The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-15
FRANKED "WASH' HOME.
hut THAT'S ONLY A PHASE OF THE
Arises OF THE MAIL.
Yes, Even a Piano Was sent-But In
Was a Sight when 1t Reached Its
Notwithstanding Much Anus
ed by Some Congressmen.
From the Baltimore Sun.

ca ny some COnEreasmen.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Washington, March 1O.-At the close of
each session of Congress, when the ex-
odus of members, clerks and attaches
office has a difficult time to handle the
outgoing mail. Especially is this true at
the end of a Congress when many mem
hers OF both branches retire to private
life.
The reason for this rush of mail is not
hard to find Senators and Representa-
tives have the privilege of franking home
their personal effects through the mails.
In theory this franking privilege extends
Only to the Congressional documents,
books, papers and letters relating to off,
eial business, but in practice it covers
almost everything which the ordinary
member of the Senate or House has IN
his possession. 1t is one of the peraul-
sites connected with Congressional life
which make the life sbearable.
Toward the end of the session the Con-
gresham finds himself presented with
three chests. Two of them are Of pine,
but strongly built and braced. They are
about three feet in length, two In width
of cedar, slightly larger than the others.
Having been utilized for shipping pur-
poses, II is stored away in some closet,
where it becomes the receptacle for the
family furs, fine dresses and other mate-
I'll
times it is used as a chest for the family
silver. These cedar chests would sell for
from $40 to SIS In any furniture store
and while the pine chests are not so
ha ndsonne they. are quite presentable
When the Congressman receives his
quota of boxes he has nothing to pay.
They come from the official carpenter
shop and are built by the official car
penter and paid for out of the contingent
fund. In fact, the principal duty of the
carpenter is to construct the hundreds
of boxes used by members.
They Garry as Mail Matter.
Into these boxes the member or his
clerk loads all his letter files. papers,
documents, books. maps and other publ
cations which he has in stock. Type
writers, letter presses, inkstands and
other office paraphernalia are stored
away In their recesses. Frequently cloth
ing, bedding and other personal or house
hold effects are packed away When
filled to the brim they are locked and the
tops screwed down and then carted off
to the posfoffice, where they are shipped
through the mails to all points within
the borders of the United, States
Abuses of the ranking system" said
a grizzied employe of the postofiice to-
day. fare not nearly so prevalent as they
were some years ago. L remember the
time when 1t was considered the proper
thing for Senators and members to ship
home anything they. wished by simply
placing their address and their frank
upon it. That time has, fortunately for
the service, gone by 1t is now consld-
cred a breech of good manners to shin
anything under a, frank that cannot be
packed in the special boxes, or In the
mail sacks which are provided for docu-
ments. Formerly furniture, desks trunks,
and even buggies and carriages were
franked home in mail cars Nowadays
we very seldom come across anything OF
that kind,. except an occasional trunk
or two. 1t is also no longer considered
au fat for Congressman to send his
laundry or family wash TO his home and
have II returned under his frank.
There used to be a member Of Con-
BIess flIOtu u " esteIH' state VINO was
addicted to this habit. He had a, family
Of about five children and yet after two
terms he retired with about $4,000 which
he had saved out of, his salary One OF
bis daughters acted as, his private seere-
tsry, another was a clerk In one of the
departments and small son was a page
at the Capitol. The entire family prac-
ticed rigid economy and among other
things the Congressman each week
franked home his family wash. OF course,
he did not save much by the operation.
but IN the course Of his four years ser
vice IL must have amounted TO at least
s20o. have heard He was one of those
members who constantly use their com
mittee stationery and draw their allow
ance In cash
Frnnked Home safe.
what was the most difficult shipment
you have knoEn2" inquired The Sun cor
respondent.
We'll, we have had many difficult and
peculiar jobs D that line" responded the
ponofflce empioye. Probably the worst
Job / ever had 10 tackle was when a re-
firing Senator ranked home . safe. ia
his committee room at the Capitol he
rad a very fine and large safe which had
been purchased for the use OF his com
inittee, but whicn had been condernnod
and sold 20 him a. an innniteslnial price.
n weighed shout $3.50 pounds Al rho
EsnatOr did was % place an addrons ana
= frank upon n ana notify the pOstoliioe
70 send for u. They got n al rifhf, bat
The getting WaH accompanied ~ muon
aWeaflna and many cfIFH vVorIf WHAT