Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and General Goselp of the National Capital. Special Correspondence to The Democrat:

Eventaa are apparently fig) shaping themselves that all the democratic party will have to do is to sit still and make the best use of whatever comes its way. The Post Office scandal has now assumed such gigantic proportions that it overtops everything else, and there is a prospect of a bitter war between the legislative and executive branches of the government. Either the scandal must be probed to the bottom or the party in power will reat under the charge of being afraid to let the whole truth be known. The lid blew off in the House of Representatives on the 10th inst., when members had had time to axamine the so-called Bristow report, which charged no less than 159 gentlemen of the House with irregularities and violations of law. The gist of the matter is that members of Congress have been flooding the Post Office department with applications for increase of rents for post-office buildings, for increase of salaries and for more clerks. The now indicted Beavers was the man who took these matters in hand, and obliged the Congressmen in many instances by granting their requests. The Speaker of the House, the old "“watch dog of the Treasury,” is in the list “of honor,” as it has been designated, and many members, including Grosvenor of Ohio, Hepburn, of lowa, Hill of Conn., and a host besides. The revelations made by the report of the Committee on Post Offices, fell like a thunderbolt out of the blue, and for several days Congressmen were too angry to be on speaking terms with themselves. An attempt was made to let Mr. Bristow down easy by asserting that he did not write the report; but that proved to be too thin as he has for months been praised by the Administration for doing that very thing. He is said to have been too sick to attend to business for a month, bnt when* the President sent for him on the 10th inst. he was able to get to the White House.

A remarkable feature of the whole business is that the report was adopted and presented to the House by a Committee appointed by Speaker Cannon. Mr. Overstreet, the chairman, tried in vain to convince the House that it was a harmless document, which really meant nothing, and that it had better lie on the table. Gentlemen whose names had been coupled with Beavers, Machen, Tyner, Metcalf aud others of malodorous reputation, decidedly objected. And they prepared to sail in. The scene in the House on the 10th and 12th instants, when party lines disappeared like frost before the sun, was one long to be remembered. Applause from both sides of the chamber greeted each speaker as he protested his innocence, and denounced the report. The public galleries swarmed with spectators and the reporters for the press were out in full force. The confusion was indescribable and business was almost at a standstill. When Gen. Grosvenor rose to make a speech, the curiosity of the Democrats was at suoh a pitch, they left their seats and filled the forum near the Ohio Congressman, that every word might be heard, “I am a lawyer,” exclaimed Gen. Grosvenor, “and am not afraid. This report, holding it aloft, “will be translated into all the languages of the world, and it will be believed that

there are 150 rascals in the American House of Representatives.” There was both laughter and dismay when Gen. Grosvenor holding up one of the most conservative newspapers of the metropolis, read as follows: When men of the standing of Hill, Cullom, Cannon, Payne and Hepburn of lowa are taken red-handed, no one can marvel that Beavers, Machen and the small fry of department subordinates rush for loot, with the cry, “Now or never!” “Sentiments like these,” said the speaker, “are being printed in 95 per cent, of all the newspapers of the country.”

This new out-cropping of the Post Office scandal has caused great anxiety at the Whito House, and there has been a hurried cgnsultation of leaders, to devise a way out. Mr. Bristow was summoned from a sick bed, and taken to task. So serious is the situation it may disturb all the plans of the Republican campaign managers, and precipitate a war between the Executive and Congress. It is possible a drastic investigation of the Post Office Department, by a committee of the House, will result, when the whole truth will be searched out.

While Congress was denouncing the Bristow report, the President was arranging with Senator Foraker of Ohio, who should fill two or three post offices in that state. While Senator Hanna was alive these were a bone of contention, and the President refused to act, not wishing to offend either Senator, No sooner is Hanna in his grave than the patronage goes to Foraker. The new Senator Dick had the good Bense to keep his hands clean of such matters.

The Land Office frauds continue to be exposed. The effect of the Bonaparte- Woodruff investigation of the Dawes Commission to the five tribes of civilized Indians in Indian Territory, is to discredit the Commission. It has taken advantage of the ignorance of the Indians to induce them to part with their lands for less than they were worth, when they were afterward sold to speculators at an advanced price. In view of these serious facts it is stated the Commissioners will not be removed, but may continue to draw their salaries.

There is a_ great congestion of Congressman at the Post Office Department looking up old files and getting copies of red hot letters. Unfortunately Postmaster Payne is too ill to see the angry members; the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow is also confined to his room, and the chief clerk and the private secretary can only weep and wring their hands. North Carolina has two members of Congress named Kitchen. One of them says Bristow undertook to blackmail Congress. Congressman Hill of Conn., denies that he has been taken “red-handed” in anything. But he cannot deny that he proposed to give the Post Office officals a dose of “red pepper,” if they did not hurry up and do as he said. Secretary Shaw thinks a merchant marine will not grow as weeds dp. Certainly not. Fertilize the soil with gold from the U. S. Treasury.

Notwithstanding the late Senator Hanna left a brief showing why Gen. Wood should, not be promoted, and requesting that he deny the charges made against him under oath, Senator Foraker will press the promotion at every possible opportunity. The Senator is now regarded at the White House as the boss of Ohio. Wood’s promotion will probably be confirmed.