prearrange-
ment the republicans were to stand to-
gether against any investigation. The COM
mittee had appointed a subcommittee con-
sfsting of Senators Carter, Burrows and
Culberson to take up and consider the nom
fnation of Mr.. Barnes. This subcommittee
had two reports, one signed by Senators
Carter and Burrows. which declared In
favor of having no investigation of Mr..
Barnes This report was a brief one and
there was no attempt made in it to justify
Mr.. Barnes course. 1t simply declared the
views of the subcommittee as being against
investigation. There was attempt to
show any investigation had been made any,
where beyond that which was conducted at
the White House, and which included only
statements of those whose relations with
Mr.. Barnes would suggest to the average
person that they could not be expected to
say anything unfavorable of him.
There was also In the hands of the SUBJ
committee a statement recently made by
Mr.. Barnes, which in its general tenor was
similar to Mr.. Barnes statement published
at the time of the ejectment of Mrs. Nor
ris. Senator Carter declared yesterday
that Mr.. Barnes wanted an investigation,
but in spite of Mr.. Barnes earnestness In
that respect the senators declined to graf
ify his wishes When the word was passed
around this morning that Mr.. Barnes de-
sired an investigation senator's merely
laughed and said nothing.
Thoroughly Cut and Dried.
The whole arrangement today was so
thoroughly cut and dried that 1t was un-
derstood that Mr. Barnes has already ar
ranged to give his bond as postmaster of
this city 1t is said that he has had
surances for some time that he need not
fear having any investigation of his con-
duct In relation to the Morris incident
Senator Culberson. the third member of
the subcommittee also made brief report
in which he urged that the committee con-
duct such an investigation as would allow
IT to act intelligently In reporting tie
Barnes nomination to the Senate. He took
the ground that whatever the facts were,
the committee ought to know them, and
that Il was only lust to Mr.. Barnes himself, i
II he were without fault In this matter. that
he should be placed in the proper light be-
fore the Senate.
But these reports were read. and at once
the alignment of senators on one side or
the other was evident. 1t was stand pat
mr., .ncff ion, mi 70 a