The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-09-15
The Franktng Privilege Denied 90
Republican

The Franktng Privilege Denied 10
Repahltca Ne.
The Locofocos of the Nerth are becoming
very clamorous in their denuncations of Re-
publican members Of Congress for the use
of the Franking privilege. These same ed
itors don's object to the use Of it by Locofo-
90 members of Congress, although It's no.
sorious that Douglas Jranks more speeches,
pamphlets and documents than any other
man in the United States.
Recently case has come before the Post
ONCE Department, the decision Of which in
disposed 10 restrict the Republican members
to the narrowest limits while it extends the
widest latitude Of pricile0e to the Locofocos.
II has been ne custom Of the clerks Of the
committees Of both parties At Washington,
for yesrs past, with the understanding and
agreement OF members, to "franko doeu-
ments in their name, or, in other words, to
receive authority from member to write his
name upon the document, with the prefix OF
the talismanic Free" Mr.. Covode's frank
having been appended to large number Of
documents by the Clerk OF the Republican
Executive Committee, the Postofice Depart
ment refused to forward them, although Mr..
G. acknowledged the frank as his, and as
sumed the responsibility.
Ii seems that the Locofocos have come to
the conclusion, after the practice Of this
thing for twenty years, that they can now
make something by depriving the Republic
cans Of the like privilege, and 50 they have
changed the rule to suit the case. II the
regulation were applied to both parties We
should not object, but this fsvoritism and
partially toward the shareholders, and ty-
rannical discrimination against the Republic
cans Of the North, has become the character
istic distinction Of the Democratic party.
The Washington Republic makes the fol-
lowing points on the decision
ssThere 10 no Law prohibiting member Of
Congress- from employing an amanuensis to
write his name on documents or letters which
he desires to frank. There has been. how
ever, during all the time that the practice has
prevailed rs aforesaid, among the printed
regulations in the Postsfioe Department, one
which says that no member Of Congress can
authorize his assistant, clerk or any other
person TO write his name for the purpose OF
franking any letter, public or private This
regulation applies, in terms, only to letters,
and not to documents-but il has never been
enforced, even in regard to letters. Although
the printed regulations have denied the right
OF member to make use Of an amanuensis
in franking, the practical regulations Of the
department have uniformly sanctioned it.
I'VE do not concede the right Of the De-
partment 70 say that q member cannot au-
thoriae another person to write his name on
o letter or document for the purpose oil
franking il. When the member acknowl-
edges tue frank 10 90 nis, tnat should ses,i.
oil question of its validity. 6uppose mem
Der should lose his right arm, is he 20 be De
prived OF the franking privilege during tn
time that he il thus disabled ?''
cTSince the opening Of the Warsaw an
Carthage Railroad we learn that the whea
and produce trade Of the country from TWEEN
y TO thirty miles north Of Carthage has bee
diverted TO this road, prodacs dealers findin
that they can deliver wheat at the Mississ,p
ri river for shipment south at q saving 0
four 70 Ave cents per bushel. Such is tn
islIeet Of opening railroad in Hancock coun
". In m ordinary wheat season, the farm
efs will save enough on wheat alone to pa
their railroad tax many times over.
- Lsigh Hunt. the English author, die
/. Leelop on the 26th ultimo =. the age o
Is years.