Show DRAWING DRA WINf A LINE LINEON LNE LINEON ON THE FRANK jL j I L Congressmen en C Can n No Longer Send Home Weeks Week's WashIng Washing Wash- Wash i Ing by Mail Mai ABUSE PRIVILEGE OF FINE PRIVILEGE Ia 11 makers Formerly Mulled Marble Marble- Topped Tables Pianos Piano and E cn z Safes on Their Pranks Franks There hero lIs has lias been no consternation tion ton since the adjournment of Cnn congress by the discovery C that the Ill ap- ton bil hI was so s amended as to limit the use us of or the he franking bill hi Has the las time come conic when cows cow can canno cn 1 no longer be bo franked el through the malls mails mals Must pianos and safes be he sent by by freight at al the usual rates rales- Instead II of or I through the malls mals Great Scott Scot A congressman can canno pt no 10 0 longer eld hOI homo home e his weekly ly bunch hunch of at soiled Inc linen to lu be ho laundered and anti returned re re- re- re turned to to him hip But Dut WO worst 18 t of ot all al all a great disaster ma may be bc Ilp Impending The hc rustic reader read read- er cr may nU be deprived of or paper aper with I which to J kindle a and 11 choke choIce up lp r t 5 holes in III the weather boarding for forthe 01 i the lie amended law may exclude from i.- i. the lie franking fi JU privilege the tho tons upon ullon j tons tone of or campaign n literature scattered broadcast during each political campaign cam cain over 1 0 the lie states and anti territories terrItories What Vhal a h horrible catastrophe that will willbe wi be lie If IC candidates do not step forward and supply the postage postage hat language of uC tho I to Amendment lt The Tho law officers rs of the po department de de- de- de will wi scrutinize tho lie amended i to see how far fat it I goes in interfering inter Inter- feting fering with the thc franking privilege Even Evon the attorney general g-Cerl g of at the United States may ponder over o cr the now new Jaw so as to Issue e a n flat fiat it to congressmen con con- gressmen telling them that they ma may go o Just so s far Car and ant no further urthel In using the he tank frank The rho he amendment was wa In Inserted ini In- In I i in the bill bi to prevent the us use 1 of or franks by persons who are not eni entitled en en- i titled to them under unter the tIme law It I provides 10 pro hiO vides Ides That hereafter It I shall be he unlawful for any person entitled under tho ho law I to the use us of or a frank un under el tIme the au auto aw I to lend said sll lank frank or 01 permit its Ig u use e ehy by hy an all any committee organization or associatIon or oi permit Its is use b by any person pelson for 01 the time or use of or an any 1 committee organIzation organisation or association I rt lieu tion provided that this lila provision shall r not lint apply to any committee composed ed of oC members bers ber's of congress congre Fr y ThIs Tills was framed for or 01 the benefit benefi o of certain organizations that halt have u used d tho thu frame ran for fOJ oz the tho purpose of dl distributing distri distri- re buting literature with a alow low to Jo In- In 11 i C rf Jo allon pending fn n CO con con- conI I fl I g j Olio Olo N such uc i case caso brought io thc iha j 1 attention of or the postmaster pos general j. j yaM was al held hell to be 0 an Illegal megal or 01 at least leat 1 an qt Improper I use of or the frank und and as h r. r J Il was decided to pass pas a gen gen- law cov covering ln the time subject Campaign 1 Literature It I is understood tood that questions have havo lulO been raised whether under the thel provision pro pro- Cl vision above quoted the congress campaign cam cam- 1 committees o of political sOI be permitted to use uso the tank frank frankIn In the distribution of public documents docu t mel ments This point will myth wi b bo be p passed upon Ulon ii b by the assistant attorney general for rOt forthe Af the ce department and anti later hater b by bythe the lie attorney general It I is understood ot Dt the reque request t of or the postmaster gen sen- eral 2 Members of or congress were nearly v frightened to death soon after adjournment ad ad- at- at when they were Informed that there was a a possibility under the new w law that they would be prohibited fet from shipping free in the time future future- their papers llers and in some cases personal personal per per- sonah effects in the thc big wooden woolen woodmen boxes provided by the lie government government for Cor or the lie purpose I Inquiry ry disclosed however f r that this perquisite of or the members not affected r was rl A provision prohibiting the tho transmission trans trans- t mission through the mails mals of or department depart depart- ment matter mater in excess of ot four tour pounds I I Ir Ir weight nm may cause a n good heal deal of or r trouble This was passed largely as asa I t. t a u matter mater of regulation