Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-06-19

house, adjoining McClcary's Hotel.
The Post Office spartnent.-Neyer in thii
country was there Developed, scene Of corrup.
ton & political turpitude that could at all com.
pare with that which the report Of the Comm tie
Of the Senate has dragged the light Of day from
the reccsscs Of the Post Office Department. The
Postmaster General, il would seem, has in some
measure been an instrument rather than prin-
cipal in the management Of his Office He has
been placed under the direction il appears, Of =
branch Of the Kitchen Cabinet and has been
made cats pato, by gang OF subordinate Off
cers, for the benefit Of their master We have
not room for the report, but viii give abstract
Of it ia next; combining our extracts, for the
present, to the resolutions by which il is accom-
panied which we give below, and which indicate
very clearly the opinions Of the Committee, as
10 the condition and management Of this bank
rupt concern. The Minority report, written by
Mr.. Grundy, and signed by him and Mr.. Robin
son, cndeavors TO refute the statements of the
Committee: but even Mr.. Grundy admits enough
TO show that the Departmenthas been outrageous
ly misnanaged; that there has been corrupt "a
facts are too plain for downright denial: and we
are mistaken If they do not make the people
stare.
Here follow the resolutions Of the majority.
Your committee, rcserying the right TO make
further report on these subjects hereafter,
specially recommend the adoption of the fol-
lowing resolutions:
/. Resoiued, That il is proved and admitted
that large ef money have been borrowed at
different banks by the Postmaster General, in
order 70 make up the deficiency in the means Of
carrying on the business Of tho Post Office De
partmeut, without authority given by any law Of
Congress; and that as Congress alone possesses
the power 70 borrow money on the credit of the
United States, all sueh contracts for loans by the
Postmaster General, illegal and void.
.. ResoLred, That several reports OF the Post
master General contain statements which, in
subsequent papers, he admits 10 be erroneous;
that others especially those Of the 18th Of April,
1892, and the Bird Of March, 1874, are inconsst-
ent with each other; and that reliance cannot be
placed on the truth and accuracy of the comnu-
nications made by the department.
3. ReSoiUed, That il is fully proved that a
practice prevails in the Post Office Department,
If granting contracts on bids which vary from
the advertisement, aud Of changing and altering
contracts in material respects after they have
been accepted; and that this practice prevents all
fair competition among persons wishing TO make |
contracts, is calculated 10 give undue Vantage |
10 faFOfitsS. atld is IN VIOLATION OF law.
4. Res0iUed, That il appears that an individual
who made contract for the transportation of the
mall was required to give il up for no other rea-
son than that i might be given 10 another desi-
rous OF having il; and that the act of the depart
ment IN requiring such surrender, and in efecting
the transfer, was illegal and unjust.
S. Resolred, That il appears that proposals for
carrying the mail on the route from Chicago to
Greenbay, were withheld from advertisement;
that the contract therefor was given in anothel's
name, but really to one Of the clerks in the de-
partment; that the compensation proposed in the
bid was raised without any increase Of service
and that the transaction is direct breach of law
D. Resotcsd, That extra allowances have been ,
ranted TO contractors, without any increase Of
nty service on their part; and that, in other | I
asses, extra allowances have been made which &
re unreasonable, extravagant, and out of all pro-
c rtion with the increase Of duty or service on
heir part; and that, in other cases, extra allow
noes have been made which are unreasonable
xtravagant, and out of all proportion with the
lcrease of service. O
7. Resolved, That the Postmaster General has 7
established steamboat lines for the transportation
! the mail by private contract at an enormous c
Expense, and without authority of law.
3. ResolUed, That the public credit has been ,
ledged for the benefit of individual contractors;
nd that contractors have been solicited and in
nced to aid with their personal credit the bust
Tess oithe department; and that al such transac-
ions are unjustiable and improper.
9. Resolred, That it does appear that mail
ines have been established to run more frequent
~ than once day, and at a very heavy expense,
when no adequate public object required such
provision.
10. Resolved, That pecuniary transactions of
very irregular nature, are proved to have taken
place between the contractors and some of the |
chief officers of the Post Office Department.
IL. Resolped, That the Post Office Depart |
Inent Is now deeply in debit its affairs in dsor-
der; its accounts and reports irregular and unsa-
tsfactory; that 1t is justly the subject Of public
complaint, and demands radical reform.
IL. Resolved, That the incidental expense and
secret service money of the department have in
creased. are increasing, and ought to be dimi-
nished.
ID. Pe;oloed, That il does appear that an a.
greement was entered into between two compa-
mes OF mail contractors, the express object of
which was to put down all opposition lines Of
coaches, and all competition in the transporta-
ZION oi passengers on their respective mail routes
That said agreement drawn by an officer of
me department, and entered into at his pressing
instance, and that il was sanctioned bv the Post
master General; and that such agreement, SO
sanctioned, is an interference with the honest
pursuits OF the free citizens Of these Z. States.
mat Intends to establish odous and oppressive
rights.
IA Resolred, That IL does appear that mail
contractors have received large extra allowances
and have about the time Of receiving such allow
ance become the proprietors or conductors of
newspaper presses of partisan character. II
also appears that a newspaper editor in the State
OF New Hampshire is a contractor for carving
inc mail on numerous routes, "with ncws.apeT
privilege" and that every such art or artifce
Vending TO unite the press with the Post Office
Department IS a dangerous abuse, and ought TO
be corrected.
Reg Observation-Disclosures an election takes
place nova days, in a town or county formerly
faithful TO the President, the result is aImo,tuni
formiy against him and his friends The intelli.
gence Of these changes drops in SLOWLY but stea.