The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-26
WANAMAKER ARRAIGNED.
THE EDITOR OF POSTAL MAGAZINE
Boards HIN IN HIS OFFICE


He Tells HARRISON. =. NJ. q. That Pension
Agent Lemon Is Violating the Postal
Laws. and WannmRker Replies That
He Has Decided to Allow Him 20 DO SO.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-A stormy interview
took place Friday In the Office OF Postmaster
General Wanamaker. between that gentle
man and Mr.. Patterson of Chicago. the editor
OF The United States Mail magazine published
in tho interests Of postal employees. The loud
and excited talk attracted the wondering at
tention OF quite crowd OF persons In the add
joining rooms and corridors. yet none aboutthe
department seemed to know what the row was
about. The facts which led up to the war OF
words are said TO be substantially rs follows:
About three months ago there we're regularly
mailed in Washington, and In course of time
received at the Chicago Post Office. several
hundred large mail sacks filed with sample
copies Of the National Tribune weekly paper
published in Washington by George L. Lemon
the pension claim agent These papers were
regularly addressed. but whether to bonafde
residents OF Chicago or to fictitious persons
does not appear. The dispatch OF this mail from
the Washington office was In violation Of ono OF
the best-known regulations OF the department
as well rs OF tho United States statutes. On
each OF the wrappers containing copy of the
paper, which is an important factor in Mr..
Lemons claim business. appeared words to
this effect:
II this paper delivered the person addressed
the Postmaster will please deliver 1t to any ex Union
soldier TO some one interested in claims growing
OF the war Of the rebellion.
The act of which the printing of this notice on
the wrapper Is q direct violation was passed
by Congress and approved by the President,
March 8, 1879, and reads as follows:
hat mn mi " ri (yh incl dea
newspapers) shall contain writing. print mark or
sign thereon therein in addition to the original print
except as herein provided. to wits The name and ad
dress of the person TO whom the matter shall be sent
and index figures Of subscription book. either written
printed the printed title of the publication. tho
printed and address Of the publisher sender of
the same, and written printed words figures o
both indicating tho date when the subscription such
matter will end
This disregard OF the law was brought to the
attention of Editor Patterson. who made a
formal complaint to the Postmaster G General,
but after waiting In vain for nearly three
months for some action by the department,
Mr.. Patterson decided to come on to Washing
ton and ascertain. il possible. the cause of the
delay. He accordingly arrived here yesterday
and Immediately went to the Post Office De-
partment where he met Judge Tyner. the
Assistant Attorney General for the depart
ment. 1t developed that when the complaint
reached the Postmaster General he referred 1t
to his third assistant. MIR. Hazen, who in turn
referred 1t to the Assistant Attorney General
Judge Tyner. The name OF Lemon did not
seem to inspire rs great degree OF terror in
the Judges mind as 1t seems to have done In
that Of each OF the others, for he Immediately
looked up the law upon which he formulated
an opinion holding that the acts complained of
were. without shadow of doubt. plain viola
fnpc IF both mi if nd 1att rpf thal o,r
The Judge. in his conversation with Mr.. Pat
terson. expressed himself greatly shocked
ut such gross violations OF the law By man OF
Lemons experience and knowledge OF the pos
tai laws.
Mr.. Patterson then called on the Postmaster
General OF whom he inquired II anything had
yet been done in the Lemon matter.
Yes" said Mr.. Wanamaker. :" have de-
cided 10 allow Mr.. Lemon to continue to send
his papers through the mails as he has been
doing"
Queried Mr. Patterson.
Yes. with the same Wrappers
is it possible" said Mr.. Patterson, that
you will continue 10 permit the law to be vio-
lated. knowing as you must that every paper
sent out by Lemon bearing the request 10
pOstmasters ia in violation OF the laws I"
The Postmaster General interrupted Mr..
Patterson. and said. with n great deal OF feel
Ing that he Patterson had printed lies about
him and the department
Il never printed a charge in nv paper
against this department" shouted Patterson.
that cannot prove" and then warming up to
tho subject he continued in about this strain
I'm tell you. Mr.. Wanamaker. why you per-
nit this man to violate tho plain letter OF the
law with impunitY. 1t is because his money
helped to mako your appointment rs Post
master General possibility 1t is because he
is u big man In your party. SO big that you can
not and dare not oppose much les offend,
him. oven though you know he is constantly
violating a law which you took a solemn oath
to protect and enforce 1t Is because ne is one.
and the biggest ono. of half a hundred pension
sharks here in Washington who thrive and have
grown immensely rchIon pension legislation.
and whose money your party cannot well do
without"
During this arraiGnment the Postmaster |
General became very much excited but In |
reply could only stammer out:
You are an impudeut and an impertnent |
fellow"
Patterson delares that he will not allow the |
matter to rest where il is, but will take such |
measures as will bring tho case before the |
courts and the people for II verdict.