i 3 1 Mr i Maddens SI SUKKI l l Third Thirl Assistant Postmaster General Madden in his last annual annul report lo to t Postmaster General said aid Id The he franking and ant penalty pI privileges I leges legos arc by reason ren of or their nal ire 1 c. c aj subject ct to abuses abUso a precise and accurate ac tic- ij 1 curate description of ot which is not possible at the present time lime but hil in hi l view of or experIence already had hat I feel l Cl-l Impelled to say RY that the lie interest o of ofA A t the ho government and of the department depart depart- ment would be best if these m two O privileges wore abolished altogether alto alto- alo- alo gether and If It It were wele required as mis a was formerly th the lie case that hat all aI mall mail matter mat mat- ter be prepaid at tt t the he n regular gula postage rate IMe The Time effect of or this would be I that lint the time various departments of ther the r l. g government would be l required to place pace S postage stamps upon their mail mai matter matter mat mn- ter tel or to e stamped envelopes Tills This change alone alon would have hl c created cre ce- ce tiled atol additional revenue c enough h within with with- in ln the time past year yeU to have obliterated the i. deficit In tho the postal revenue nue and loft left lef of or several a. a surplus over expenditures h u millions This conclusion Is reached 1 from calculation based upon the best est available data dat as l to the tho quantity and In the time z character of tho the matter EO so sent malls mals c. c An n mii Ik of 01 tl lie Ilic Co Cost t. t The change would no doubt add something to the expense o of the tIme government gov gov- In the lie matter of keeping account accounts ac ac- ac- ac I. I counts count of or appropriation made malc for or time the f different departments antI and ant members of congress Under such a system the freight sent by hy the various departments depart depart- ments under penalty would soon some isome tome to find Its Is way to destination by a n aless less lea expensive mode of conveyance such as a b by freight or express and t only the real mall mal matter mater requiring and de delivery expeditious handling ant I VCr fr would be lie e dispute dispatched t In the mall mail Each department would then be responsible for Its is appropriations for fOI postage and would be required to show shiow that they t worn verc legitimately 11 spent nt Postmaster General brought the whole subject of oC government govern govern- mont meat free matter nater to lo tho Uio front Ilu last t month In his annual report In which h- h ho said Government free Cree matt matter mattei l' l exclusive of equipment constituted 1 1258 1255 per percent percent pOI cent of the entire weight carried carrle am ant ane applying ln this ratio rato to the revenue from the matter mater mailI mailed mail mail- mal I ed ct by the thc public during dulIng dU lie tho year rear cr HIO which which according to that report I 1 If f S. S Sil 12 tier per coat cent of or the time entire weight carried th the the franking a antI and penalty en envelope en- en c l. l I Jc privileges es are arc found to lo have occasioned in round numbers an estimated loss 1088 In revenue of ily 11 I For Documents Only I pre senators a and con congressmen congressmen congress congress- r men have ha had hat the privilege of ot frankIng frank frank- I In Ing home honie their personal effects effect through the malls mals In theory this franking privilege Ige extend anI only to the congressional d documents books papers pap pap- ers and letters Jeters relating to officIal business but in practice It I covers ers cO almost everything e which the ordInary member of or the senate or house has In his possession It I Is one of or the I perquisites connected with wih congressIonal congressional shoot life lre which make life bearable Toward the end ent o of the session each con congressman receives recel es three chests Two of ot them are of pine but strongly strong strong- ly IY built and braced The They are arc about I three feet In length two In width and anda anda a a foot fot lOt and anti a half hair in depth The third thirds Is s of ur cedar slightly lar larger er than tho the Others Having been utilized for shipping ship ship- pin ping purposes it ft I is stored away In iii some closet where It becomes the re receptacle rc- rc for the family furs Curs dresses dress cs es anti and other materials on which the moth feeds Sometimes it I Is used as asa asa asa a chest for ci the family silver When hen the thc congressman recel receives s his quota of oC boxes he lie has nothing to lo pay naY The They come conic from the time house carpenter I shop hop and are built by tho tIme carpenter car car- penter and paid for or out of the contingent con- con fund of or the he senate senata and anti house houRc Into these boxes the member or 01 