Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-03-06

c,mMt.ee & d thai, ia The monti of Septeri.,
Der, 1915, contract was made by the Depart:
ment with four persons, believed to be en-
tirely responsible for transporting the mail
from Washington city to fredericksburg, dur
ing the years. 1914, 1915, and 1916, tor the
sum OF S3 500 per aanu,n amounting in the
whole TO the sum OF $1,000 part of which
contract was afterwards transferred TO another
person. No farther contract embracing the
same route and per ivd, have been discovered
IN the list OF the contracts; duplicates OF which
have been returaed TO the Comptroller Of the
Treasury, or been furnished to the mmit.ee
by the Post Office Depa tment; but, it .p
pears that sum considerably larger than that
stipulated BY the above contract has been pad
for the service in question, on behalf Of the u
nted Sta'es. The reason assigned tor this AL.
ditional expenditure by the Postmaster Gene
raj, Is, the occurrence Of change in The
mode of transporting the matt, alleged to have
been rendered necessary by the war. and TO
have been adopted in obedience to the direc-
ton OF a superior authority. The sum paid
under this variation Ut arrangement, for the
three years above mentioned, appears from
the returns of the treasury to have been
IS ISL 50, OF which amount S16l50 81,
were paid for the year 1916 These entries
are alleged by ,hs 'ostmaster-Genefali 10 fur
nj II an erroneous exhibit of the real expendi-
turc, resulting from the manner of making up
tie returns t. the Treasury, in which various
sums paid TO the same person, though Iur
different services, are comprshcnded in the
same entry. Thus, from the account 10 de.
tail on the books of the Post Office Depart
ment, the whole sum paid for in the trans
portation of the mail from Washington to
Frederick burg, 10 the year 1916, appears 10
be SS,9l5 As, Instead OF Si6,15o 81, As
shewn by the returns to the Treasury. The
committee have no time or opportunity TO OBJ
tam testimony III relation To the f.cls con-
| nec'ed with the SUI ject. They submit the
| documentary evidence they have collected,
| numbered from TO IL, the letter Of the Post
Master General TO the committee; and two
extracts marked and B from the books of
the Post Office Depar, men:, verified by the
Chisf Cicl K OF that Department.
In relation 10 the second head of enquiry,
the committee find t:iat duplicates OF all con-
tracts, aad proposals respecting them, have
not been lodged with the ComEtroller, is
required by law. documents M. - and IS
| and letter OF the Postmaster G.neral.
| In relation TO the third head Of enquiry, it
appears that the Postmaster General mas not
rendered his accounts To the IRE asury Depart
ment for settlement, 20 later perioA than the
SIS day of March, l8i9--Referercc TO docu-
| rncnts No. Ii and Is. and the explanation
| m5s;er Genera.
In relat on 10 the fourth he adj of enquiry, it
ap Gears tb.,t tie balance due from the Post
once Department 20 the Depatren of the
Treasury, amounted. on iSt day OF Jan.
1919, TO the sum Of S653,i9l %, which i:-
Guides all money then Oh hand, and deb.s due
to he Post Oiice department the amount
OF which the C mm tee have no documents +,
ascertain -Itetercnce t. documents Nos. 10
IL l.NN.. q
compaHyIng his rep TT OF debtors 10 his Dc
pAttmeut,
In reference T. the fifth heal of erq 'ry, no
evidence has hcen obtsued by tie comn.lt to-.
II Wall BE found emb aced however, by the
explanation contained la the letter %, The Post
master General, WHICH, on his point, VS. sa-
,siac,cry t. the committee
Ii rel ton to the SIKH head of inquiry, the
committees, by adyeitirg To several annual re-
ports ol Contracts, male In Congress by The
ruat rastcr Gcneal, fad that the da es and
durstlon OF those coutrscts are not reported,
which the law, i'll express ,crm requires
As hese reports are 10 be found in ihe Clerks
otic', tina committee considered it to be IN
necessary 10 swell their report w:th them.
Ia relation 10 the IN head Of inqiiry, the
con:m ttee ind that he Postmaster General
ha' no. m.de report 10 Gong ess OF the con
TRACTS made by his department il the year
1913, until after the commencement of the
present investigation. See document No. l&,
and letter Of The Postmaster General TO The
committee.
T!ia CO n'nittee have contented themselves
with submitting the above bief statement %
the OBJECTS 30 Which their qiiries have been
directed, together with the connected ev,-
dcuce a;l explanations for the information oi
the house, without suggc ting any resolution
o" act for It's adoption.
Tie report was, with the documents
accompanying The same, referred to
committee Ug The Whole, and ordered 10
b. urinici.
The bills which yesterday and to-day
passed iie Senate. originating ~ i.at
house, were received, severaliy ~ ice read
aud committed
MIR Sergeant moved thai The house
proceed 10 The consideration Of tl," bii!
from the Senate 10 establish an uniform
system OF Bankruptcy. on which motion
Mr. Edrards ui y. T.. demanded The yeas
aad nays.
The question was accordingly taken by
yeas amd nays and dccitlra In The aiilr-
naiive-aycs rs, noes 50 and lie bill
was taken np.
MIR Eamard,, of n c. then moved to
commit tue bill to a committee Of the
whole which motion was opposed by
Mr.. Sergeant. as course HAT would be
fatal 10 the bill, from the delay il would
produce, snI vas also unnecessary.
MIR. Hardin advocated The motion 10
commit being friendly 10 The principle
oi ilIe system, but wanted 10 examine lis
details
MIR. CIay said, 10 coHimit iie bill would
place il a, the tool al The docket, OF bu.
siness, aud that course would be tania
mOuNi 10 Il rejection OF The bill. II gen
ilemrn were sincere in desire 10 cxa-
mine it IN committee. lie would propose
a compromise, aud nat was 10 agree by
pPnfral consent In 90 min nnnIflIIfca a.