Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-07-03
O. a Z HTTE.
n OFFICE DEPARTMErgx
rrpORT OF THE MAJORITY.

SPORT OF THE MAJORITY.
~ rgrNe MADE THE FOLLOWING REPORT.
~, .eommittee on the Post Office and
:" 4 Roads. in obedience to the resolu-
"a of the Senate Of the 29th of March,
- D. 1884, proceeded TO inquire into
,s ambition of the Post Office Depart
=. mi. and having made progress in
81 Mn investigation, now report
sy That your committee, at an early day,
70, J, they we're invested with authority
On a do, called for a statement of the
Il liable claims due from postmasters and
4, ,,rs to the department, and Of the funds
hand, and also the amount Of its debts.
spswer to this inquiry, they were in
med that it would he the work Of seve
months, with all the disposable force
NE department., TO prepare the state
,,i. the shortest time named as possible,
rnding much beyond the probable adj
unment of Congress. Statements, there
NJ said 10, be accurate. were obtained
sstyer it was practicable; and, when
,cb we're not to he had, your committee
rsved conjectural estimates, sworn to
The heads of the appropriate bureaux.
By those, it appears that the depart
Lnt is largely insolvent, and that since
yne time in the year 1882 the Postmas-
h General has, without warrant of law,
bsrowed from the banks large sums of
honey on interest for The purpose Of sus-
inning it, The interest account, exhibit
\ herewith, shows that some Of those
bans we're made during the last session Of
Congress, and within short time after
he date of the annual report Of the Post.
ra.ter General, which states that there is
% available surplus found on hand of
a,Sll 40, and which contains no inti-
nsiion of any probable deficit present or
hlare. 1t is also worthy Of remark, that
hs last annual report is wholly silent on
| 6e subject of these loans. But the Post
paster has since the commencement Of
+ hi. Investigation, represented TO your
nnmitten that aid from the Treasury is
p.ces.ary 10 enable him to carry ON the
cpesations Of the department, and he has
siated that $4,000 is the smallest sum
hat will serve that purpose.
The sums borrowed and overdrawn on
banks to the ll,h April, 1884, and then
existing as debt against the department,
are stated by the officers
10 be S4SS,6O0
And they state the amount due TO
contractors on the LIST of April,
1884, at $4,000
Making the aggregate of its
debts l,123,60O
They also state that there was on the
18th April. 1884; a balance Of deposites
in banks in favor of the depart
ment of $4,000 95a
OF this there was deposited in
banks which have failed 5.455 OF
Leaving to the credit account,
funds in bank. April llth,
1884, available, SS1,545 $50
They also reported, as corjeesural es-
.imafe, that there was due from postmas-
ters for hostages accrulng prior to Janua-
ry LIST. 1884, 100000.
The books from which this estimate
was drawn have been examined by the
committee, and the result Of that examina-
ton leaves no doubt that the amount Of
this credit is greatly exaggerated.
II appears that the receipts Of the de-
partment for the last quarter OF the year
1888, according TO the last estimate that
can be formed, the books and accounts
not having been made up as they should
have been,) amounted TO s467 ,449,
That there was deposited by
several postmasters in
banks. during said quarter,
for the use of the depart
ment S52 ,9o4
Leaving an apparent balance
postmasters of sIS4, 54s
But il is understood that considerable
sums were received from postmasters, ex
elusive of the deposites in banks, which y
estimated to reduce the amount IN thel
hands for receipts. during the last quarte
of 1888, to sSS,725 Which sum, result
ing from the several data to which WI
have access, is fixed upon as the neafes
approximation to the truth, attainab!i
within the limited time, which i was II
our power to devote TO this part oil Inc 10
vestigation. We believe, however. tina
any person acquainted with the book.
and the course Of business OF the depart
ment and whose attention was exciustvei
devoted TO the object. could, IN hul
time, estimate the amount OF debts due !
the department wit. very near approac
TO accuracy; and that the officers oil u
department can. at any time within ie
DAYS, make an abstract statement Of j
fiscal concerns at The termination of an
quarter, sufficiently accurate for the ord
nary purposes Of general Information I
legislation.
The officers Of the department, also, e
timated the amount due from postmasts
for hostages, aecruing within the lst qua
ter Of the year 1884, at s2oo,o'
Your committee examined, as lar