The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-15

the clerks in the postofice where II was
shipped said when it landed j have never
heard. i don't think 1t was delivered by
a letter carrier +H,,~f
we used to hive considerable difficul-
ty," he continued, with household furni-
ture. A folding bed or lounge is not a
desirable object In a postal car. II Is bad
enough to have the car filed with bags
of documents or boxes of goods, but
when 1t comes to handicapped tables,
boxes of bric-a- brac and other things of
that character, including china closets
ana kitchen utensils, ones patience Is
strained to the limit. / have heard of a
member of Congress who once franked
an upright plano home. The clerks were
so enragedr az his presumption that a
heavy box was allowed to drop-acoi-
dentaily, of course-upon the lid, which
was split open. Then a leaky lamp
was hung right over the piano and by
the time 1t reached it's destination II was
very badly damaged. or course, the
member had no recourse, as he could
rot make complaint about the treat
ment his piano received when he was
clearly violating the law.
stopped the Abuse, Anyhow,
we have had some queer requests in
regard to shipping OF franked matter
from Western State brought hand
some foxterrier 90 the office which he
wished to frank to his home We per-
suaded him the dog might suffer from
inattentton en- route and he sent 1t by
express. There - u member Of the SEN
ate who was once accused, according to
the public press, of ranking home his
horses and carriages. / am not saving
whether this is true or not but the
huilabaloo which was raised by the pub
LEGATION Of the charge put a stop to most
or the abuses Of the franking privilege.
Still, the outgoing Congress has re-
spectacle record IN that line over loo
boxes have been, or will be, shipped to
olnerent parts OF the country, together
with more than that number Of bags of
puonc documents which will be distri-
buted by the members and ex-members
during the summer season. Their total
weight win approximate 10000 pounds
ana the shipments average 10000 pounds,
or 10 tons day. AS 1t costs cents q
pound on an average, you can see that
the Postoffce Department expends a con-
siderable sum every year IN moving the
effects of the members OF Congress"
How is 1t that no complaint Is made7
II would seem that the employees or some
or the department officials would call at.
tention to this situation"
You see, it's this way: Congress makes
the laws and Congress appropriates the
money TO run this department. Now. II Il
a matter of small concern to me. to any
other temploye OF the department or 10
the Postmaster General IL a ConRress.
man wants to ship house home under
frank, while It is very importan.
matter that Congress should be satisfied
With the administration OF the Post
office Department. Suppose / should
complain that Congressman BLANK Il
using his frank improperly and the com
plant reaches the ears of the Congress
man. He might discover that the de-
partment could do without my efficient
services and / might be turned out to
hunt new job, which at my time OF
life would be very inconvenient, to say
the least.
Then II protest against the whole
practice were made the department might
find itself several million dollars short
when the Postoffice Appropriation Bill
went through SO We would be cutting
on our noses because OF a fancied gr1idxe
against our faces. Not for mel They
can ship the United States. capitol
through the mails and never q word will
they hear from yours truly