Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-25

prefer receiving the mail in New-York to the DELAY
which would be occasoned by stopping in Newark for
n. The contract, therefore, costs the Department
thing more than ii would do if that mail delivered
in Newark, Instead of New York. These contracts
were made by my predecessor, and judicously
ranged have found one or two instances where con-
tracts nave been made TO carry the mail by different per-
sons, under different cOntracs upon the same road, al
the same time. This, have no doubt, purely by
mistake; and on discovering it, have discontinued one
oil them have exercised much TO avoid similar
mistakes in contracts which have made; but if it shall
he found that any such fallen into, the same
i've viii, oil course, be applied
In one or two cases have, with view to economy,
put two different contracts in operation upon the
road person carrying the mail three times a
week in stages, under contract made with my prec-
cessor The rapid increase OF business rendered il
necessary to increase il to daily mail The contractor
could not be required TO increase his number of trips
without proporionabe increase of pays and he decn.
cd TO do it for less l. therefore, made contract
with another person TO do it, by which than thou
sand dollars year were saved to the Department.
To the third inquiry in this resolution, l reply
That from the commencement of the Post Office Estab
shmen the continual changes in the state of the
try appear to have called for variations in from
the points designated by law. In many instances,
variations, in the beginning which did not amount to
substantial deviation from the law gradually
hrined IN quite different from what contem-
plated by the law at the time Of its passing, but which
was believed 10 be justified by the subsequent changes
in the country.
gress repeating all the former laws, and establishing the
routes de 'oro they then running and contem-
plated 10 be run.
From that time forward the same causes appear 10
nave occasioned. from time to time, similar varia,ions
and the different Postmaster Generals from that time Tor
ward, have conceived il b- their duty to make such
heviat'ons az the changes OF the country demanded,
ana the public accommodation evidently required;
gar ing such compliance with the spirit and en,ion
OF the law, preferable course TO that of rigid adhc.
renee in all cases TO its litter; when such adhe &c
would tend to Illustrate its intention. These changes,
III me course OF nineteen years, hal become consid
cradle, that in 1929, when came into the Depart
i n nj thaI
routes as they were then running, and continuing 10
ne run ovary, in some respects from The points
TONED IN the law. have not myself. given any di-
rection to any routes which omitted the of
the mail TO the different point. designated by Congress
detailed statement of all the cases under my rr.de.
cessor, with the reasons in each case, the
could now be collected from the cords and docume ns
OF The Department, would require several months Ia.
Dor and render the report too volumrous for any pres
emf purpo'c Its, however, believed that a revision
the whole OF the laws establishing post roads, (whichf
has not been made since lSlO) would be
and It Is probable communication on that suhjec,
may he summit ii 10 Congress at the next session.
o. "ReSolrcd, That the Postmaster General inform
The Senate what changes have been made il any in the
actual duties Of the Assistant Postmaster General
since the lth of March, 1929 and for what purposes"
In answer to this inquiry, have the honor to submit
the statement annexed marked b. showing the division
and distribution Of all the duties of the Department
mong its Ulcers and Clerks
On the appointment of Colonel Gardner in the place
oil MIR. Abraham Bradley the sphere OF duties
was assigned him, subject 10 The improve IN nts which
had been namrel, and were announced with that an.
poin'men, for the better regulation of the receipts and
| disbursements OF the Department
The second assistant DR.. Phineas Bcadiev. (who
then became the seniOD had charge of the Ofic. Of
| Mail Contacts His abence, from the time OF the
change last mentioned occa Toned by his illness and
me resolution indicated by him of returning TO the
Department, rendering il indispensable TO assign the
Oihce OF Mail Contracts TO the care Of another T.
was placed under the charge of Mr.. Brown the Chief
| Clerk.
On the appointment Of Mr. Hobbie 10 the vacancy Of
ASSISTANT Postmaster General he was assigned TO a
distinct division of duties exhibited in the statement
was found that the want # organZa ion of the "Of
hce OF Mail Contracts" the absence of a route Book
and Of all regular hooks of reference except the art-
cies OF contract themselves, and the reliance which The
a'c second Assistant In the habit of placing almost
entirely on his memory for the ready discharge of the
duties OF this cfhce, ndered il inpracticahe for
person, without previous experience in the Depart
men, with whatever capacty, to enter
on their performance. determined therefore, to con
Lue in the charge of this office The Chief Clerk who
has had, during fourteen years' service in the DEPART.
ment, much experience in this branch and who will
soon reduce 10 order the PEI ormance of its arduou
duties and so arrange its business and rrOce edng. &C.
cordng 10 the system which has been adopted az to
render them both Prac icable and with
| facility.
The coffee Of Appointmcnts,' on The contrary, had
been very properly organized, under this title az dis
nct and Ddeps nde branch of the Department Justly
entitled 10 equal consideration with the other div
ions. IL was OF such importance, in the opinion of nv
predecessor that he contemplated Gas he wrote mel an
application to Congress TO provide for the appointment
Of an additional Assistant Postmaster General to he
conferred on the head Of this office IT, du,ie, and la
bors a. will readily be perceived, have been greatly
enlarged, and still increasing with IN, growth Of
the Department 1t embraces, besides the establish
| ment Of new Post Offices, all the duties connected
with the selecting appointing, commissioning instruct
ing. arraening, approaching r"provng, ordischarg e.
the Pes'masiers throughout the Unicn who may be.
come subject TO these several decisions of the Depart
ment The legal aainmens and qrali nc tons of Mr.
Hobte highly and peculiarly fitted him for the uer.
Torrance of this division Of du,is, and has been COM
miited to his charge.
| lind, on recurring to the gradual organization oil
the General Post office, that The distribution OF duties
among the officers and clerks has been founded on
the adoption OF the individual 10 the service to be
cuted. On the fret appointment of additional Asss-
tant, he assigned 10 The duties of the present Soil
cifor and the supervision of making up the accounts
ior the Treasury, as now performed by the chief Re
giSfer. The business Of issuing the Mail Costracts
was at that fine pei iorIned by DR.. Phne.s Bradley
then subordinate clerk, under the direction Of his
brother. the senior assistant. Dr. Bailey. when pro-
no'ed, excessively. to the station OF Chief Clerk
to the Office Of Assistant Postmaster General continued
in charge Of The business in the Department
| have the honor to be,
| Very respectfully,
Your oLedent servant
| w. T BARRY.