his hi clerk loads load all al his lila letter ilhes Ies papers documents books bools maps anti and other publications which ho he has in stock Typewriters let H I Inkstands and amI ollice olce paraphernalia arc are stored In lii their recesses away avny awny e Frequently clothing cloUting bedding and other personal boxes lousch household H cI H s are aro packed In ill these Bl Hotter I Than Formerly After being filled fled to lo lH tIme tho brim they ar are locked and tind the thc tops tops- screwed down and they are aro then lien called or off to the tho where the they are shipped through h lh the mails to all al arts Is within the borders of or tile United States State Abuses bUes of or the time franking Cranking sy system says an an of the lie po arc not the they were nearly so prevalent as ns some seine years ago I remember the lime when it was considered eret the tho I roper proper thing for senators antI and members to lo ship home homo anything the they wished h by simply simp placing their address and amid ant theli frank upon it I. I That flint time line has baa ha fortunately fortunately fortunately for for- for the time service gone b by II It Itis I Is now considered a breach of good manners to ship shill al anything under a 3 afrank afrank frank franl that cannot be packed In the tIme special boxes or In the time mall mail mal sacks which are provided for documents ta Formerly furniture desks trunks and I oven buggies and carriages were franked frank home in mall niall mal cars cais cars Nowadays we seldom come across anything anything of that kind except an oc occasional occasional occasional oc- oc trunk or two It I Is al also o no longer considered a fair thing for Ol a congressman to lo send his laundry or family wash to his homo home and have it Il returned under his flan frank There used to be e a member from rom Indiana who was addicted to this habit He hind hall a family of oC about live children and yet ct aftem two terms he retired with about which he had saved er a out of his salary One of or his daughters acted as his secretary another n a clerk check In o emma emma- Af e Of the thc departments and anti anda antia a small smal son ton was a page at the thc capitol capi- capi tol oh limo Tho entire family practiced rigid economy and nl among other things the congressman each week franked homo home lila family Of course ho lie did nut not Hu much b by tho the operation but n II of or four QUI years years' rs' rs It I hv to at least have her heard he was one of oC those who constant constantly u use e their thel stationery and draw their of for such In cash Household Furniture We Vc used to have havo o ho considerable difficulty dif dif- dl- dl with wih household fui furniture A folding bed hee or 01 a lounge loungo Is h not a a desirable desir able object in a postal car cam cr It IL I is bad enough ono Sh to have the car filled filleti with wih bags bahs o of documents or oi 0 boxes o of goods but hut when it I comes conies to marble lopped tables boxes of or brac a and other timings things of that character including china closets and kitchen ones one's patience is tried to the limit I have ha heard of or a member of oC congress who once franked Koine hoine Hore an upright piano Th The clerks were so 80 enraged at his presumption that a h heavy v box was allowed to drop accidentally 01 or of course upon the lie ld lid which was split shIt open pen Then rhen flen a leaky lamp was vas wa hung right over ovet the time piano nn and IJ by the time Lime it I reached its Is destination it was wa er very en badly damaged Of or course the lie member member mem mem- ber had hat no recourse e as he lie could no not make a complaint about the tho treat treat- nt im-nt his received when he lie was clearly violating tho lie law 9 What is the lie most shipment ship ship- i wont ment you have known I Well bohl el we have lave had many difficult and peculiar Jobs in that line lne i Probably tho time worst Job I ever had hat to tackle was when a retiring senator son sen len len- atm ator tar franked home a safe In his hh committee room at the lie Capitol he lie hata hadn hada had hat a n fume fine and ant largo large safe which had hen i purchased f for or I the u use e of his committee commit i tee but which had hind been heen condemned I and sold fold to him at an price It I weighed nerl nearly 1000 pounds All Al tho the senator did wn was to place an aim address addres an and frank upon it I and ant notify the time officers of or the lie Senate to come conic In and ami get t It I. I Thc They got It I all a right but hut tho getting geling was accum pushed by much swearing What Vial th the cerl clerks s In the where It i ia a wai- wai shipped said st when it I landed handed I have novel never 1 01 heard I think it i was imas not delivered de tie- A livered Iverd American by a letter leler carrier Butmore Baltimore |