The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-24
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Wsshingpa, JOY 7, N6S,s y i
Ny Dear sir.-I thsak ya.hr Cling my q.
tention TO an article yoS say HAS been ge0er.lly
published In the Democratic papers In Maine.
purporting to be statement Of the number OF
knives, inkstands, portnoaaaiss, gold Psns, and
amount Of paper used BY the members OF the
Houss., The statement purprtsI 10 have been
compiled from the Last annual report OF tho
Clerk Of the House. The figures given In the
article referred 70 are the Hossest eIaggeration
Of the facts-being on gold pens % per cent.
In excess OF the true figures, on envelopes ~ per
cent, On paper over 10 per cent, onportmon-
nsies over 10 per cent, on erasing knives over
80 per cent, on inkstands over 90 per cent,
and on knives over 300 per cent.
The paper used, which Il estimated at forty
one reams 10 each member, includes not only
the writing paper used by them, but tho wrap
ming paper In which the hundreds Of Thousands
Of copies Of the Agricultural and Mechanical
Reports, and the Public Documents printed for
general distribution, were folded.
I think understand how these erroneous hg-
ures were obtained. In the report alluded to
above, the clerk includes, In one table. all the
articles purchased for the use Of the House, Of
every kind and description. In another table,
In the same report, he inclndes oil the articles
furnished BY him, under the law, TO the post
master Of the House, for the use Of Committees,
for the folding Of public documents, and for sale
10 members ct the contract prices; and In an
other he includes all the articles consumed In
the clerks Office, by It's various bureaus In the
transactions Of the business Of the House.
The gentleman who prepared the article refer
red to, as Published In the Maine papers, has
added, land made considerable mistakes In ad-
ding,) the stationary items Of all these tables
together, and has thereby counted a. consumed
every article bought. and duplicated every arti-
Gle consumed In the clerks office! cannot
suppose that this was intentionally done. I
know Its result Is to present very false state
ment.-The articles bought are In the first table;
those consumed In the last two. Making one
total Of the three, In order TO ascertain the art-
cles consumed by the members, ID manifest sb-
surdity. Buff Il we're - stated BY the editor
referred TO. the law requires that the article ne
seived by them from the postmaster 30 charged
to their stationery allowance. .H FOO. .,r oil.
You are aware that each Senator and Repre-
sentative has now an allowance Of Sl26 per scs-
sion for stationery and newspapers; that The
stationery drawn from the postmaster, Is charged
against that allowance; that II the allowance be
not hereby exhausted, the balance IL paid them
In money; and that this system has always pre-
vailed In Congress, the stationery being thus fur
nished as matter Of convenience to members Of
the wholesale prices.
The article referred to, also, accepted the
form Of the Report, Is proof Of the dishonesty
Of the clerk.
Il Is very evident that the writer Of tho arti-
Gle referred to did not understand the Report,
or he would not have reached the conclusions he
Get forth. Whether that was because the 10
port itselfh hard to understand, or because he
did not try To understand Il, II Is not for me Ia
say. But may say, In self-vindication, that
tho form Of tho Report b in precise accordance
with the law, and 10 the same In which It has
always been prepared since the law requiring II
was passed, under every administration, DEM
ocratic, Wing and Republican.
II moro particularly be required. In order
that greater economy may be secured, or more
direct accountability and responsibility, no one
win DO more prompt to the demands OF such
Your obedient servant,
#E . Ed. MCPHERSON,
Clerk U. s. House Of Representatives..
Hon. John Lynch, N. G. .. "