National Republican., 1883-11-24
"a pnILADELpHIA CRANK"
Add Another to the List. Ohawles, with
More 10 Come.
DdpcnDorl Cyn-sfle.
Davenport Ga=eiie,

More 10 Como.
Davenport Gasdie.
Certain Of the democratic journals arc affecting
much interest in tho quarrel between First AS
slstant Postmaster General Hatton and Mfr. Emory
Smith, of the Philadelphia Press, to which alu.
sion has heretofore been made in the GGstte.
Those papers goat over Congressional inyesti-
cation" which they promise as the result of the
| statements of fact made by Mr.. Hatton In the
course of that controversy. Such an investigation
is precisely what has been time and again invited
by Mr.. Hatton, and to which he has dared his
eifusive antagonist. Tho probabilities OF such
Official notice of the quarrel may fully justify
some extent of public interest therein There
fore, 1t may bo we'll that 1t be more particularly
understood by our readers that follow
ing series of ungenorous and uncalled for
| criticisms of Mr.. Hatton, eventually dogcDerating
into coarse abuse on the part of Mr.. Smith, the
latter was charged by the former with having So
cured from Postmaster General james, soon after
that official entered upon his brief term of service
in that relation, an order for tho establishment of
n fast mil" service from Philadelphia west,
which was designed solely for the particular ben-
eft of Mr.. Smiths paper, the Times that to afford
compensation to the Pennsylvania Central Rail
way for said service 'reweighing" of the mails
carried on that road was ordered; that as inev-
liable accompaniment Of said "roweighing" for
the benefit of TINT railroad similar orders were
sylvania and Vanderbilt systems; that as a result,
the expenses of the postoilco department for cur
ryng the mails were increased by q total OF $685.,
d7037, and that in that vast sum was represented
'lob" gotten up for the advantage of Mr.. Smiths
paper, and by which II aud he were prohted. In
pressing these allegations, Mr. Ilatton specifically
solicited investigation of all the facts involved by
congress.
Thereupon Mr. Smith made rejoinder In u
| 1pll tor In IN Tn mt
the fact of the fast mail" service not denied
Instead, II was mainly urged that the "rewelgh-
ing" resulted from exercise of right OF the rail
way company to demand such test of service per-
| formed, together with the increase OF compensa-
ton thereupon ascertRined to be allowable. But
even this lame defense was rendered utterly val
ucless in its accompaniment by u gushing appeal
| to Postmaster General Gresham for Mr.. Hatton's
removal, US though such action would, even IT
taken, at all alter tho complexion of Mr.. Smiths
ACKNOWLEDGMENT at the expense of the national
treasury. So the rests until official investi-
cation, Mr.. Smith meanwhile occupying the very
unenvable position of one who has essayed n
needless attack only to have decidedly unsayory
record made public for his punishment.
But in all this the public will have more than
n passing interest IT, as is most likely to be the
case the result shall be that the entire system of
fast maip' service for the benefit of the metro
| poitan newspapers shall be evermore abandoned
If "fast mails for New York, Philadelphia, and
elsewhere cnn ever be advantageous to the gem
eral public, clearly enough they shall start at
night, say, at O'Clock or 10 o'clock, with busi-
ness and other letters freshly written. Inasmuch
as such letters are not written during the night
"iast mails" to leave at A o'clock in tho morning
are useless, except to the few metropolitan news
papers thus enabled to press their competition
with those of distant cities. So, beside in its
surely awaiting vindication of Frank Hatton, the
investigation by him desired and occasloned will
challenge popular oommendation in the quietus
it will give to decidedly doubtful stroke of So
called enterprise" on the part of our postal SER
| vi