The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-26


Barry was the first Postmaster general called to
a seat in the Cabinet Prior to 1921 although
the Postoffice Department was called an execu-
tive department. it did not rank as such. In
that year Congress fixed the salary of the Post
mastergeneral at $4,000 annually. sum equal
to that received by the heads of the other de
partments of the government After the change
of salary the Postmaster general was recognized
as a Cabinet official.
Mr.. Barry increased the number of mails in
various localities. and made extra allowances to
various contractors. The result was increase
of expenditures over receipts, and the Postmas-
ter-general was forced to call upon banks for
assistance. congressional investigation fol
lowed The majority report of the Senate,
drawn up by Senator Ewing, of Ohio, and the
minority report of the House, drawn up by Rep
resentative Whittlesey also of Ohio, were very
damaging to Mr.. Barry. He had number of
friends in the House, however, who were not
disposed to allow any criticism of his administra
ton of the department. and who intimated
that any attack upon him. or any severe
animadYerSion upon his official acts would be
considered as personally offensive to them. AT
that time Mr.. Cost johnson was a representa-
tive from Maryland He was president of the
Young Mems National Clay convention that met
in Washington in 1882. Such intimations as
had been given out tempted HIM to test the
courage of those who thus attempted to brow
beat the House into silence. There was an even
ing session. and bill to establish post-routes was
under consideration. Mr.. johnson sat in the
IfOnU row Oh SedlS, anu HeAG W bile hlSlo
He arose and said he opposed to the bill in
every particular. He looked at Representative
Halves, of Kentucky, who had attempted to in
timidate the House, and continued: MIR. Chair
man, it has been broadly intimated by some
gentlemen in this House. that he who shall hive
the temerity criticise the acts of the ,>ostmas
ter general, must answer therefor elsewhere
than in this hall. This ! understand to be the
purport, at least, 81 the remarks of some of the
gentlemen Cd the other side of the House Sir,
L Of w IN
law of personal responsibility is recognized
among gentlemen | hold myself amenable to
that law. l seek no personal conflict; but, sir,
shall never allow myself to be inundated into
Its avoidance by menaces, come they from what
quarter they may AS one of the representa-
tives Of Maryland, intend to speak my senti
ments here with perfect freedom; and now, in
the face of those menaces which have been
thrown out on this floor, and intending to be
responsible for what am about to say, 1 declare
that the Postofice Department is corrupt from
head to foot, through and through, and believe
that the head of that department, William I.
Barry, is as cupabe as any officer under his
control"
This was lightning that struck Mr.. Halves
replied ''If ] understand the gentleman cor
rectly, ne gave it as his opinion that the depart
ment was corrupt from the Postmaster general
down to the lowest officer in the service. Did
l understand him correctyP
You did, sir"
Mr.. Halves asked the gentleman from Mary
land to give the grounds on which he had made
the charge of corruption, and said the Post
master general was as honest and honorable as
any man who had seat on the floor.
Mr.. johnson replied to him, and to friends
who privately asked him to make some explana
ton that would save extreme measures: ''No; l
have no explanation to give; what / said
meant and gentlemen may make the most of it"
The House was in great excitement johnson
would not be persuaded to change his views.
His opponents said he must be challenged to
| n l..
sent him challenge, which was promptly ac-
cepted, the duel to take place Immediately. An
effort was made to delay it for several days.
''Not an hour" said Johnson, 'the affair must
be settled at once"
"Would he not consent that the challenge be
withdrawn was asked
No reply was given: the challenger had the
power to withdraw it. 1t was withdrawn, and
never renewed. Mr. Barry left the Postoffice
Department and was appointed minister to
Spain.
Amos Kendall then Fourth Auditor of the
Treasury, was made Postmaster general. Mr..
Kendall while young man was tutor in the
family of Henry Clay Shortly afterwards he
was appointed postmaster of Kentucky town.
He was the founder of the deaf and dumb iusti-
tute in this city, and at the cost of 800, 900
he built, as memorial to his wife,
the Calvary Baptist Church here. While
Mr. Kendall was Postmaster-gen the depart
ment building was destroyed by fire. The pres
ent building was then erected, alta cost of nearly
81, 900, O00 AS the head of the Postofice De-
partment Mr.. Kendall stopped the extra allow
ances to contractors. The railway mail service
was begun during his administration. To-day
that service extends 'er more than 10000
miles. Each decade has doubled the service
since its establishment; and it is estimated that
if the present rate Of increase continues, the
year 1900 will show a service of 20O, 900 miles.
Forty years ago the weight of the mails carried
out of New York city for an entire week
amounted TO but 10000 pounds. Now that
weight leaves New York every two hours equal
ing more than 120 tons daily, by various roads.
Mr. Kendall was succeeded by ex-senator
John NJ Niles, of Connecticut The postmaster
generalship of the latter was of but few months
duration. President Harrison appointed Francis
Granger of New York.
Mr. Granger was the son of Gideon Granger,
vino had served under President Jefferson. He
was a man quick at repartee At one time,
while member of the House of Representatives,
and while commenting on war report made by
Francis W. Pickens, he adopted sing song way
of speaking. 1t was then known that Mr..
Granger was to be a PostmaSter-genera Mr..
Pickens arose and said the gentleman had en-
tertained the House with a speech as musical as
BAG. nine. aiiv in tone rs subdued as Cabinet
minister"
The coming Cabinet official retorted: ''Mr
Speaker, the gentleman from South Carolina has
compared my notes to the music of the bag
pipe. True, sir, they are not of so warlike II
character as those of the gentleman, but inn
agine he will find the difference between the
sound of our pipes to arise from the fact that
my bag is not quite so full of wind as his"
Mr. Granger with the other members of Pres
ident Harrison's Cabinet except Mr.. Webster
resigned shortly after Mr. Tyler assumed the
presidency, because of his vetoing fiscal cor
poration" bill. This same BILL it has been said
was prepared by Mr. Webster, and was sub
mitted to the President, who approved u but
afterwards vetoed it.
Charles A. Wickliffe. of Kentucky, was the
aSta
career the postage rates were reduced and the
foreign mail service was introduced.
Cave johnson. of Tennessee, whose beauty
was solely in his manners, was President Folks
Postmaster general. A Mr. Sanders, who man
aged to make H. B. Wright, of Pennsylvania,
chairman of the convention that nominated Mr.
Polk and defeated Mr. VanBuren for the pres-
dency, was an aspirant for this same Office. Mr.
y