The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-28

A Denial Which Doesn't DeDy-Extrayagant
appropriations In Favor of His Friends.
Washington Special to New York Tribune.
To Tribune correspondent tonight Con-
gresham Holman. of Indiana, said: "An arti-
Gle in the Tribune of Aug. 20, in regard to the
postofice of the Rouse of Representatives, does
injustice to Mr.. Dalton, Postmaster of the House
and to the House committee on appropriations.
The increased number Of members of the House
under the last apportionment necessarily slight
ly increased the expense of that Office. but the
inference that will be drawn from the article is
that there was last session an increased or un-
justifable expenditure authorized fer carrying
The mails to members Of the House. A brief
statement will show that this is mistake. By
reference to the appropriation laws it will be
seen that in 1873 the cost for carrying the mails
for members of the House and one saddle
horse for use of messenger was $5, 475. In
1876 when the Democrats obtained control OF
the House, the cost OF carrying the mails for
members was reduced to 81, 600. At the next
session it increased to SIS, 900, but in 1873 1t
was reduced to S., 600. and has remained at that
sum ever since. Both sessions of the Forty
seventh Congress appropriated $1,000 for this
service, just as was done last session, and yet
you will notice that in the meantime there had
named has not been considered excessive. The
Senate. with seventy-sx members. has an ap-
preparation for mail service of So, 500, The
House, with 320 members and eight delegates,
has So 000 In justice to the subcommittee
which prepared the legislative bill to which
yeu-refer, and of which was chairman and Mr..
Cannon, of Illinois, and Major Butterworth, of
Ohio, were members, trust that the Tribune
will publish this statement Permit me to add
that as to the editorial inithe Tribune of this
date. in regard to the Democratic congressional
convention in the Fourth Indiana district, the
editor has been msled. There is no foundation
whatever for the statements made, except that
q number of federal ofice-holders present.
But excuse me for referring to matter simply
personal to myself"
II will be observed that Judge Holman does
not deny any statement of fact made by the
Tribune in relation to the House postoffce. For
example, he does not deny that the horses and
wagons used in the transportation of the mails
are owned by Postmaster Dalton, who "hres"
them from himself at the rate of $4,000
year, thus making a clean profit
10 per cent interest on the original investment.
The profit for a single year is equal to nearly
three times the cost of the horses and wagons.
Mr.. Holman is right in saying that there was
not very heavy increase in the cost of
the House postof1ee at the last session. He
omits to state, however, that he has prepared
the appropriation bill containing the items for
the House postoffice for the last three years.
during which time his friend Mr.. Dalton has
been Postmaster. Again, Judge Holman is anx-
ions that justice shall be done to the sub-com-
mittee of which he is chairman, and Mr..
Cannon, of Illinois, and MIR. Butterworth. Of
Ohio, members" Why should Judge Holman
be so careful to mention only two mem
bers Of the subcommittee Can it be
because the remaining two were Demo
Gratis, while Messrs Cannon and Butterworth,
who compose the minority Of the sub-commit-
tee, are Republicans? Everybody familiar with
the work of the appropriations committee knows
thst Judge Homan's will was law in the prep
aration Of that part of the legislative bill which
provides for the House pos.office. He can make
no better defense than to say that he, the great
economist, has made no more liberal provision
than did the wasteful, extravaganza Republicans
before him. The House postoffice st
most 600 persons during part of each yoar, and
it costs $26, 220 a year, $43 20 for each Con-
gresham. At that rate postal facilities for the
6O0OO,000 people in the United States would
cost the enormous sum of 81. 622, 900 a year,
and the postal expenditures for the city of New
York alone would be nearly $50, 000, 900 year.
Mr.. Holman is great ''reformer."