The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-12
THE CHARGES DENIED
MI. McBse, Of the S. A. l., Replies TO
the Accusations of Mall Padding.
THERE WAS NO VIOLATION OF ANY LAW
Tho General superintendent state.
ment Contains Full Denial of
the Charges Brought by tho POST
master General, Also nome Slight
Criticism of That Official.

mfr. V. L. McBee. General Superinten-
dent OF the Seaboard Air Line, yesh.r-
day gave out for publicati ton a denial OF
The charges made against his road by
POSTMASTER General Wilson. to the effect
that the Senboayd Air Line padded the
mails during the weighing period for
the purpose of securing higher mail sub
sides. Mr.. McBee said:
1t is not usual for grievances against
this Government TO be fought through
the press, but in view OF the libelous
| statement in regard to alleged lrregu-
laities in mail matter over the Seaboard
Air Line road recently published and
said to have been authorized by the
Postmaster General, ! may be pardoned
for using this medium In setting forth
the facts before an impartial public
We are not responsible In any way for
the shipment of public documents
through the mails, nor have we exerted
such documents during ithe mail weigh
ing period. The ranking system Is a
personal privilege, granted to members
or Congress- 10 which there is no penalty
attached. and for which the members
are alone responsible; nor has the Post
master General. or any o.er Govern
ment official. the right as l understand
II. TO question the privilege OF move
inent ofCtheir documents through the
mail at any time, in any quantity or any
direction. Sc Act, March 3, 1875, and
Act. March 3, 1879, ard also Postmas-
ter Generals Report of 1895, page 1913,
which comments as follows:
There Is no penalty attached to the
misuse of the frank privilege, hence
there Is no action that can be taken by
me further ,;nan to call the attention
OF the members to the matter.
Referring to the fifteen sacks of pub
lie documents claimed' to have been for
| warded from my Office. There was no
secret about It. They were forwarded
ON regular mail trains and 1t was the
| mail agents duty, South of Weldon, to
| count the sacks and weigh the con-
| tents as they had not been previously
weighed on our line las mail was not
being weighed on that portion of the
road between Portsmouth and Weldon,
othsrw!se the railroad would haul tons
| OF public documents during the next four
wears for which we would not receive
| compensation, and when l learned that
| n young postofiice inspector was going
over the road trying to intimidate small
agents by announcing who he was, ]
sent for him TO come to my office and ]
would give him all the information he
| wanted In regard to the law.
/ herewith quote you the law, which
| Will be found on page 934. clause 209, in
United States Official Postal Guide
dated January, 1885,
| "A bulk package of franked articles
may be sent Ito one addressed, who, or
receiving and opening the package, may
pace addresses on the franked article.
and RENAL them for carriage and de
livery to the respective addresses
| This law seems to be plain, and 1 can.
not see what more could have been done
than was done to comply with 1t. Con.
| hrming the above law, and in further
| Justification of the action of my clerk,
a. fn1lnt,,in,r 1.att H.,
the, First Assistant Postmaster Genera
to Senator ---, who wished to shI
documents to California:
Postoilice Department,
Office of
First Assistant Postmaster Gen,
Division of CORRESPONDENCE,
| Washington, d. c., March IL, 1896.
Hon. --. U. S. Senator:
Dear Sir,-In compliance with your re-
quest. l have the honor to advise yor
that Section 366. page 157. Postal Law.
and Regulations expressly provides
that "A bulk package of ranked articles
may be s,-nt to one addressee, who, OF
receiving and opening the package, may
place addresses on the franked article:
and re-mail them for carriage and deliv.
\ ery TO the reSpe ctire addresses
Should any Postmaster refuse ITO ac.
cept speeches in properly franked en-
HeIopeS offered them FOR mailing, | will
issue the necessary instructions. If you
will call my attention to the matter.
Very respectfully,
Signed) +. u JONES,
First Asst. p. NJ. General
In regard to certain newspapers which
1t Is purported were sent over our line
in April. AS l understand 1t, regular
postage was paid. and there Is no law
which would prevent advertising mat.
ter from being forwarded through the
mails at any time, and the Postmaster
| General can make no just complaint
about that, for we send out quantities o.
| paid advertising matter all the year
round, and there IS no legal or equita
bile reason why we should withhold mat
ter from the mails during the weighing
period. The month selected for weigh
ing of mails IS one in which the small
est business Is done, and l41a per cent
is deducted from the total in order tina
the minimum sum may be paid for carry
ing mails throughout the four years.
+. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad re
ceives much less mail pay per mile thar
any road OF its length in the United
States, and, as / can show from q com
parison of their published reports, ha.
been for years unjustly treated in thes,
matters.
We received notice from the depart
ment on January % that mail would b.
weighed on AL routes on our line soutl
OF Weldon for 80 consecutive workin,
days, commencing February &c, and oil
March 20 we received the following let
ter, bearing date OF March II:
Sir: Your telegram OF the 18th inst
to General Superintendent White, rela
| tive TO continuing "a OF oh iOo