Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-16
1924 80

Your committee find no good reason for this
diSproportion of expenditure in these two
States.
Mr.. Jefferson, in his letter to Nathaniel Ma
con of May l4th, 1901, says that 6 very early
recommendation had been given TO the Post.
master General to employ no printer foreign
er or revolutionary tory, in any Of his Offices"
His reasons for the exclusion Of the PRINTER
from any cOnneXiOn with the Post Office De-
partment is obvious; and if we would preserve
the press from corruption, and prevent it from
eXertng corruptng Influence over the COM
munity, that recommendation ought to be es-
teemed as precept, and religiously observed
in the present and in all future times. But this
admOniton has passed unnoced or is dsre-
garded, by those who now conduct the affairs
OF this department. Large sums of money ap-
pear TO have been expended in such a manner
that its obvious tendency is to extend the infu-
ence OF the department over the people.
William Smith, whose extra allowance as
stated in the Blue book, (pages ESQ and 25S) a.
mount to 81, l29 year, is the proprietor of an
efficient party press in Culpeper county, Viz
gina
Horatio Hill, said to be the conductor of
violent party press in the State of New Hamp-
shire, is contractor to carry the mail on no
less than fifteen mail routes; and instead of
extra allowances his contracts are noted in the
margin, " WITH NEWSPAPER PRIVILEGE" which we
understand to mean the privilege of carrying
and distributing newspapers at pleasure on his
mail IouteS.
Hay and Bennett were contractors for carry
ing the mail from Bellefonte to MeadvIle, in
the State of Pennsylvania, from the 1st of jan
uary, 1928, to 3lst of December, 1881. On the
9Th of January 1880, they obtained an extra
allowance of $500 year for increased eXpe-
dition, and it is said that Bennett thereupon
purchased an opposition press in Meadville, and
arrayed it DIT once on the side Of the admins
tratiOn.
At the lettings in October 1880, this route
was advertised to run through in two days and
seven hours. E. Plat and Co. bid for it at
1880 dollars; Moore Libo & Co. at 2,45O dol
lars, and Benjamin Bennett at $3.50 pit 525
700" in broken bids equal, it is believed, to
$l,575, for the whole route. The bid of Ben
iamin Bennett is marked accepted, and the &C.
ceptance erased, and that Of ]. B. Bennett (the
owner of the press) is accepted at So, 500,
through in two days. But the schedule which
appears to have been made out at the, time of
executing the contracts states that on account
ofthe unusual freshets and destruction Of bridg-
es, and other material changes in the road
since the 18th of Oct 1881, it is agreed to run
the mail through in tarO ddVS and q half each
way, making five hours longer time than it was
nXeo at oy the advertisement, and proposed for
the othef bidders. Surprising the bid of Ben.
J" e'' " We HCtluOuS, or MADE by ar
rangemeht' merely to enable the department
the better TO pass over the contract to j. B. Ben
nett there is still difference between tbe nev+
lower and valid bid, and that at which # wac
struck off, 81, 500 year, equal in four wears to
$1,000, which appears to be the extra expense
incurred by the department to place this con-
tract in the hands of newspaper editor.
The 'incidentaI expenses" comprehending
the secret service fund of the department, pre-
sent an interesting subject for consideration
No law appropriates money for those expenses.