Another member, to wit, William Jones, from Pennsylvania, appeared, and took his seat in the House.
Franking Privilege.
Mr. Randolph moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the amendments offered by the Senate to the bill making appropriations for the Military Establishment for the year 1803.
The first amendment, applying an addition of two thousand dollars for the purchase of books, maps, and instruments for the use of the War Department, was agreed to.
On the second, adding $4,500 for the payment of postage on letters to and from the inspector, paymaster, &c., a lengthy debate ensued.
It was opposed on another ground—as being the duty of the Secretary of War to frank all letters going from the offices attached to the War Department, and, therefore, an appropriation was unnecessary.
In answer, it was observed, that the Government must, and ought, in some way, to support the expense of transporting returns, orders, and letters, relating to the military service; and, if they would not make an appropriation, it was proposed to extend the privilege of franking to the paymaster and inspector, through whom most of the details for the Army passed. That it was not the duty of the Secretary to frank letters and packages going from other offices—it was making a clerk of him—obliging him to do that which neither the law nor the constitution contemplated as being attached to his office; that it would encroach upon the time which, must necessarily be devoted to more important concerns. Besides, were he able and willing to perform the drudgery of that service, it was doubtful whether he had any legal or constitutional right to frank any packages, except those going immediately and directly from his own particular office, and that he might be liable to a penalty, though he should frank letters on public business, relating to the Army and War Department generally.
The extension of the privilege of franking was opposed by the Speaker, (Mr. Macon,) and others. They considered all franking as wrong, and liable to abuse—they would rather restrict than extend this privilege.
In reply, it was said that, if confidence could not be placed in those officers, as to the privilege of franking, the imposition could not be prevented by referring their packets to the Secretary of War, or by paying their account current with the postmasters. It was evident the Government must pay those expenses; that it could make no difference as to the revenue, whether the Postmaster General's Department received and paid to the Treasury the money which was drawn from the contingent fund of the War Department, or from a special appropriation to defray the expenses of postage on military letters and packets, or whether they extended the privilege of franking to those officers from and through whom the military details must pass. In the former case, it was but taking from one pocket and putting in the other—in the latter, much trouble was saved; and, if the characters employed in those departments were worthy of a confidence which should entitle them to the places they hold, it could never be supposed that they would abuse the privilege of franking.
On motion of Mr. Griswold, seconded by Mr. Eustis, the committee rose and the amendments from the Senate were recommitted to the Committee of Ways and Means.