The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-10
SENATOR T|LLMAN LEARNS THAT
TROUBLES NEVER COME S|NCLY''
Washington Postmaster Holds Up His Government Typewriter For Bill Of Sixteen
DOIarsDesk RIed of Valuable Papers, and Seven thousand WO
Reply Be Written For Presentation Senate Justification of
His Acts in Connection With Oregon Land Deal

Washington, Jan. 9-Senator Till
nam is affording an illustration OF the
ol6 adage, That trouble never comes
singly-"
In addition to the difficulty about
the Oregon lands, Postmaster Barnes
OF Washington is trying to collect
from him a bill of SIG for carrying
through the mails government type
writer, which the senator had franked
from his home in South Carolina To
Washington. Mr., Barnes insists the
senator should pay postage at letter
rates. The postmaster's notification
tc Mr.. Tillman was contained In a let
ter in which he said:
"Inasmuch as matter OF this char
acter is not entitled TO transmission
through the mails under the frank
act, 1t is being held for postage. The
box weighs fifty pounds end as it is
scaled, IL is chargable with postage
At the first class rate, which amounts
to SIG. Kindly remit the amount due
and have the package removed at
your eAl lltbt
AS tho typewriter is government
property, Senator Tillman- replied 10
Mr Barnes by saying in effect that
he could collect from its owner Fol.
lowing is the full text of his letter;
II have your letter notifying me
that the typewriter mailed at Tren.
ton. 8. c.. under my frank and ad-
dressed to me here is held for post
age. During my service In the sen
ate typewriters have been franked 10
and from the same place as public
documents and was not aware of any
law or ruling on the subject The
typewriter belongs TO the senate and
10, 10 me. and has been used in my
public correspondence Under the
circumstances. ] decline TO pay the
SIS demanded because 1t is not Justly
due. You may sell the typewriter, OF
deliver II TO the Sergeant-at-arms of
The senate as you see III. Had
known that 1t was not frankable
could have shipped II by express or
freight. But in this case II would be
one department of the government
sending the property of another par.
of the government for the collection
OF postage on matter that has always
been franked heretofore"
Senator Tillman devoted the entire
day to the preparation Of his reply
10 the Presidents charge against
him. which he will make in the shape
cf speech In the senate on Monday
lie has found himself embarrassed
10 no small degree by the loss of
humber of documents bearing upon
the case, but told his friends that,
regardlest of the disappearance OF
these papers. he will make a showing
that Will satisfy them and that he had
no wrong intention in connection with
the Oregon lands.
He has talked freely with visitors
regarding the line of his defense. but
mas requested the newspapers to re-
Train from quoting him because his
deslre not to present his case piece.
meal. His speech will be about 1000
words in length and will be delivered
from manuscript Mr. Tillman is a
rapid talker, and 1t Is not believed
that he will consume more than IN
hour of the senate's time Compare.
lively few senators have called on
him today. but their failure in this
respect. gay the senator's friends, has
been due rather to desire to afford
him an opportunity TO get out his
statement without interruption than
TO a lack OF interest In him.
ttion OF his speech in reply to the
Presidents charges, Senator Tillman
has failed TO find a number OF pap
ers bearing upon the Oregon land
oose in connection with which the
present controversy arose. These pa
pers were. he says. enclosed in large
envelope, and left Ia his private desk
In he committee room at the capl-
10. when he left Washington last
March on account OF his illness. but
They now cannot be found.
The senator does not charge that
The papers have been abstracted by
government detective who may have
heen shAdowing him, but does say
lhst 1t would have been possible for
any such official TO gain access TO his
room and to his desk, both OF which
We're fastened with only ordinary
locks.
The papers, he says, are very i'm
portant in the preparation of his case
and would go far TO substantlate his
defense. Notwithstanding the loss.
Mr.. TIllman expresses confidence In
hif ability to make satisfactory reply
TO the President
he VIII be hoisted by his own pc.
Yard. declared Mt. Tillman sentitious-