New-York tribune., 1896-08-26
AN ABSURD DECISION.
TRYING TO HINDER THE CIRCULATION OF RE
PUBLICAN CAMPAIGN LITERATURE

PUBLICAN CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
Washington. Aug % CspecaD.-Chief Clerk w
II Lamar in the office of the First Assistant POST
master General who, IN the absence OF MS oihcia
chief signs himself Acting FIRST Assistant POST
master General" has delivered himself OF most
curious and interesting opinion. which, II sus-
tanned bv his superiors. will have a wider scope
thar It's author probably imagined. 1t VIII not
only prevent the sending through the mails under
frank of the last daily issue OF The Congressloha
Record" Of the first session OF the LINth Con-
crcss but will also prohibit the sendlns throush
the mails in like manner. Of the last volume oil
The Record" Of that session inasmuch as the
dail,. issue referred to forms part pages 1853
to -17M of that volume. For 1t naturally and
inevitably follows that II any part OF the contents
of No l5j of THE Record for the last session
of Congress (Which is the number referred to)
cannot be sent by mail under frank. neither can
No l55 itself nor the volume of the permanent
Record" containing 1t he SO sent. The facts III
the ,ase and the points Of the decision are these:
ON lime : tine House IF Representatives adopted
2 resolution granting 10 members OF that bod!
leave to print remarks i'm THE Record from
that Date and until ter days after the adjourn
nlcnt o. the session. This resolution IN" House
was competcn' 10 pass; il was in accordance with
precedent and was moreover. In the public IN
forest because il FASTENED adjournment. Con-
rress adjourned on June II. and all the matter for
No La of The Record furnished 10 the
Public Printer and by him placed IN type on or he
fore June 2l-the expiration Of the ten-day limit
The publication OF the number was somewhat de-
laved however. because the Public Printer. In ac-
cordance with custom acceded TO the requests Of
several members have proofs furnishcd, 20
them for correction. and II appeared under da'e
Of June 20. ,
Among the contents Of the number appeared
Remarks OF Hon. James S. Sherman. OF New
York" on Banking and Currency. when IN"
pressure Of legislative business had denied hin
an opportunity to deliver in full In open House
From these remarks" and appendices thereto
certain verbatim extracts have been taken by thc
Republican Congress Committee and published
for general distribution. 1t is this document "hich
Chief Clerk Lamar of the Postoffce Department
has decided cannot be sent through the mails un,
der frank and his decision rests on the ground
that No l55 OF The Record was not published
until after June u
II is not known. is it believed that he has
made n like decision in regard 10 any other mat
ter published I'm No l5j. among which Is ke
marks of Hon Benton McMilln. OF tennessee
member Of the Democratic Congress committee
which has been freely circulated by that com
mittce under his frank. Mr. Lamars decision
is in direct contravention Of law. which. whether
il bc a good law or not permits Senators. Repre-
sentatives and Delegates in Congress 10 send
through the mails under their respective franks.
any and ali documents published hy authority or
Congress OF which The Congressional Record
or any part thereof is The superservceahie bic
party zeal Of this postoflice clerk will probably
receive a speedy and just rcbuke from his official
superiors rs soon his "dccsion' IS called TO
attention.