Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-12-24

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the eleventh section of the act entitled J
"An act making appropriations for the SER
vice Of the Post Office Department for the
fiscal year ending June thirteth, eighteen
hundred and seventy-Gve," :" approved June
twenty third, eighteen hundred and seven
ty-four shall be construed to include only
the amount of stamps actually cancelled by
such postmaster upon mall-matter mailed
at and sent from his office, and the amount
of unpaid postages collected by him: aud
in order to ascertain and fix the amount OF
such postal revenues and receipts ut each
office. the Postmaster General shall require
postmasters to state and return under oath,
to the Auditor for the Post-Office Depart
ment, in addition to the returns now re-
uuired by law, and either with the quar-
terly account or otherwise, i'll such form
as he shall prescribe. at such times and for
such periods as he may deem necessary In
each case, the amount of stamps SO can
celed and the unpaid postages collected,
together with such other information IN re-
quire.n The POST Office Department has
been swinded out of large amount OF
money by unprncipled men, who, using
the office of postmaster, have dealt largely
in stamps and sold them outside OF their
postollice limits, thereby increasing their
own salaries, as the pay of all such officers
are fixed by the sale of stamps, sold to the |
public and should be confined to those do
ing business through said office. From
information given to me by the proper au-
thorities, am happy to state that the post |
masters of Pennsylvania are innocent OF
this fraud upon the Government, but in |
small offices iu other States, West and |
South, where their salaries are meagre, |
pOstmasters resort TO this trick, and to pre-
vent further fraud Mr. Packer offers this |
remedy, and will use every endeavor to
make it the law governing the sale of pos
tage stamps.
Mr.. Packer also introduced n bill IL. Ii.
1881 ''To regulate the manner of bidding
for. and awarding of mail contracts"
This is 10 prevent what is called STRAW
bidsn for mail contracts, and is IN the
terms of a bill he introduced and had passed
through the House, in the last Congress,
but which failed TO pass the Senate: Ii 1t
should now become law, the Govern
ment will save thousands Of dollars an
nually. Mr.. Packer has vast amount
of influence, and have no doubs will be
able to carry these beneficial measures
through the House. His correct deport-
ment, genial manners, and prompt atten-
! ton 10 business, make him popular with
all classes, and his strict integrity has
gained for him the confidence of even the
opposition, who will not antagonize any
measures which he may advocate for the
public good.
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS
of the North, trying to work on the credu-
lity of their readers publish the following
"a Confederate member of Congress
from North Carolina, who is an ex-Con-
| federate officer, will soon offer in the
House a resolution declaring definitely
that the Confederate war debt shall never
be recognized or assumed by the United
States that no claim for slaves freed
during and by the war shall ever be DEEM
ed Lawful, ,aad that the National credit must
forever be kept unimpaired." This is all
bosh and intended to deceive. That ques-
ton was settled long ago, and that, too,
by Republican Senate and House OF Re
presentatiyes, and sanctioned by two
thirds Of the legislatures Of the several
States. BY referring to section four OF the
14th amendmentto the Constitution Of 4he
United States, you will find the following
"Thc validity of the public debt Of the
United States, authorized by law, includ-
ing debts incurred for payment of pensions
and 5ounties for services in suppressing in
surrection or rebellion, shall not be ques-
toned. But neither the United States nor
any State shall assume or pay any debt or
-LE,-s:-- :--.,--ol - ,iJ Of insnrraciinn
or rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation OF
any slave but all such debts, obligations
and claims shall be held illegal and void"
If this ex-coniederate member was honest
in his intentions and true to the old flag,
why did he vote against giving employment
to disabled UniOa soldiers, when the Ques-
ton was brought before the House the
other day, on a motion by Mr.. Fort, of
Illinois The resolution did not particu-
larize Republican Union soldiers, but
acounded Union soldiers, who were not in
capacitated from doing the work which
would be assigned them. Did they display
any love for the old flag then by their votes?
No. Every rebel Member Of Congress,
and too many Democrats from the North
and West, rose from tn cir seats and voted
against the resolution, saying, in substance,
that they preferred to hug to their bosoms
those who had fought to dismember this
glorious Union. Ar ex-rebel general, now
in Congress, was heard to remark, "No,
damn them, let them live on their pensions;
we must stick to our friends" They do
stick to their friends, and Texas and Vir-
Sluii dlC hCiI CSbiCN lOl III lIlC dISblIputIoh
of offices.
OF the fifteen appointments by tie
POSTMASTER OF TIE HOUSE,
fourteen are from Virginia, nine of whom
are from Alexandria, the home of Post
master Stuart. There is no doubt that all
these appointees fought on the 'other
side,'' else why did they take the mOdyied
oath when sworn into office. All through
the corridors of the House one can hear
curses from Northern and Western Demo-
cratic Congressman against Mr.. Stuart for
not giving them a slice of the pie for their
friends, but he is Indifferent and pays no
heed to their remarks, and, like Boss
Tweed, wants to know what they are
going TO do about it," Hon. Sunset Cox
sputtered and fused, but to no purpose,