South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-06-28

4
enactment.
But these especial agents." and general
agents. what are they for I? To see that the
Post Masters and mail contractors do their
duty : They have been well paid. In 1882
they seem to have been very actively en-
ployed and the money ofthe department We
ry literally expended. The people will Ger
tainly read, and il they do, they will certain
" understand the objec: of such expsndi-
lures.
We will now give the resolutions asotfer-
ed by the MINORITY of that coTmittee
which made the official and regular report to
The Senate of she U. S. Messrs. Grrndy and
Robinson are the devoted friends Of the ad-
ministration generally, and particularly the
friends of Barry & his officers. They made
the best excuse they could, as lawyers do,
when pleading for notorious culprlts. But,
rs Legislators, they are determined to pre-
vent as far as laws, bolts and bars, can pre-
vent such corrupt and corruging usages in
that department. in future. For this they
are entitled to the thants Of the people
throughout the Union. The laws az they
heretofore existed, were deemed abundantly
adequate to the protection of the money
collected by that department from the peo-
pie, and large sums were poured into the
Treasury from it-anI why For the very
plainest reason in the world, the Office was
occupied by honest nen. But how is it now /?
Why the money of the department has been
SO corruptly used BY these REFORMING and
HONEST pre.endersto economical statesman
ship, that even Mr. Grundy himselfis asham-
ed of it, and 'sas he WILL NOT DEFEND
THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS ERRORS. and at
tempts to throw the blame only on the of.
ficer whose business il is to take care of the
money. Now we presume that it is very
specially the duty Of the Postmaster gen.
eral to see to the finances of the Depart
ment. Mr. Grundy had better have recom-
mended--Nor LAWS, but HONEST MEN for
the regulation Of the concerns of that very
important department of the government.
DIREcTlvE LAWS are always sufficient for
GAL ENACTMENT proves the CORRUPTION
now existing in that department-no further
proofneed be required; and this proof is
given by Mr.. Grundy himself-a very com-
pe!ent witness in this case particularly.
The undersigned, without any reference
10 the manner in which the Post Office De-
partment has been administered in former
years, or at the present time, or to the indi-
viduals who may have had or now have the
management of it, are of opinion that the
Legislation of Congress would be proper to
the following effect:
1. That the Department be reorganized
in such way as to secure proper degree Of
responsibility, not only in the head. but in
the subordinate branches of the Depart
ment; and for that purpose the auditing OF
the accounts, and the final adjudication Of
them, and the disbursements Of its moneys
should be confded to officers appointed by
the President and Senate.
2. That reports be made to Congress an
nually, of all the expenditures of the Depart
ment, stated in detail, including ipcidenta
expenses, also of all new contracts, & modi
fications of contracts, and their respective
prices ; also statement of the amount paiG
for the transportation of the mail On each
route, in the several States and Territories
as near as may be.
3. That any person employed in the Gen.
Post Office shall be prohibited from becom-
ing mail contractor, or interested in mail
contract, or an agent, with or without com>
pensation, for mail contractor.
a. That advertisements for proposals 10
carry The mail, issued previous to the peri
odical lettings be made, as near as may be,
according to the manner in which, in the
judgment of the Postmaster General, the
mall should be transported during the period
of the contract.
5. That the sealed proposals, received
from bidders for mail contracts, shall not be
opened until after the time for receiving bids
shall have expired.
6. That reports be made to Congress an
nually of all failures by contractors to delv-
or mails, and the action of the Postmaster
General in regard thereto, in each case.
FELIX GRUNDY,
JOHN M. ROBINSON.
Extracts from the remarks of MIR. Mexican
r. oa,na,l,,n;o ,oat, -, fba Canata IF tho