Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-02
A DisgraoefuI Abuse of Authority

The new Postmaster General has been
made the tool for a gross piece Of injus-
tice, and for what cannot but be cOnsid-
cred as an unwarrantable interference
with the freedom Of the mails. General
Gresham has such a high reputation for
purity Of purpose and uprightness Of con-
duct that it seems impossible ne can have
been cOgniZant Of the circumstances
under which the order Of the late Post
master General Key. relative to the LOU
isiana Lottery Company, was suspended.
The facts Of the case, as they are found
officially recorded, are not in any doubt.
In November, 1879. Postmaster General
Key charged VI. 4. Dauphin, the Presi-
dent Ofthe Lottery Company, with "being
engaged in fraudulent schemes and de-
vices" and ordered that no letters should
be delivered or money orders paid to him
Mr.. Dauphin denied the charge and de-
manded an investigation, at the same
time instituting a civil suit against the
Postmaster General. While the suit was
pending Postmaster General KEY institu-
ted the investigation, which resulted in
his decision that he was not satisfied that
the lottery was fraudulent scheme. He
thereupon issued a new order, counter
handing his first, as he had no power to
interfere with the mails unless he was sat
isfied that there was fraud. When Gar
fields administration came in the new
Postmaster Generals attention was called
10 the lottery by interested persons, and
he referred the matter to Attorney Gen
eral MacVeagh, who found himself con-
strained to admit that the mails could not
be interfered with except upon proof Of
fraud. Another investigation Of the COM
pany's affairs was made, and the cOnclu-
fE.ss@4
The same busy schemers who have
thought 10 ayenge themselves on the COM
pany on account, it is alleged, Of its re-
fusaI to buy off opposition, got member
Of Congress 10 order an inquiry, in reply
10 which the late Postmaster General
Howe, as conscientious and honest man
as ever lived, declared that he could not
interfere with the company's mail, be-
cause:
mo proof has beeR submitted 10 the De-
DdrtBleRt since the order Of suspension
tending 10 establish the fact that ". a..
DduDhin Is engaged IN conducting any
scheme that ,r0uld brtng him lritIin the
contemplation Of the statute"
Upon the assurance Of the department
that there should be no interference with
his mail unless fraud lrdS diScOCered, Mr..
Dauphin consented to a dismissal Of his
suit, and took no further proceedings.
Three pOstmasters in succession having
been vainly importuned 10 aid certain
well-knOWn ring TO act uniustly, they
turned their attention to the Department
Of Justice, and succeeded in getting As
sistant Attorney General Freeman to in
terfere, not alleging fraud, but insisting
upon the enforcement Of Postmaster Gem
eral Keys order, under the technical
subterfuge that il was not rescinded but
merely suspended.
Thereupon, without any further in
quiry, without permitting the company to
defend itself, the Postmaster General
withdrew the suspension, in violation of a
moral obligation. and stopped the COM
pany's mails. The ring are Of course
jubilant.
Now. it is not pertinent what the merits
Of the action may be. The fact stands
that the Postmaster General has been
guilty Of high-handed and unwarranta-
bic act Of oppression and injustice. IL the
company's scheme is fraudulent, its mails
should be withheld. But the company
was certainly entitled to hearing, and,
if it does not come within the meaning OF
the statute, there is not shadow OF rea-
son for interfering with it.,
All the evidence is in its favor so far.
1t is legally incorporated under the laws
of a State; its right to existence is ac-
knOwledged in the constitution OF Louis
lana; its surplus funds are devoted to a
State charity, and no proof whatever has
been offered that it is not an honestly con-
Quoted business.
The procedure by which a specific obliga-
ton is set aside and an absolute order re-
vived by a piece of legal chicanery is
worthy only of pettifogging attorney,
and that the Department of Justice can
be made the dirty tool of Matchmaking
ring, is foul disgrace to the country
Men York World, July q.