Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-04-11
General Post Office Affairs.

Z
The committee appointed to m
|yestigate the conduct OF the General
Post Office Department, made.
REPORT
That they have used their ut
most endsavors to ascertain every
fact that appeared to be material
10 a full understanding OF the CON
Idret of the officers of that depart
ment As the inquiry originated N
Ia reauesf of the Post Master Gene-
raj. the committee In the first place
addressed to him letter, no.
requesting to he informed OF ths
reasons Of his application to Con
gress, and also that he would give
them such information as appeared
! to he calculated to facilitate the IN.
yestigauon The Post Master Sc
neral stated, in his answer, that the
application was induced by rumoI
THAT some persen or persons OF the
ldepartment had sold drafts for mo
new due 10 the General Post Office
for premiums, which had been con
lyertedt to their private use, (see let
ter No. 2 :,
The committee therefore proceed
ed TO enquire into tie truth OF the
rumour, by the examination OF every
person who seemed likely to have
any knowledge Of the fact; but, IN
the examination ofsome OF the clerks
| in the General Post Office, various
suggestions were made of improper
transactions in the department, other
than those to which their attention
had been drawn by the Post Master
General.
The Investigation has therefore
assumed very extensive scope, and
has consequently occupied more
time than could have been anticipat-
ed at IFS commencement. This de-
Law has also been increased by cir
.eumstances arising out OF the ma
lture otthe enquiry as no person
appearedto make any specified char
ges. the committee had no a!ternA-
tive hut to abandon their undertake,
ing or listen 10 rumors and the
hearsays of SONS. of the Witnesses,
| and 10 send for other Witnesses 10
prove the facts; they made choice
iof the litter course. and have
Examined every person who was Ell
Their suggesiedto them, or appeared
On likely he ~. e. possess any information
The charges arising out ofthe sue
gesfion ofihe witnesses. and which
from the various munirations
thsy made to the committee. /: ap
peared TO he the desire Of some OF
them most especially to establish.
are as follows, Wig.
4st. The certain persons in the
General Post Office, and particu
larly Abraham Bradley, junior, as
sistant Post Master General, bad
sold Post Office drafts and checks,
and applied the premium to their,
private use
cd. ! hat an erasure had been
made Ia the cash book Of the Gene.
raj Post Office. and an erroneous
entry found thereon,
sd. That private accounts were
improperly kept with individuals,
on the books Of the Post Office.
Aih. That PhiDeas Bradley had
been concerned in a contract for ear
rying the mail, that was improperly
obtained.
9Th. That p Bradley had reeeiv-
ed corfuPting presents from mail
contractors.
9th. That p. Bradley and Abra-
ham Bradley, junior, had made use
Of Post Office money. in purchasing
deprecated bank notes, for which
they received y premium, and applied
il TO their private use.
9TH. That bank notes which were
better than the paper of the Dis
trict ef Columbia, and q treasury
note, had been returned to post mas
ters, by order Of Abraham Bradley,
junior.
s,h. That the Washington and
Union Bank, and certain individuals
n ~ ~ p