New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-18
The Mileage Controversy.

Mr.. Howard, whom we employed % make up
the Mileage Table published in The Tribune, de-
sires 10 make, in Standardization, the following
statement. which was first offered to and declined
by The Globe, Washington
House. OF RRPREsENTArIyEs, Jan. - ls4s.
GENrLEMEN--Much Of the matter contained IN the
controversy going on in the House OF Representatives.
and hrough the columns OF the GLOBE, restiVe 10 hs
Mileage question would lead many 10 Infer That IN
making up the late table winch appeared 10 a% ~
buae either ignorant Of the duty required oil me
or had designedly made statements cOnncunS Win
truth for sinister purposes.
Without stopping 10 note the tergiyersstons VI oos
BaOwS in his card Of Saturday night do most posi-
lively assert and call upon the Postmaster General MS
Assistants and Clerks inyalidste my statement tnat
the list Of Poet Offices bearing the date OF ic'E from
which the actual distances were hken, Il the iafs'
book published By the Department. which contains me
epecve distances Of each and every Post once Ia tue
Uaion from the Capital Of the United states
The list Of 1916 80 yauntn gy produced IN tho House
by Mr. Brown and referred in MS card contained no
.1eb column AZ the lat OF ~ and the lists preceding
IL PREDATORY table less than four pages 10 ienstn,
showing the distance Of state capitals from W asnhgton
and the Intervening towns only Ia there 10 De iouno
Al the time the lstOf ~ WAS compiled rdicued
the idea Of statement showing some 1900 distances
a. the nearest post when postage w not charged
on those routes time Ia hundred Inc ,nen rost
master General however persisted and was not until
the succeeding table WAS required mat u was niane
such statement would lay las II had sid)
the Department open 10 censure and cause u aiscuy
and that the particular column In question was discard
ed not for its but because the actual us
.nces from point 10 point and the ussges OF the De
nartant Ia the matter OF Mall contracts snc fosta
rates coming in contact II was necessary tnat one OF
the other should be abandoned II Is needless 70
say that the column Of opposing figures sss no weaker
party. L IL A.
desired Table informed him Of these iaeu. ne re
auesteS 20 know II the book correctly compiled AZ
The time from the Maps and Route Books Of the DE
psrtment On replying in the affirmative, MAKING AZ
oxsnce for continual changes in the formation OF new
routes and Sfees) directed me 10 coste from tna'
book the schedule Of the ssrgeantatArms OF tns
House and the senate schedule As completed 10 tne
hapd. Of the lat Controller Of the Treasury IN" was
done and truthfully, save few srthmeucsi errofs
which must 10 a computation involving over hA'i
million Of figures and executed In very oslei space
Of time. There was certainly no Intentional error
For the benefit OF those who, 10 their ina gnAuoh
against Mr. Greeley hold Darfioq's otmiHn 10 ~nss
rney sect 20 consider assault upon tns whole oooy
of Reoresentatves and Senator'S VII state that scta
under the direction OF M. Greeley a. employee aim
Div His Judgment alone governed MS scuon' ana ne
I, doubtles. wiling 10 abide the issue ,,1,,,.,
Your. Respectfully. DOUGLAS HOWARD.