Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-02-10
tained, which the public revenue sus.
tain, from their ranking.

tanned, which tnC PuonS
taiss from their ranking.
This, said Mr.. LIS most important
item. Unless no was mistaken the a.
buses Of this privilege Of ranking were
.normous. For instance, q gentleman
r.sidipa at one place, with an estate at
. . distance in another, asks tho Pest mas
ter.gsneral to sstablisha Post 0fficeipsar
hi. estate. The Post master general
complies. a steward er other agent
nerforms the duties, which are seldsm
very heavy. The prodaet to the Tres
,ury in the course of year may beten
or twenty dollars. Yet the gentleman,
with the privilege, living alta distances
never attending to the Office, Franks let
tiers and packages to any extent no ples'
ses. Again: Deputy Postmaster is
placed on an elsctisneering commiuee'
or sysn without that cxcaae, he franks
all the communications which a CON-
mites or caacas or a printer may re-
ousst of him. Abuses Of this sort MT
]. had heard of, to most unwarTantaoie
extent. He had not. however no DOUBT
been acquainted with half the extent OF
the evil.
IS. Information of the particular ds-
ties performed hy the Deputy Post-mas-
ter general, and by the Assistant Post
master genersl, as distinct from the du-
ties performed BY the Post master gen. !;
| in order that it may appear whether the
nermanent existence of all three OF those
Offices is indispensable to the public ser.
vice.
Mr. was not prepared, he observed,
to question the prepriety ofthat arrange
msnt which indulged tho Post master
general with two principal ceputies, be-
sides seventeen clerks. But he thenght
no harm, at all events, could result from
an Investigation into this subject. As.
si.tants had not long ago been refused
to the secretary at War at q mcmen
when his official duties were Immensely
increased Such thing was not known
in any Of the other departments. A bill
had lately been reported, pursuant to a
resolution, for compelling tho Attorney
General to reside permanently at the sea-
of government. If the Post master vas
entitled to deputies and assistants, Why
not gratify the Attorney General with
them tso Yet nobody dreamt OF such a
thing.
But Mr.. said that his emily object at
present was enquiry, which to be sure
could do no harm. He va. persuaded
that il would be attended by beneficial
consequences. The system would b.
renovsted. Many abuses would be OK
,iFpated. The public meney would bc
economiscd, Appointments to impor
| tant Offices would be regulated on con
stitu.ional principles Perhaps the ~
suers called for by this ,es,lution could
not be afforded in ,ime to leei.lste or
the subject this session mare especial
iy as it appeared to be in contemplation,
| very wisely a. he thought, to make i,
short by an early adlsu snent. But Ell.
thsr at this or a succeeding ssssion he
had no doubt that The interroation to be
obtained under this resolution would
convince Congress OF the necessity Of
their interpretation, and enable them TO
make il sffectaal for tie bettar organi-
zs,ien ofthe Pos, Office Deasrtm.nt.
The resolution was ordersd to lie On
the table and be printed.
L