The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-14
LIBELOUS STITENfNT.
Supt. Melee So Characterizes Postmaster
General wilson's Charge.

General Wilson's halIes
PORTSMOUTH. VA. June B.-Captain
V. T.. McBce. general superintendent Of
the seahoan AIRLINE. to-day gave out
the following statement I'm regard 10 the
charge made against that company by
the Iost-Onice Department;
1T IS not usual for just grievances
against this government to be fought
through the press but, IN view OF the
statement IN regard 20 alleged Irregular
ties In Matchmaker over the Seaboard
Airline road. recently published. and
said 10 have been authorized by the
Postmaster-General, l may be pardoned
for using this medium IN setting forth the
facts before an impartial public.
I'VE are not responsible IN any way
for the shipment OF public documents
through the mail, nor have We eXerted
ourselves 20 induce the movement q such
documents during the maiiweighing
period. The frankng system IS personal
privilege granted 10 members Of Con-
gress. TO which there Is no penalty at
tached and for which the members are
alone responsible. nor has the Postmas-
ter-Gcneral, or any other government
official. the right, as l understand IL. to
question tho privilege OF movement OF
their documents through the mail az any
time, IN any quantity. or any direction
80 PENALTY.
Sec Act March 2. 1875. and Act March
g. 1872 and also Postmaster-Generals re
port of 1885, page lJ3, which comments as
fo..owss
" There Is no penalty attached 10 the
misuse OF the frank privilege. hence there
is no action that can be taken boy me
further than TO call the attention OF the
member 90 the matter
referring 10 the fifteen sacks Of public
documents. claimed % have been for
warded from my once, there was no secret
about 70. They were forwarded on regular
mail-trains and it was the mail-agents
duty. south Of Weldon. 10 count the
sacks and weigh the contents. as they had
not been previously weighed on our line
ga, mail was not being weighed on our
norton of the road between Portsmouth
and Weldon: otherwise our railroad would
haul tons OF public documents during the
nevf four wears for which we would not
receive compensation. and when
learned that "A post-0filce inspector was
going over the road trying 20 intimidate
small agents 10y announcing who be was.
I sent for him 10 come TO my Once and
7 would give him an Of the Information
he wanted In regard 10 tho law.
THE LAW ~ THE CASE.
CT herewith quote the law which viii
be found on page g3l. clause 200. In United
STATES Official Postal Guide, dated Janu-
ary. 1896:
"a bulk package OF frnked articles
may be sent 90 one address, who on re-
cciving and opening the package. may
place addresses on the franked articles
and RENAL lhcm FOR carriage and delivery
90 the respective addresses"
This law seems % be plain. and I can
not SEQ what more could have been done
than was done TO comply with II. Con-
nrming tho above law. and in further Jus
uhcaton of the action OF my clerk. /
quote the following letter. written hy tho
First Assistant Observation-Disclosures TO
Senator ----- who wished 20 snip
| documents 10 California:
"Post-Omce Department
"Onice az
| "First Assistant Postmaster-General.
division officers,
"Washington, y. c., March n. 1896.
"IIon. --. --. United states Sem
| atc.
Dear Sir.-In compliance with your re-
quest I have the honor TO advise You
: that section $685. page l5l, Postal Laws
| and Regulations. expressly provides that
"a bulk package of franked articles may
| De sent. 10 ono address, who. on re-
! ccivlng and opening the package. may
| place addresses ON the frankod articles,
| ana remal them for carriage and delivery
90 the respective addresses.
should any postmaster refuse 10 ac-
| ccpt speeches in pronorly-frankcd envol-
opes. offered him for mailing. / Will
| issue the necessary instructions II you
will call my attention TO the matter.
every respectfully, l.. II. JONES.
VERY respectfully
(SieueN "F. IT, JONES.
J First Assistant Postmaster-Gen
THE NEW SPAPERS SENT.
] "In regard 10 certain newspapers. which
/ IL IS purported were sent over our limo in
April As / understand f. regular postage
| was paid. and there Is no law which
| would prevent advertising-matter from
! being forwarded through the mails az
any time. and tho Postmaster-General can
! make no just complaint about that. for
we send out quantities OF paid advertis-
| ing-matter all the year round. and
there is no legal or equitable reason why