Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-27

pare mt, the present deficit Is fully accounted for
These extra services designed for other end than
the benefit OF the community At the earnest solicitation
Of many citizens. urged in most by members OF
Congress- aud Others high in public confidence. the aci
ties were granted by the Postmaster General, and have
be enjoyed by the community In his great desire
satisfy the wishes OF every section OF the country and 10
render the department extensively useful possble
he has too far because he has exceeded the money
ell means OF his department But he appears, for the
sons assigned in his report which has been eommunca-
ted TO TO the Senate, 10 have been nnappzed OF the
condition OF the financial OF the de pariDen,
ill the deficiencies actually appeared. He then made
the alton, hicb ulied in disclosing the cause.
aud applied the corrective with much pIomptness
the public interest would admit.
The want OF more perfect organization Of The Post Of
hce department by law, calculated 10 produce embar
rassmeni, and often TO subject its head unmeried ami
malv The other Department OF the Government
are organized with .ub-oficers holding their ponimens
from the Executive, who supeintend the different
branches, and share the responsibility. The Post Office
Department but small in the beginning, aud has
grown rapidly into its present magnitude and importance.
To this Circumstance il is probably owing that has hher
TO been left without proper organization The individual
who happen TO be at its head is held responsible for
every thing though its business is muiarous and
tended that individual possibly sspentend all its
branches IL formerly the that all its funds
at the disposal Of single person. without any
check whatever upon him, or even the means OF know
ing whether The surplus funds in dsposite, di-
veried hom their legitimate object. The present in.
cumbent has established rule which is calculated
TO prevent abuse. No moneys pass into
the hands of Individual, without the concurrence
of least officers OF The Department If il be pay
transportation requires requisiiion of the
principal pay-cIerk, and check signed by the treasurer
and by Assistant Postmaster General before the money
be drawn. III for any other purpose requires the
regusion OF the Postmaster General himself,
audited by officer, and approx another
check in either be signed by both these officers,
before the money can be drawn. This conceive be
salutary improvement in the financial operations Of
the department. and well calculated TO prevent abuses;
but as II only regulation OF the Postmaster General,
is subject 10 change at his pleasure He has indeed given
The system ali The eec, which he has the power OF do
ng but to give permanently so as to constitute per-
al are nj 0Di-
Mon that il should have the sanction Of law; and that the
officers exercising these powers should hold their offices,
in oer departments not at the pleasure OF the person
who may 6 the place of the head OF the department,
but oil the President and Senate.
The last report of the late Postmaster General showed
that the expenditures for the year ending the july
1925 exceeded the OF the department upwards
of $25 600. Between that time and the following March,
when he LETT the department. the had made
for the routes, established by the of 1925 in
volving very considerable increase of expense. The
present Postmaster General took charge OF the depart
ment Tor the year ending July 1si 1929, nearly $751;
600 than all lis for The period Thus
appears that the OF administering the department
which produced the deficit in its MEANS gan early as
1927 or the commencement OF 1928, and has continued
from that period TO The close Of the last year. To
exgences OF the the Postmaster General TO
loans from Banks on which he had paid interest prior
the ls April last, $l4570 AZ, and the further amount
which accrued TO the LIST May, $3.50, making toge-
Their The OF $50 $50 AZ interest 10 the LIST OF Nav
1884, as per document No These loans re made on
the faith and credit of the Post Office Department, and
not OF the Treauy yet while The monies OF the TEea
economy for department OF the Government TO be pay
ing interest TO The Banks for The money, which mo-
ney deposited in Banks by another department OF the
veDment without interest The committee there fore APP
piled by letter 10 the Postmaster General for statement Of
his opinion OF the which would relieve his depart
from pecuniary embarrassment. In answer 10 hsin-
quy he stated that it, Of The moneys formerly paid by that
department into The Treasury the OF $3.50 900 could
now be placed al The disposal OF his department. would
effect the desired relief and that he should be able
store it TO the Treasury in the following instruments with
out Injury 10 the successful administration Of the depart
men
On the LIST Of July, 1885, $4,000
On the Let of July, 1886, $50 600
On the list OF March, 1887, 100000
$3.50 900
We therefore recommend the passage OF law surbo-
rzng the measure, the and The conditions
thus stated by The Postmaster Genera.
The Postmaster General has been The habit of report
ing annually Congress the made for transport
ing The mall with the of each contractors and the
annual amount OF compensation slpUaed in The
In comparing the contracts made the fall of 1881 with
the report oil the Postmaster General made to Congress in
the beginning OF 1882. il found that in the
contracts, they IN actual operation, do agree
with that repor An inquiry was instituted into the
OF this disagreement; aud informed thai when pro-
posals received Tor The contracts they are
registered in book called the Proposal Book 20 that
when these bids decided by the Postmaster General,
the word "accepted" is w ten against the name Of The
person TO whom route is agBed that this is regarded
virtUs ~ as The contract, though sometimes the written
srument is executed for months alter; from the
proposal book the report for Congress is made out the
name OF The person copied, and The which the pro-
posdl accepted that times caons are sub
sequeny made in the contracts before the
under them commences and that in such there will
appear disagreement, above stated Upon further
animation, found that such had been the practice of
the department under former administrations; and as
proof OF il, state few similar which have
noted from comparison made by ourselves, OF the
made by the Postmaster General in the fall Of 1925
with his report TO Congress, in The beginning OF 1929.
They follows:
Eli Ensign is reported having contracted 10 transport
the mail between Hudson and Piusied Tor 800 year,
htlf IA rQrf fIaHo i'm Ia Tns
mas j. Magee reported having contracted carry
the mail OF several routes for $l0,225 year; but his
contract made iD 1928 is for 543 year Russell Case
Is reported having contracted carry the mail between
Utica and Ithaca for $3.50 year; but the contract was
made with Parker s Co. in 1928 for 81 425 year. Eli
Ensign is reported having contracted carry the mail
between Bridgeport and Bennington for 81 100 years
but his made n 1928 is Tor 81 25O year. Heis
also reported having contracted carry the mail be-
tween Hartford and Albany Tor $1,000 year; but bis con-
made in 1928 is for 81 500 year. Peltis, Day s.
Co reported az having contracted TO carry the mail be-
tween Boston and Windsor, and between Windsor and
Burlington for $3, 900 year; bot their made in
1928 IL for 81 400 year. Hiram Plummer s reported
having contracted 10 carry The mail between Boston
and Dover Tor $500 year. but bis contract made in 1928
" for $50 year. In all these cases, the report TO
Congress made agree with The Proposal Book, though
the contracts differently executed The fact IS
therefore established that the report OF 1882 made IN
conformity with The ancient usage Of The deparmen and
under this mode OF reporting, disagreement will exist
whenever modification Of the contract shall be made
Subsequent 10 the acceptance Of the proposal
This Practice however, consder erroneous, and
pleased that is changed in the report Of contracts
made the present session Of Congress, in which, tho
proposals accepted, but the contracts according TO the
changes and notifications afterwards made reported;