Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-06-19

IN SESATE-NoSpar, JUNE Q.
POST OFFICE REPORT.

posi- OFFICE REPORT
Mr.. EWING, from the Committee on the
Post odice and Post Roads, who had been
charged, BY . resolution OF March iast, with
the task OF investigating the condition and
transactions Of the Department, with power
70 send for persons and papers, made \ re-
port, which YES read by Mr.. Ewing, occupy
ing m hour and hfty 1--WE minutes
Tho Report concludes with the folio wing
resolutions:
!. Rssoirsd, That Il Is proved and admitted
that large sums Of money have been borrow
ed NJ different Banks, by the Post Master
General, in order to make up tho deficiency
in the means Of carrying on the business of
the Post Office Department, without authori-
~ given BY any Law Of Congress aud that,
~ Congress alone possesses the power 10
borrow money on tho credit Of the United
SAtes. all such contracts for loans by the
Post Master General are illegal ant VOID.
2. Resolved, That several reports Of the
Postmaster General contain statements " HIGH,
| in subsequent papers, he admits to be crrops-
Gus that others especially, those OF the 18th
Of April. 1892, and the I'd Of March, 1854.
are inconsistent with each other; and that
| therefore, reliance cannot be placed 90 the
truth and accuracy Of the commun &c aiions
made by the Department.
}. Rssoirsd, That Il Is fully proved, that q
practice prevails In tho Post Office Depart
mcnt OF granting contracts on bids which
vary from the advertisements, aud OF chang
ing and altering contracts i'm material res
poets after they have been accepted, and that
this practice prevents all fair competition
| among persons wishing TO make contracts,
Is calculated TO give undue advantage TO IA
yorites, and Is IN violation OF law.
4. RtseIred, That IL appears, that an indi-
viduai who made a contract for the transport
tation OF tho mail, was required TO give u up
for no other reason than that IL might be given
TO another, DESTROYS Of having il, and tb At the
act Of the Department, ia requiring such sur
render and in affecting the transfer, was lille
gal and unjust.
S. Resolved, That X appears that the propo-
sails for carrying the Mail on the route from
Chicago 10 Green Bay, was withheld from
advertisement; that the contract therefore
was given IN another name, but really and
truly To one Of the clerks in the Department
that she compensation proposed in the bid
was raised without any increase Of service,
ard that the transaction is . direct breach Of
law.
6. Rsscired, That extra allowances have
been granted TO contractors without any in
crease Of duty or service on their part, and
that in other cases extra allows nces have
been made which are unreasonable, extrsva-
CANT, and out Of all proportion with the in
crease Of service.
Z. Resolved, That the Post Master General
has established Steamboat lines, for the
transportation Of the mail, by private con-
tract, at an enormous expense, and without
authority Of law.
g. Resolved, That the public credit has been
pledged for the benefit Of individual conirac-
tors, and that contractors have been solicited
and induced to aid. with their NAL credit,
the business Of the Department; and that all
such transactions arc unjustiiabie and im-
proper
9. Rssoirs1, That il does appear that mail
lines have been established 70 run moro fire.
fuently than once day, At 4 very heavy ex-
Pense, whore no adequate public object re-
quired such provisions.
10. Resolved, That peeuniary transactions
OF very irregular nature are proved to have
taken place between the contractors and some
Of the chief officers Of the Post Office Depart
ment.
IL. Resolved. That the Post Office Depart
ment is now deeply in debt; its affairs in dis
order; its accounts and reports irregular and
unsatisfactory; that il is justly the subject Of
public complaint, and demands q radical re-
form.
IL. RssoirrS. That the incidental expenses
aud secret service money Of the Department
has increased, is increasing, and ought TO be
diminished.
IL Resolved, That it does appear that an
agreement was entered into between two
companies Of mail contractors, the express
object OF which was TO put down eompeti-
lion IN the transportation Of passenger in
their respective mail routes that said agree
ment was drawn by an officer Of the Depart
mont, and entered into at his pressing in.
stance, and that II was sanctioned by tho
Postmaster General; and that such agree
ment, so sanctioned, is an interference with
the honest pursuits Of the free citizens Of
these United States; that IL tends TO establish
an odious and oppressive monopoly and is
an unjust invasion Of private rights.
IL. RssoIrsd, That il does appear that
Mail Contractors have received large extra
allowances, and have about the time Of reeei-
wing such allowances, become the proprie-
tors or conductors OF Newspaper presses. Of
a paFtizan character. 1t also appears, that
newspaper editor, in the State OF New
Hampshire, Is q contractor for carrying the
mail on numerous routes, 'srifh paper priri.
Lsgs," add that every such act or srtihes, ten.
ding 10 unite the press with the Post Office
Department, is dangerous abuse and ought
TO be corrected.
The report having been read,
Mr.. GRUMPY said Ice held IN his hands n
paper containing the views Of tho minority Of
The Committee, Consisting Of himself and tie
Senator from Illinois, which he asked might
BE- received and read 20 the senate. The
paper, he said. though treating precisely on
the same subjects ns those in the report lust
read, yet differed frOa II IN sOms very mate
rial respects and no believed That every Sen
aior would Be better able 10 understand the
whole subject By reading both documents
together, than either Of them separately.
Mr.. EWING said, that. In making up the
report, the majority. AZ soon as they aseer.
tanned there was difference Of opinion in the
COMMITTEES, carefully informed she minority
OF all the subjects they ATTENDED 10 consider,
Withous giving them the Language Of the re-
port
This, he believed, was oonsonani With the
general usage, and vas snoagh % enable the
Chairman, one of the minority, 90 make a
statement Of their views on the same subjects
s@bgSesd IN the report, and not for the puF-
pose q enabling him 70 make eouater re-
port 10 answer 10 Il. He assured the senate
nat NE only object ef the COmmittse was 20
arrive at the truth, and this object be belis.
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