The Washington times., 1923-10-18
FRANK USE
HELD AS
ERROR
Stock-seIIing Letters Said to
Have Been Sent Out on
Mclaughlin Stationery.

There is no statute by which
members Of Congress can be
prosecuted for nlisusing their
Congressional frank.
This was the outstanding de
velopment today in the informal
investigation into the reported
misuse of the frank by Congress
man M. o. Mclaughlin (Rep)
of Nebraska in connection with
the furtherance of a stock-selling
scheme in corporation of which
he is president and part owner.
Explanation Held Acceptable.
Every indication is that the ex'
PLANTATION Of one of the Congress
mans aides, F. A. Mennille, vic
president and general manager OF
the same corporation, that the stock
sales letters were sent out under
frank through error" will be ac-
cepted.
It was pointed out by officials
at the Postoffice Department, who
are experts on ranking privileges,
that On several occasions Members
of Congress have by mistake sen
out patches of mail under Their
frank which was not frankable only
to later rush down to the Depart.
ment and proffer the proper
amount Of postage.
Criticism Is Likely.
It was indicated today that the re-
ported case of the misuse Of the
frank will do no more than perhaps
draw the criticism of some members
of the House who are sticklers for
franking proprieties.
In the absence Of a complete ex-
PLANTATION from Congressman Nc
Laughlin, House members in the
city refused to discuss the case.
Defense of Congressman Nc
Laughlin, who is at his home at
York, Nebr.. comes from F. A.
Mennille, vice president and gen.
eral manager of the Lever Lock
Rim Company Of New York, who
explains that $50 stock solicitation
letters had been mistakenly sent
from New York under Congress
sional frank. He says Mr.. Nc
Laughlin wrote official letters in
his office there and accordingly kept
a supply of franked stationery
available. 1t is understood, how
ever, that the letters bore a Wash.
| ington postmark.
Transcript of Letter.
The stock soliciting letter claimed
| to have been sent under Congress
man McLaughlin's frank, and signed
| for him by some one who initiated
| himself *" follows:
1.-The financial department Of the
Lever Lock Rim Company, OF which
| am president, haR informed me OF
| having sent you a circular solicit
| ing a subscription to the stock OF
the Lever Lock Rim Company.
"Our secretary. who is now in
| San Francisco, has just sent us
very satisfactory information re
garding contract contaminated
with the keatnn Tire and Rubber
Company, of San Francisco, with
branches IN Portland. Seattle, and
Los Angeles, who have purchased
435, 900 sets Of lever locks for
monthly shipments over a period 81
| five years.
Reports on Sales.
| Sales abroad, through the com
| Iany's foreign agent Mr. w. J. Her
man. GOA Salisbury House. London
! Wall. London, Il. c., England, are
| also very satisfactory, and our Mas
sachusetts and Connecticut exclusive
agents are well under way of big
distribution OF lever locks. having
already sent repeated orders to the
Lever Lock Rim Company.
people affiliated with our Re
publican ideas and party have beer
Intentionally selected with the object
in mind Of giving them preference OF
becoming stockholders in our com
pany. Yours very truly"