Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-06

At the night session of the House oil Repre-
sentalives last night, MIR. Huntou, OF Virginia,
rose to personal explanation, aud said:
Mr.. Chairman, l call the attention of the
committee to most uEWarranted statement
aud attack upon the Postmaster Of the House
10 The remarks Of my friend from Missouri
Mr.. Wells last night. Ii is 10 these words,
as his re marks are reported 10 the Compression.
al Record
MIR. Wells, of Missouri. The man from
WHOM We hire the horses aud wagons will not
deliver the mails. The mails are to be dely.
cred by the messengers OF the House Postcthcc
The man with whom We contract agrees OILY
to furnish seven wagons and seven horses. Tnls
is DOW done by the Postmaster himself, aud he
to-day is making $4,000 or $5,OOOa year ou, OF
this business We propose that this mouey,
which DOW goes into the pocket Of the Post.
master, increasing his perquisltes, shall te pu,
lpto the Treasury of the Uulted States
| desire To say, sir that that is entirely erro.
oeous, and | am surprised that the gentleman
trom Missouri should have iallen lnt, 81 egrer.
ious mistake. The 2 stmaster Of the House
| has nothing III the world to do With this mat.
ter, except to contract with this mao oiu!uisA
| the horses and wagons. | will read here
memorandum which has been furnished to NE
| by the Postmaster vi the House, and it is a.
| follows:
lac Postmaster ia 8 uothiug Whatever to do
with the mall.c0ntractor, except to give out
| the contract and certify to lis account The
| contractor furnishes seven wagons aud cght
horses each day, for which be receives $l2 80
per day, or at the rate OF 81 81 each for ise
waguns and five horses NJ money passes
through the Postmascr's nands, nor las he
any interest IN the contract. The accounts
| OF the cuolracior have 10 be approved by the
| Committee OF Accounts and paid by the Clerk.
MIR. W ellis, OF Missouri. | have not read
| the report o! my remarks III the CJUgrc>>lou4!
Record. But will say this that 80 lar a.
the pr fits Of the Postmaster are coLc.rncd.
had been informed that it had been The GU, OH
for the Postmaster heretofore to own the horses
and wagons hlGIse!t.
Mr.. Garfield The Pestmaste never owned
the hors IS aoi Wagons. He las hired them all.
Mr.. Wells, of Missouri. | will say this, that
[ look upon the present Postmaster Utthc House
as being high minded man III all respects, and
| would be sorry TO do anything or say Anything
that would d. him injustice; ani II have done
him lnj ustice in any remarks take them back
Mr.. Huuton. That is satisfactory. AT tile
same time | must say that cannot see how
the gentleman from Missouri could have made
the charge contained 10 his remarks last night
! without sJme idea that he Was red citing on an
officer wAo, | will undertak. TO say as high
minded man and gcDt!t maa Is the peer Of any
mar on this floor.
Mr.. Wells, If Missouri wish 10 say word
Or TWO more Oh this matter. will state sir,
that my circulation was made entirely 90 the
number .. Wagons which this bill proposes TO
allow for this works. | made the calculation on
the slppo,itlJo that the Post:u .s:cr Was turn
!shlug the horses aud wagon. That Ta> my lul.
prcssou, and was ST. iutormei. My calculation
Wa made Oh the impressed hat the Pos'ula.-
TER was getting al the ra;c Of so a day Tor Zach
horse aud Wagon used iuriug the snort session
OF Congress-; that is, that ne would be getting
pay for Twelve mouths while he was only 10
log the work for three mouths Il Was slni.
pie matter vi calculation. That getting 81 ~
day during he year and only working fourth
Of the an, he WIS receiving at the rate OF $40
per day Iusing Tue short ,sslon Tor each horse
anl wagon and which lid leave nun, %
fair calcutta. lou With regard TO the expenses OF
The hois: =, profit OF at least about $4,000.
| That i my calcu aion. do not impugn any
thing 10 he action Of The present Postmaster
of the House. but may have been usln'
| tolm:d.
Mr.. Huu,ou. vas going to say if the gen.
tlemau had gone 10 the Postmaster himself he
| would have a-ccrtalncd Il the facts.
Mr.. Wells, Of Missouri. | did DOT expect
when | rose to make any reulaks. did DOT
,.xpect to be calsd on to explain this martsr
| haj not taken any particular interest ID the
matter until NY attention was called to 1t ~
gent em4o 90 the other side.
We should think that chairman OF sub
committee of Congress, in whose chaskc this
matter was, ought TO have been better informed
before he made such broad assertions. without
any toundatlpn.