Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-11
RADICAL STA TEsuANsHyp

are so numerous that ono becomes
alarmed after counting few of them
No department Of the general Govern
mcnt is so useful TO tho people as the
Postoilicc Department; ALL high ol
low, rich or poor, derive almost daily
benefits from this branch of civil Gov.
crnment Therefore, in order to re.
call few of the impositions and va
garics of the American Congress dur
ing the past three years, will fully cs.
tablish the character of that body Of
men, and develop the iniquitics prac.
tiscd upon tho people by their agents
under Radical dictation.
pr II seems that neither religion, moral.
ity nor the constitution have bccn po-
tent enough to keep the average Con.
gresham within tho bounds of ordi.
nary craftsmanship; tho reverse is
the fact. Numerous fraudulent schemes,
concocted outside by political vaga-
bonds for tho purpose of robbing the
Treasury have been endorsed by the
majority, and laws passed to legalize
them. 1 IafHni rat
This Is not all. The numerous
changes and unstable character OF
Congressional legislation is one of the
worst evils that the war has entailed
upon us, except the hugo national
blessing Our tax and tariff laws un-
dergo such sudden and frequent chang
es that the officers who are expected
to understand them, seem to know as
little about them as the common pco.
pie. This constant changing of our
laws, and the crimes committed under
them, is what disgraces us more in the
estimation of foreign government
than all else that bcsets our liberal in
stitutions.
To illustrate, we need but refer our
readers to the numerous radical chang
cs in our postoflice laws within the
past three years. At one time news
papers circulated tree in the counties
whore published then law was
passed imposing postage upon them.
The reason given for this imposition
was, that revenue for the department
must be raised from this source TO pre-
vent bankruptcy at the end of one
year the department was more in debt
than under the old law. About the
time the people were educated to know
what the law was, another radical
change was made Papers now cir
culate free in the county, but the pub
fishers must prepay the postage on all
newspapers sent out of the county, be-
sides doubling the postage on all tran
sient matter Change after change OF
fraud is made by those who know,
against the majority in the passage OF
this law. Besides, ii is pronounced
unconstitutional, and we may there
fore look for another change as soon
as Congress meets. A case is now in
the United States Court at New York
that may cause an abrogating OF some
of our postal laws. The question at
stake is that the law of the last ses-
sion is unconstitutional on the ground
that it originated in the Senate, where
as the constitution provides that all
revenue measures must originate in
the House. If the point be sustained
i will affect the law that compe!s pre-
payment on newspapers sent to sub
scribers out of the county where pub
lisbed.
The Assistant Attorney General for
the Postofficc Department, Judge
Spence, thinks "thcre may be some
plausible ground for the position that
The law of the last Congress, doubling
he rates of postage on printed mat
Ter, is unconstitutional and void Tut
i would be a pity, he says for the
courts so to decide, because ii would
make great confusion and interfere
with the revenues of the department.
We presume the court, "watered,"
rs it has been, for the purpose of de-
'iding that paper money was as good
IS gold, will hardly entertain Judge
Spcncc's scruples, if they find the law
unconstitutional, More it ia charged
hat this same Judge belongs to the
ing which makes its headquarters in
he South and West, and has succeed.
ID in robbing the department of mil
ions Of dollars through fraudulent
nail lettings. Hence, he wants no
confusion because, like his conieder-
'te, Fisher, he might be removed or
compelled to resign.