Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-19


,n"'N suffered dninu,ion from July |, lG,G TO Ju-
: d, 500, of SOL ,256 Oh.
IN mis- result al the collections made of former
debts, well all losses ascera aimed within the
year, are compr ehCndcd
The expense for transporting the mail, by reason
of the increased facilities contracted for, before the
commencement of the present year from January
to July l, 1899, exceeded the expense for transpora
ton during the corresponding period of the preceding
year S67,S33: and the expenditures of the Depart
mcnt tor the same period being the first half the
rent year, had there been increase of hostages,
would have exceeded its revenue 6G68l, equal 10
Si3I362 tor the year, The actual excess of eXpen-
diturc, however. owing To the increase of revenue
Si9,778 So.
When entered upon the duties of the Depart
tnen on the 9th of April Inst found the contracts
had been made and the responsibilities of the De-
partment incurred for the whole of the current year.
anu from one to four years in prospect, i'll the most
expensive section ottlIc country ltappcarcd neccs-
sary therefore, TO direct the energies of the Depart
ncnt principally to the great object o. sustaining It's
operations, IN the engagements which it had already
contracted, by It's own resources. This could be CT
tected only by enforcing strict observance of the
law on the part OF Postmasters i'll preventing, so far
as practicable all abuses, and in accounting regular
y and promptly for all the moneys coming into their
hands; by guarding against all further increase OF eX-
pense, except i'll cases absolutely demanded by the
public interest; aud by insitu,ing such checks aud
responsibilities i'll the mode of transactinr the bust
ness OF the department, 10 secure more efoctual-
y proper application of its funds and to prevent in
oil cases, diversion of any part of them from their
legitimate objects
To correct abuses in the privilege of franlinc
which had prevailed to n considerable extent, and to
prevent Others which were beginning to show them.
Selves 1t was thought oxpedcnt to issue a circular TO
Postmastcrs, calling their special attention to the sub
Jcct and cnlolrug renewed vigilance and energy on
their part This circular, bearing date on the 18th
OF May last, has not been without its effect The
postages accounted for by Postnastcrs are accunlat
hiTl
Gus results The proceeds of hostages for the ouar-
ter, ellng Jane 30 1920, exceed the amount for the
corresponding quarter of 1926, by S3O.276 So The
accounts for the quarter ending the 5Oih of = intern
Der lust are not all examined, but So lr as the exam
lnatlon has proceeded, it promscs proportionatc
Increase
The contracts for transporting the mail in the
States of Indiana, Illinois Missouri Tennessee Al
uoalna, MISSISSIPPI and Louisiana, and the Territory
OF Arkansas constituting section will expire with
the current year. The rapid increase of population
and OF business in those sections of country reoui red
considerable improvements in the freOuencv the CO.
!erlty ana the mode OF transporting tho mail the
leading routes, tor which provision has been made in
the renewal of the contracts.
INC mail communication between New Orleans, and the
tdto c general government by way of Mobile and Mont
somefy IN Alabama and Augusta, Georgia will from the
commencement OF the ensuing year. be effected times
aorS comfortable convcyanres for travellers the
whole trip performed IN the period of weeks each wav
ma, and Georgia ''A' 0''' oa''''"s' s'u'h 'aFol
Lines Of post coaches also be established from
I % oi S:nhaiy next 10 run three times week both
"ayS' between Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee This
improvement deemed important to keep REGULAR and
Certain intercourse between the Western and New Or
ledn'-enphs being point the Mississippi To which
steamboats, can come at ali the YEAR heinz con-
e"pa'sa TO extend this line TO New Orleans by steamboats,
soon as tie means of the Department will justify aud the
p"nc interest shall require To give greater tv TO This
weekly line of coaches will also established
at 'e same une from Florence, in Alabama, (yee will
connect with the line from Hunvic) Bolivar in Tennes
Nashville TO Memphis '' ''' -'''0 "o''
Such improvements also provided in the transportation
G ue mai through indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, the
hes OF stages three times week between Louisville i'll Ken
lucky, and 81 Louis, Missouri, will connect the corresor
eice ana e travelling IN period of two days less the
nc now occupied and continue the line TO Fayete bevond
me centre OF Missouri, within the which is now al
also 50 into operation the first of January next from Fay
cue 10 Independence, near the Western boundary of that
These with other improvements provided for by the con-
tracts which have just been made will add 80, miles TO the
annual transportation of the mail i'll stages
Notwithstanding the increased expense wh- these ad1i
uonal services would require, the contracts have been
mum less than the paid under the expiring contracts for
the transportation OF the mail that section The advanta
services to be performed " '"'
On entering the Department, my attention was a, an early
and dsbursed Circumstances trausped at the cerv Threshold
OF th inquiry which indicated ooeness aud responslitv
ey Incompatible with that system which ought 10 cIarac-
eTze every branch OF the public service Moneys had bee
bn 20 uhere persons contrary TO law; and persons in
stipulated salaries defined and Appropriated by law had re-
noHey ID ADVANCE rom the funds of the Department
oeyond e allowances so provided aud which had not been
appropriated There stands this day. ON the books of the
Department balance of 264 l6 moneys formerly adj
vanced Out OF The funds of the Department. beyond the COM
PcnsatIon provided by law, different officers and clerks
who had been employed but who the service the
greater part OF which will probably collected con-
siderable number of open against other nd
ydaIS Tor moneys advanced Of whom are now I'M
knownto the Department An of Congress of Aprl 2f
1906 appropriated 400 dollars for repairing The road from
Athens on the route TO New Orleans, and 5000 dollars for the
!oan oecen Nashville and Nalchez be expended under
e direction OF the Presidents designated the Pos,p,aser
oeal TO carry the law into effect The moneys appropra
en were mingled with the general funds of the Department
oot OF which the expense of the road eraye and there
are now standing on the books OF Office balance of
SOo % against the first and against the other of these
oanS balance OF 1896 90; making together, the sum of
sJZ ~ on account of moneys advanced bv the Depart
reni and for which still accountable as so much money
10 hand though these originated vcntythree wears
e These facts eynced radical defect the system of
financial operations Of tic Department
appeared that all tine funds of the Department were re-
aud discussed by Of the Assistants while the Post
master General held responsible in law for iber o