New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-18
OEEICIAL STdMP LICKING.


| Alas and alas Evil communications have
corrupted the good manners of the Hon. Mr..
Kelley of Pennsylvania. The example of the
forty jackass mud-throwing power" of the
country in charging our purcst and best with
corruption and bribery has had its effect upon
Mr. Kelley. In the debate in the House on
Wednesday over the appropriation for official
postage stamps, the gentleman from Pcnnsyl-
vania, dropping for single moment his 1865
introcOpvertible bond scheme, to which he is
in the habit of making an occasional reference
of two or three hours length, plunged into
the vortex of the discussion with the wild and
rafting charge that tho repeal of the
franking privilege had been obtained by
fraud; that petitions for the repeal were
printed at Government expense and sent
out by the Postmaster-General by the
basketful to his subordinates all over the
country, and that the statement upon which
the repeal was Ob.ained-to wit, that it would
save the Government $4,000 O0-was false and
fraudulent. In addition to which he affirmed
that the law requiring official stamps to be
affixed required the services of numerous
clerks, whose sole occupation was to slObber
over the stamps and attach them aftcrward
to packages bearing the lying statement that
they contained nothing but printed matter.
1t may be inferred from the tenor of Mr..
Kcley's remarks that he is in favor of the
revival of the franking privilege. Likewise
that he has fallen into the habit which has for
some time prevailed outside of Congress, of
suspecting the motives and distressing the
integrity Of Government officials But it occurs
to us that possibly he may have been carried
away by his feelings and have ratified Off his
accusations of fraud and lying somewhat
hastily. The "fOrty jackass mud-throwing
"pOwer" could hardly have been more sweeping
in charges of fraud and dishonesty. For
Mr.. Kelley actually insinuates that our
purest and best are in the habit of
using official stamps for unofficial business,
and that the statements which they indOrse on
their stamped packages, that they contain
nothing but printed matter. are what earnest
and outspOken persons call lies Is it possible
that our trusted public servants would do such
thingsf Forbid 1t, Plat, the Great American
Franker. The thought is too shocking to be
entertained for moment. 1t must DO that
Mr.. Kelley has caught the infection of calumny
and SANDER, about which several prominent
persons in Congress have made able and eff
fective speeches lately. He should be checked.
He speaks evil Of dgnitaries.
Sympathizing deeply with Mr.. Kelley in his
feelings of indignation at the mannerin which he
thinks he has been fraudulently deprived of the
privilege of making his signature legal tender
for mail service, we are yet not quite prepared
to advocate O restoration of the franking priv.
lege. There are evils and abuses, of course.
connected with the present, as there would be
with any system. But we take leave to sue.
gest that there may be compensations for
some of them. AS for instance, Mr.. Kelleys
pointed reference to the army of clerks en-
ployed to slobber over the official stamps re-.
minds us that here is an excellent
opportunity offered to the Government 10
furnish labor to the unemployed. This is well
understood to be q favOrte plan of the AID.
ministration for relieving the financial distress
and promoting trade. There arc objections to
digging canals and building railroads which
have been already stated. But here is an
opening which promises much better than anv
internal improvement scheme. and will also 90
far to "save the party" We should not be
surprised, indeed, if practically it would do
more to revive business than even the issue
of 1865 introcOnvertiblos.
Make Department Of Lickers and Stickers.
Have Chief SlObberer at the Head of it.
Just a. they do at the Head of the Agricul.
tural Department, and give him a seat in the
Cabinet. Then appoint Lckers and Suckers
ad inGnifum and Assistant SlObberers ad hbi-
tum. There's chance for several thousand
patriots. And chance to serve the country
in tho easiest aud most natural way with lip