Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-03-31
DEMOCRACY
BUSY With
THE PROBE
INVESTIGATION IS The Thing
Are Almost Daily Occurrences
Now

Washington, March, 30.-Never in
the history of the country have cabi-
net officials and administrative off
GERS been SO closely tied to their
osts as since the democrat
of representatives made gold their
vestigation of eevry department of the
government service.
Those cabinet members who have
not already been placed on the grin
by some house investigating commit
tee are momentarily expecting to be
called Records are being raked ov-
er, data compiled, and much testi-
mony adduced at the command of the
democratic investigating bodies. each
of which has been clothed with plen-
ary power to compel the attendance
of witnesses desired.
Courtesy and custom exempts the
president of the United States from
appearing before an investigating COM
mittee of congress, but were it not
for this it is probable that President
Taft himself would have personal and
direct knowledge of the thoroughness
of the several probes started by the
democratic house.
1t has been nearly twenty years
since any systematic investigation of
the administration of the various de-
partments has been attempted. Be
fore the last November elections the
democrats promised that if they were
placed in power in the house they
would undertake a wholesale investi-
cation of the red tape and the waste
alleged to have been fostered through
continued republican rule. At the
time the threat was not taken serious
ly, but no sooner had the democrats
come into power before the machinery
of inquisition was put in motion, and
the various investigating committees
began to vie with one another as to
the thoroughness of the probes.
This has meant work for the cabinet
officers. They have been forced t o
dig into records that have been fo'-
gotten and they have been required
to furnish the house with information
both complicated and discriminating.
If the information desired has not
been promptly forthcoming the house
committees have seemed inclined to
send hurry up" summons and the
cabinet officials and their underlings
have been kept on the jump.
OF course, there is considerable re-
sentiment in the republican ranks, but
it is unavailing. The democrats i'll
the house at least have the upper hand
and there remains nothing for the
cabinet officers to do except to remain
at their desks and send over such
data as may be demanded by the
democrats.
1t has been hard winter on the
president and his official family The
happy-go-lucky existence they en-
joyed under the long rule of the re-
publican party is no more Every
cabinet officer is on the anxious seat,
not knowing where the democratic
lightning will strike next. The pres
idential campaign is in full blast
and it is encumbent upon the admins
tration to make the best showing pos
sible, hence the democratic investi-
gators have to be handel diplomatic
ally and the administration must at
least show willingness to give the
investigating committees all the aid
possible.
At the same time, the cabinet Off
GERS wish that congress would ad-
journ soon in order that they may
steal away to the mountains and the
seashore and forget all about charges
of irregularity and extravaganza n
the departments