Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-09-04


CIRCULATION OF DEMocRATIo NEws-
PAPERS. bury or posTMAsTERs. We
take the following well timed remarks
from the Albany Atlas and Argus, and
commend them to the attention Of post
masters in Maryland particularly, who
have been sadly remiss in extending the
circulation Of their own journals:
'Postmasters are not bound BY law
to aid the circulation of any newspaper.
and it is their duty to furnish the accom-
modations of the mail service to all. -
But they are indebted for their Offices to
their political friends, to the party to
which they belong. Their duty to that
party--simple good faith to their politi-
cal ssociates--require that they should
not labor in behalf of the principles Of
the enemy, and engage in their dissent
nation. Nay, more, common honesty
requires that they should, so far as they
reasonably can, reciprocate the kindness
Of the party which has conferred Office
upon them, by aiding in upholding its
principles and perfecting its organization
and contributing to its success. In no
way can this so conveniently and efici-
emily be done by them, as by extending
the circulation of Democratic newspa-
pers,
There ID not a postmaster at the
smallest country hamlet who cannot by
small amount Of labor and little tact
increase the circulation of Democratic
newspapers in his neighborhood. Where
postmasters refuse to recognize their OBJ
legations to their political friends to do
this, and especially where they engage
in circulating black Republican news
papers, it is perfectly fair, nay, it is the
duty of self-preseryation, for the Domo-
cratic party to dispense with their SER
vices and bcstow their Offices upon those
who have a more correct appreciation Of
political duties.
More than this, these postofficc APP
pointments, so long as it is agreed that
they are political ones, should be in ef-
ficient hands. They should be bestowed
upon those who have the disposition and
the skill to aid and strengthen their par
ty in tho locality, and where they are
now in hands which fail. to accomplish
this end, changes should unhesitatingly
be made. On no other principle of dis
tributing political patronage can party
be sustained. In the case of postmas-
tiers, pretty good index Of their poiti-
cal efficiency is afforded by the humber
of Democratic newspapers circulated
through their respective Offices
ALLOWANCE OF THE MARYLAND CLAIM.
Attorney General Black has given an
opinion in favor Of the payment Of in
tercst on the claim of the State Of Ma
ryland against the general government
The amount which the State will receive
viii, it is stated, be about $500 900. -
The nature of the claim is thus set forth
by Judge Black, whose opinion is said
to be quite lengthy, but very clear. logi-
cal and learned.
During the war Of 1912 the United
States became indebted TO Maryland about
half a million of dollars. The principal
Of that debt was paid off in various sums
at different times between 1718 and 1922
but no interest was paid In 1926
Congress passed an act authorizing inter-
est to be computed and paid at the trea-
sury. This was done, but in making the
calculation, all the payments were APP
piled to tho principal, reducing the sum
on which interest was allowed By the full
amount Of each payment and allowing no
interest at all after the debt had thus
been extinguished. Maryland never
was satisfied with this. She continued
TO memorialise Congress for moro lib
cral adjustment Of her claim, but never
succeeded until the last day Of the last
session, when the act under consideration
was passed. This act requires the ac-
counting officers to make the calculation
by the following rule: Interest shall be
calculated mp to the time Of any payment
made to this interest the payment shall
be first applied, and If it exceed the in
terest due, the balance shall be applied
to diminish the principal; if the pay
ment fall short Of the interest, the bal
ance Of interest shall not be added 10 the
principal so as TO produce interest >"
II appears that doubts arose at the
Treasury Department ns TO the meaning
of this law, whcreupon il was referred
to Attorney General Black. who, after
thorough review Of the whole matter,
has, as stated above, advised the pay
ment Of interest.
WHAT AN AMERICAN SAYS on PARLrA-
MEyT.--An American writes from Lon