The evening times., 1896-10-29
CONGREssMEN WON'T PAY
Postmaster Can Never Collect
''Due" Postage.
TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE
That Is the Reason Mr.. Watson's
Letter to Senator Butler Was De-
Iayed-Secretary Edgerton An-
swers the Georgian's InsinuatiOns.
Big Row Coming.

The city postoffice officials evidently
know congressman very well.
IL is ON account OF their intimate ac-
quaintance with the Lawmakers Of the
country that Candidate watson's letter oi
acceptance did not reach Senator Butler in
time. Yesterdays Evening Times published
the statement Of Mir. Dobbin, Senate post
master, that he was the one to blame for
the delay. IL did not tell, though, what
lies still back OF MIR. Dobbin. Ii IL onl this
The office cannot collect the due post
age from the members OF Congress. 1t has
been tried and unsuccessfully. No letter
with a due stamp Caniease the city post
office any more. Someone must pay. The
burden falls on the Senate or House post
master, and he usually puts IL Off as long
as possible to save himself further trouble.
lie has found by sad experience that he
is seldom paid for the money advanced.
MIR. EDGERToN's STATEMENT.
The letter of Mr. Watson is still a subject
OF conversation among politicians. Not
withstanding the statement oil the Senate
postmaster there is large sized mystery
afloat. Just when it Will be explained no
one know.
Secretary Edgerton, Of the Populist ma
tional Committee, was shown Mr.. Watson's
statement concerning the mailing of his
letter. This statement cont aims the charge
that Mr.. Edgerton might explain the de-
lay. Mr. Edgerton said:
Il do not know WHY Mr Watson has mixed
me up in this matter All | can say is that
the first knew of the letter was last Mon
day, when Senator Butler called me to his
home and read it to me-"
1t was then suggested to Mr.. Edgerton that
on Sunda ynight and again MOnda V morning.
Senator Butler had denied having the letter
or this Mr.. Edgerton knew nothing.
a telegram IrUm Brunswick, Ga, re-
ceived this morning says: National Popu-
list Committeeman II. W. Reed arrived
today from Atlanta. He Will remain in
Brunswick until December l i, and then 90
to Mexico to spend the winter months
In regard to the publication of Mr. Wat
sons letter, now in the hands OF Senator
Butler, he said:
1t is We'll known Mr.. Watson has
accepted the Nomination OF the Populist
party for Vice President in a letter ad-
dressed to Chairman Butler, OF the nOtifi-
cation Committee. The publication of that
letter Will rest with Mr.. Butler "
Senator Butler is still in Indiana trying
To strengthen the fusion movement out
there. His private secretary said he eX
pected him back tomorrow. In the mean,
time the letter must remain unpublished, 50
far as the committee was concerned.
All pretense of continuing the campaign
for Watson seems to have been abandoned
by the Populist committee. In fact, Mr.
Watson and Senator Butler will be engaged
in the IiveleSt kind of political contro-
versy as soon as the election is over. 1t is
even possible that the fight may be com
menced before the election. Mr.. Watson
can bring it on any time he wishes. All he
has to do is to publish his letter of accept
ance as he wrote it.
MIR. BABCOCK on ESTIMATES.
Mr. Babcock, chairman of the Congress
sional committee, when asked this after
noon to give statement i'll detail of the
Republican members that they expected to
elect TO the Fifty-fifth Congress, said that
II had been the invariable rule of this CON-
mittee. both in the campaign of 1894 and in
this campaign, to refrain from giving any
detailed statement of the Congressional sit
uation by districts or States. 1uII.fs -a. Dol
The statements made by Mr.. Apsley
and myself were in gross, showing the
number OF Republican members that we
expect will be elected: and any statments
or tables purporting to show detailed in
formation of the Congressional situation
by districts or States are unauthorized
and published without the sanction OF this
committee. -ra --.
The committee has received telegram
from DR.. George l.. Miller. OF Omaha, one
of the best known Democrats of the West,
which Is encouraging. 1t says that the
standstiIl on Nebraska.