National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-09-25
MERELY AN ACCIDENT.
What Postmaster Anger Says About the
Democratic Franks.
Tho Matter Not Only UniranlSabie, But the
Signatures of the Congressman
Also "AcCidental."
An Interview with the city Postmaster.

An Interview With the city Postmaster.
A representative of The REPUBLICAN Wis.
tied Postmaster Anger yesterday morning,
and showed him the following, taken from the
democratic organ in this city:
Postmaster Anger yesterday refused 10 admit TO
the mails quantity OF campaign matter sent TO the
poStollice by the republican committee. The doc
umcnts were not only Of q class upon which frank
Is Illegal but were stamped with the names OF
written. Mr. Anger called the attention Of the
committee to these two violations of the law, and
advised them to pay more attention IN tue lu-
ure to the provisions Of the statutes covering this
matter
as that fact2' inquired the knight of the
pencil.
Postmaster-"rhorc is not word of truth
In 1t; but think that can see tho amiulus OF
the article, aud II is very clcverly put"
"Well, what do you discovcr2'
II think that the stamp passage is the en-
tire case. | believe that they are using
hand.stamp fac similc of II congressman's
signature, at the republican committee rooms;
still / am not certain. Even if that Is SO, it
is not violation Of tho law, but might ho of
the spirit of il. Still, know that the demo.
cratic committee have several clerks using the
frank of Dunn, Cox & Call. OF course, it IS
with these gontemen'5 permission, but am
unable to see tho d difference, so far rs the law
| goes, between using Il stamp fac smile of u
| signature by permission aud several clerks
| initiating congressman's signature by con-
sent and using it for frauking documents"
How do you know that more than one
clerk is acting congressman long enough to
utilize the privilege with the frauls?"
"Why, the different hpndwrtines and styles
| show that so plainly that amy person will be
| ablo to notice it,"
"Has the republican committee sent any
unlrankablc matter here fraukcd?'
mot yet that l know Of The charge was
| made IN the previous campaign that the re-
pubicans practiced fraud ia sending matter
through tic mail. l mNdo IN my mind to
watch and detect it if anything of the kind
was being done this time, but have got to
discover the first package yet"
"lIow was the first detection made Of the
democratic Committcof'
| "Why, Il package was returned by the post
master OF Newton, OIio, as uuCalod for. Ga
being opened IL was found to contain matter
printed in this city and all of it unfrHukablc.
Then directed Il further Investigation"
Then you do not think it could have been
an accidental mailingN
mo, sir for | have now twenty bags, near
a ton of tho accidental, unlrankablo matter,
down stairs. single package, or perhaps
two Of them, might slip through accidentally,
but not by the ton. The error, if error eX-
ised would be discovered before reaching
that quantity"
"What will be done with what you havc?'
81 do not want to make the democratic com.
mittec any trouble, and they have been mott
fled that there arc twenty bags Of un1rankablC
matter here and that | desire to know what
they wish done with it,"
| "What can be done with it?'
"Why, they can pay the regular postage and
send it by mail or transport it by express
That is the way the republican committee
does with thcir uniruntablo documents
| wish to treat both committees alike and
have not been as strict as | might. When
the matter sent by committee is entitled
to the frank aud comes that way it is ulway,
passed through the mails, but unfrimkublC
matter will not be permitted to enter tho
mails, no matter which committee sends it,"
i 81 see that an evening paper says that the
democratic committee is purchasing S25t
worth of stamps daily. How true is that
story"
"Thcy arc buying about $50 worth per day
or if they are getting more than that they
purchase them elsewhere than atihis Office. ,
How long have they bought $50 worth q
day ?p
81 believe that the secretary of the commit
tee bought 800 worth on one OCCASION prior
to the exposure of the umiraukable matter be-
Ing sent by mail but with that exception they
used to buy about $40 worth Il day"
81 suppose you know about how many
stamps arc sold daiiST"
This Office sells between $500 aud $SOj
worth of stamps 4 day, aud If there was Il S2Ol
increase we surely would know it,"
Thanking the postmaster for furnishing Tho
facts and bidding him good morning, Tia,
scribe withdrew.