New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-15
GEN. GRANT.

HIS OPINION OF THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE AND
TuD HE-or-orrICB Law.
WASHINGTON Feb. 12.-Gen. Grant receives
visitors daily from 10 10 IL o'clock at army headquarters
"a plain threestOry brick building, with high pilared
piazza located on the corner OF West Seventeenth and NJ
SITS In company with couple of ladies and two or
three gentlemen of distinction had pleasant inter
view OF half an hour with him this morning. He
received the party with cordially but with no unneces
ton upon the current topics OF the day The
conversation turning upon inc tendency 10 1
travagance in the Government, he declared, win
the utmost emphasis, the conviction that Con
gress should seek by all means In It's power 10 stop inc
leaks which are from time TO time acknowledgements
ing with the complete abolition OF the frankiDg privilege
innnired do away entirely with the privilege and reqnre
members Of Congress to pay their own postageallowng
them therefor tie settlement OF their accounts This
is the rule he added as to the Generals OF the armies
and is the right one for all cases Members OF Con-
gress have frequently proposed TO give mo the
clned : tie Guartennaster allows me for my so-
tual expense OF postage, and don't want the Govern
there seemed to be prOprety in permitting members OF
Congress transmit TO their constituents documents OF
public interest and value, Cen Grant replied That &C
corng to his observations the great majority OF those
who receive the documents care little or nothing for
them, though some probably feel battered by their re-
ceipt, and IN his judgment tho people would be quite
willing foregO their share in the benefits OF the
abuse to which 10 has given rise IL leads 10 enormous
expense is unnecessary and should be torn up by the
roots
In reference to another matterthe extravaganza OF
Congress IN the printing uOclmcHts-den Grant
presses himself with equal emphasis one OF the visitors
expressing wish that the snbsidzing OF The Congress
sloaI Gobe might be stopped, and law passed requir
ing every member 10 pay for the printing OF his own
speeches. the General said that this while would
abate only n small part OF the evil Tuns OF documents
are printed every year which Of no conceivable inter
est any one aud have value outside favery limited
sphere. Why should money DO wasted IN printing what
no sane publisher In the land would think OF touching FOR
a monenti The whole thing Is wrong, and ought 10 be
stopped.
long as it remains upon the statute book he will be
necessarily hampered and restricted in puiging the
various branches OF the Government service corrupt
and dishonest officials, Who having got INTO power Ivy
appointment Of Mr.. Johnson the cOmpacency OF the
Senate able to command influential supporters In
the latter body. II IL welknOwn fact that the
clerks OF the Departments have been able by
and otherwise drive members OF Congress INTO the
support their scheme for advance OF their pay and
II this could BIO done by persons OF incOnsidcrabc D
What might not be done by the wealthy rings In
whisky in Indian affairs, &c. toward preventing the
mOval OF corrupt and the appointment Of honest
officials In their steadl Cen Grant said that far
lie knew, every thief in the Government employ, and
every "rnR' which is engaged In debauching legislation
wanted the law to stand 10 IS Referring 10 the objec
ton made by some that 20 repeal the law would
amount TO confession that 10 passed solely 10
barrass Mr. johnson, Gen Grant remarked that this was
undoubtedly the object Congress had In yewthe pres.
ervaoD OF the purity Of the public service against the
inroads Of rascaity and ncompetency and he moth
ing in that fact OF which any need TO be ashamed
lCOrTespOndCnce Of The Newark Courier,