The Washington times., 1902-09-14

marble topped tables, boxes of bric-a-
brac, and other things of that character,
including china closets and kitchen uten-
sils. ones patience is tried to the limit
have heard of a member of Congress
who once franked home an upright piano.
The clerks were SO enraged at his pre-
sumption that heavy box was allowed to
| drop, accidentally of course, upon the
lid. which was split open. Then leaky
lamp was hung right over the piano, and
by the time it reached its destination it
was very badly damaged. OF course, the
member had no recourse, as he could not
make complaint about the treatment
his piano received when he was clearly
violating the law
What is the most difficult shipment
you have known?" the reporter inquir-
ed
We'll, We have had many difficult and
peculiar jobs in that line" the postoffice
emplOye responded.
Probably the worst job ever had to
tackle was when retiring Senator
franked home safe. In his committee
room at the Capitol he had fine and
large safe, which had been purchased
for the use of his committee, but which
had been condemned and sold to him
at an infinitesimal price. 1t weighed
nearly 1000 pounds. All the Senator
did was to place an address and frank
upon it and notify the officers of the
Senate postoffice to come in and get it.
They got it all right, but the getting
was accomplished by much swearing
hat ha cIa fv, he
Il was shipped said when it landed have
never heard. / think it was not deliver
ed by letter carrier.
We have had some queer requests in
regard to shipping of franked matter.
Just few days ago a Representative
from Western State brought hand
some fox TERROR to the Office, which he
wished to frank to his home We per-
suaded him the dog might suffer from
inattention en- route and he sent it by
express. There is a member of the Sen
ate who was once accused. according to
the public press, of franking home his
horses and carriages. / am not saying
whether this is true or not. but the
hullabaloo which was raised by the pub
licatlon OF the charge prevented a repe-
titiou of the abuses of the franking
privilege since the passage of the new
law. More than l 900 boxes have already
been shipped TO different parts of the
country, together with more than this
number of bags of public documents.
which will be distributed by the mem
bers during the summer season Their
total weight will be about 400, 900 pounds
and the shipment will average 1000
pounds. or ten tons per day. AS it costs
seven cents pound on the average
you can see that the Postoffice Depart
ment expends considera bic sum every
year in moving the effects of the mem
bers of Congress-
How is ii that no complaint is made
1t would seem that the employees or some
of the department officials would call
of Congress to this situation.
You see, it's this way Congress
makes the law and Congress appropri-
ates the money to run this department
Now. ii is a matter of small concern
TO me, to any other employe of the de-
partment, or to the Postmaster General
If Congressman wants to ship house
under a frank, while ii is an important
matter that Congress should be salts
fled with the administration of the Post
Office Department. Suppose | should
complain that Congressman Blank is
using his frank improperly and the COM
plaint 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 inconvenient. to say the
least Then. il a protest against the
whole practice were made, the depart
ment might find itself several millionl
dollars short when the postal appropria
ion bill went through. so we would be
cutting off our noses because of a fan
lied grudge against our faces. Not for
me. They can ship the United States
Capitol through the mails, and never
word will they hear. from yours truly"