Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-03-10

'iHfe Of those funds. Tn. Chairman Of :, q
committee began by sHying--how Justly the
9.hae WIN hfcihe--ihst " the salaries of Tho
ehitefs ~ the Department, aud the repairs 1
ifs buildings we're charged to II, /, would be
ionnf much III arrear, If nor ms went But 10
II pretended that these salaries aud sp.irs hava
ever been charged TO h under former admins
ifhtions 7 Again, II was alleged thar the 81
pendhures exceeded the rceeiIfts, and that spon
Iis operations, without relief from Congress
would become entirely pslsied. But Icontend,
! ssd Mr. Woodbury., tbni an examination of
dAles and figures. and the effect OF our own
new laws on its fiscal concerns being consider
ed. will show that IL is at ihis moment mora
'hsttnally answering the object of public &c :
eommodairon,in the rapid. wide and safe traas-
poitaion OF the mail Than at any former period
oil the government ; and that SO far from need
ing appropriations from Congress TO prevent
ITS bankruptcy, II only asked the forbearance
OF Congress from imposing on II new, numerous
and burthcnsomo routes How stand the.
facts Ia May, 1923, you passed law estab-.
lishing from two hundred TO two hundred and
NIFTY rev post routes. There you have q state
ment OF them, and any gentleman who choot
ses to read thom, IA made In his own section
OF tho country, will DO satisfied, as no would
from the nntnre aud history of the establish
ment that many OF these nav routes are MT
DINGHY buithensome afterwards, by The ineoiae
iaing short OF the annual cash expended.
what wns the consequence In the year en-
ding July 1928, aud while few or none Of the
new routes had been pat into operation, 81 while
the Department was entirely Ia other hauds,ih
balance against tho department was SD, 900.
using round numbers and he had no doubt
tins deficit happened nor from any miSc undurt
IN the ii'sn head OF the Department. but from
tho same KIND ofeauses which have probably
operated since, - IA desire 10 extend tho 6aauces
OF the accommodations OF the mail 10 the Ut
most extent the finances of tho Department
would admit.
In the year ending July 1879, only two or
three monlhs of which were under the admin
haiion OF the present head, the balancs increa-
.ed 10 $4,000. Many of the now routes had
doubtless been put IA operation IN tn. mean
time AZ large expense. and not, II is prrsu-
med, (thongh then ms well M now, open TO the
'mputaion) from proiligaey aud fraud,
In the year ending July 1890, the balance
was ~ 900. How by extragaganGe aud
corruption. No, sir, but expenditures under
the last aud former laws, which the public IN
'er.ss demanded, and which can be ,een ia
our own documents of the preaent session. By
them II appears that in the last year, still more
new routes have been put in operation, or old
ones extended so rs 10 carry the NAL on horse
BACK 81 ,OlD miles moe than ut any fofn0r
period. Routes have also been extended, eG
pedIted aud improved for the safety of the
'nhti 80 that II was carried Ia carriages 900
miles more than IN any former \ ear. Yet tho
Chairman lMr. 1lay,on) taiks NJ II nothn.
short oil he the crosses, corruption aud waste
had produced The encreBsrd expenditure. but
go step farther. II this imputed vase and
corruption actually existed, not only would tho
mail noi be transported ia such increased dis
'anecs, aud ia such improved ways. but tho
"holn amount would be stationary or dlmir-
ishod. Nhereas, in trnIb, the receipts Of The
Department exceed the last year whnt they
were IN 1923. tho iasi full year Of tho
past administration, nearly 100000. Have
the funds then been squander.d 10 tbs winds
and waves, or, faithfully collected Have the
increased expenditures been made on the same
labor performed, or on the increased hnd I'M
proved transportation OF the mail for 50 many
thousand miles farther Look 10 the doou-
enis before us for an answer to tho charge THAT
the Department IS bankrupt, aud that the aid
OF Congress Is invoked aud necessary 10 avert
impending ruin. Does the Postmaster Ge1e-
raj say No. sir, 50 far from AL that, tho
debls IN arrear due to the Post Oiiice meet,
thus far, more than all the annual balances
against II Dnd the Postmaster General Official.
ly InloTms us, since the very commencement
OF tue present session, thHt as The contracts for
the next four years have been renewed, and ia
u why W Shse ihc department dhhah'iy Obet
So, 900 and rs The increase of hostages is
progressive, there is " u foundation for the be-
Lief which has been expressed that tue current
revenue OF The Department Tor the succeeding
year will be sufficient Tor rs disbursements
(Annunl Report, ID
In conclusion, Nh. Woodbury. said, he i'm
pngned the motives Of no entleman who dit
fered from him either here, or IA the commit
tee. Difference OF opinion would honestly Of
cur boh ~ private aud pobli; life. But the
o'nale would now enJoy an opportunity 10 de
eide, whether the course pursued by his friend
Oh his rigbt (Mr GIuudy) aud hms"lf had not
been such Ms the courtesy due TO official inter
course with the departments req lred, and
such Ms the true Interests OF the government
justified In iine, they would see whether any
ihiog had thus lar been developed. IN the CON
ditloD Of the General Poa Office, 10 very alsr-
Mug, so very terrifying, a. some gentlemen
would wish Us 10 believe.