National Republican., 1883-11-06

DaCk lltO inc CBgSncll Ol Une pasJ' buI-
blind bourbon democracy meets its decisive
defeat in Virginia to-day from Virginians.
God bless Malone.
Facts and Figures VS.. Gush nnd Bluster
Mr.. Charles Emory Smith, of the Philadel-
phia Press is certainly crank. lie seems to
imagine that if the first assistant postmas-
ter general is turned out of Office it would
vindicato tho editor of tho Philadelphia
Press against tho charge that he originated
and carried through to success a scheme that
resulted in taking from tho govern
mont over eight hundred thousand dollars
To tho mind of professional roformer, such
as Mr.. Smith claims to be, there is no punish
ment on earth that seems to equal the depri-
walton of holding office. lie imagines that
nothing so terrible could happen Mr.. Hatton as
his being turned ont of the office he now holds,
and hence Smith daily cries aloud in loaded
brovier: Turn IIatton out" lftho first assist
ant postmaster general docs not faithfully dis
charge his duties as an officer THE REPUBLI-
CAN has no hesitancy in saying that he
should be turned out and some other man
put in his place. That is matter for
the President to determine. But If
Mr.. Smith imagines that his daily
yawp for Hatton's scalp will deter
The REPUBLICAN from calling atten-
tion to the outrageous job which Rcformer
Smith engineered through department of
the government, then Mr.. Smith is the most
deludel member of that great family of
Smiths which gets its greatest distinction
from the fact of its frequent occurrence in
town and city directories.
The charge of THE REPUBLICAN, may noK
perhaps have been written in that refined
and cultured language so characteristic of
the ex-stalwart editor of the Albany Journal.
western cir about it, and'it no doubt re-
minded Mr.. Smith of an unbridled cyclone
reasons, it failed to penetrate Mr. Smiths
innormost parts THE REPUBLICAN is sorry.
This paper always intends to be understood.
What THE REPUBLICAN intended to charge,
and what it now charges, is that Mr.. Smith
some time in 1881 was anxious to have q train
put on the Pennsylvania Central railroad for
the purpose of carrying his employers paper
from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. The cost
of the train rs stated by the railroad COM
pany would bo $4,000 por annum. The
department had no appropriation from which
it could pay that amount. Instead of waiting
sixty days, until congress could meet and the
appropriation be asked for and granted, if
congress thought it deserving project Mr.
Smith and those whom he seemed to have
control of at that time, brought about
by their suggestion, and NOT at the request
of the raiirOad company, u reweighing of the
mails, which has resulted in an increased
compensation to the railroad companies of
$500, 3,47937. The cost of the train at $4,000
per annum for three years would have been
$4,000. The difference between $4SO00 and
$SO3, ,479.37 is exactly what Reformer Smiths
job cost the government, and no amount of
blow or bluster will change the facts. Mr..
Smiths opinion of Mr.. Hatton will not put
tho money back in the treasury, neither
will tho "kicking out" to use the classic Ian
guage of the Philadelphian, of Hatton by the
presidential boot toe change the above
figures. Open letters to the postmaster
general composed of four parts slob-
ber and one part bluster, will not
fool anybody blessed with tho smallest
amount of common sense. Mr.. Smith could
have secured his train for three years for
| $4,000 had tho department been in posses
sion of the necessary funds. He could have
waited few weeks and had the matter laid
before congress by the proper officer, and
that body, if it had Endorsed the project
could have made the appropriation. Instead
of such a course Mr.. Smith, while shouting
reform and economy, with big r and large
L, forced tho rewoighing of tho mails, which
resulted in the increased cost above stated
Mr. Smith can concoct no statement that will
change these figures. He knows he cannot
and hence his piteous wall.
In conclusion, it may be interesting to the
many admir'ng friends Of this underdonC
youn; reformar to state that THE REPUB
LIcAN understands that, after securing thii
train at a cost of $755, ,470.37 moro than the
railroad company proposed to charge for it, the
great reform journal which, Smith illumi
mates with the electric light of his intellect i!
not even sent from Philadelphia to Harris
burg by mail, thereby giving tho governmen
tho benefit of the paltry sum tho postage
would amount to, but instead is sent BY
express.
This last is added to tho original charge a
fringe to decorate tho job, and mako i
more pleasing to Mr.. Smiths oye, and thi
decoration is mado in that kind and christian
spirit so characteristic of this paper.
|