Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-14
posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Report Of the Majority.
CONTINUED

Report Of the Majority.
TcoNTINUED.]
II is. proper to add that other inquiries, infor-
NAL as that when first presented, had been there
tofore amended without objection; and your
committee cannot resist the conclusion that the
hesitation at first manifested and the refusal az
last to answer, was merely for the purpose of
gaining time, and waiting the arrival of the
contractor (who had been subp6ned by your
committed that better countenance might be
nut upon il than its naked features exhibited.
James Reside is also contractor for carving
the mail from Baltimore to ChamberSburg II
miles, daily, four horse post coaches, at 900
dollars year, from the lst of January 1892
The schedule was so changed on the goth De
cember, 1885, as to lessen the time and con-
sequently, to increase the speed; but the differ
ence was so light as to be wholly unnoticed by
a sub-contractor on part of the route, who
was examined by your committee; and on the
18th of April 1882, long after the change of
schedule, the contract is reported to Congress
fDoc. 212, p. 15) as subssting at 1000 dollars
In the report of the Sd of March, 1884, which
processes to give all the extra allowances, there
is none stated on this route, but in that part of
that report which gives the curtailment of mail
facilities, doc. 1873, p. 1851 the "increased
expedition" is reduced at 1895 dollars yearly;
and on examination of the books of the de-
partment, it appears that the contractor did in
fact receive on that route ,495 dollars yearly,
instead of 1900 dollars; to which sum, and no
more, he was entitled by fair and legal con-
tract
The increased expedition was of Importance
10 the contractor, TO enable him to compete
with other rapid lines in the transportation of
passengers; but it does not appear to have been
of any considerable value to the public, and
had it been of Importance the increased COM
pensation is much too great for the additional
service rendered
1t is stated in the report of the 18TH of April,
1882, (Doc 2l2, p.2,) that James Reside is
the contractor for the transportation of the
mail on the route from Philadelphia to New
York, in four horse post coaches, daily at an
annual compensation of 5000 dollars, for four
years from the LIST day of January, 1882.
BY the report of the Sd Of March, 1884, the
contract is stated at twice day, and the annu-
al compensation (Doc. 13S, p. 1867 at $40, 500
He was allowed (p. 1879 for extra
services yearly compensation Of 5,124
Increasing the compensation on this
route from 5000, the legal con-
tract, to 25,625
And an express mail was ordered TO
be run on the same route, at year
ly compensation Of $3.50
- Making the grand total yearly 2S,775
In his report of the 18th Of April, 1882, doc
212, p. 1917 the Postmaster General states that
James Clark is the contractor for CARRYING the
mail from Bedford to Blair's Gap. and from
Blair's Gap to Cumberland, once week on
horseback, from the 1st of January, 1892 to
the 3lst of December, 1885, at yearly COM
pensation of 275 dollars. In the report of the
Sd Of March, 1884, doc. l3s, D. 1887 James
Reside is reported to be the contractor for car
rying the mail on these routes, mos 1915 and
1230,) from Cumberland to Blair's Gap, three
times times week, in four horse post coaches,
at an annual compensation of $4,000 90
And on the 25th of February, 1888,
he was directed to run daily be-
tween Bedford and Blairs Gap, at
an additional compensation of 2911 7S
Thus the legal contract of27 dollars
has arisen to YAH Is
James Reside and S. r. Slaymaker were
contractors for carrying the mail from Phila-
delphia TO Pittsburgh, for yearly compensa-
ton of 1000
From Pittsburgh TO Washington, Pa, 1880
Aggregate, $3.50
As by the report of the 18th of April, 1882,
doc. 212, p. and H.
In the report of the Sd OF March, 1884 TDoe
1873, p. 1891 they are stated TO be contractors
for carrying the mail on the same routes, and
in addition thereto, from Washington to Wheel
ing, in Virginia, (Which is also covered by the
compensation of $4,000
On the 9Th of May 1888, there was
made on this route yearly extra
allowance from April l, 1882, of 10000
And there was ordered an express
mail on the same route to be run
by James Reside, from Philadel-
pha to Pittsburgh, at yearly al
lowance of $3.50
Increasing the compensation on this
route from $3.50, yearly, to 40, $50
The above are but a few out of the many
contracts held by James Reside and Others his
partners. The allowances in the above cases,
beyond the amount of their open bids and fair
and legal contracts, is 62,3l6 dollars and 7S
cents year; amounting, during the continu-
ance OF their contracts, to the enormous sum
OF 24s,267 dollars and IL cents, given to these
contractors by the department, without adver
Using and without competition
The amount of those allowances were some.
what reduced on the 1st of December last in
consequence of the insolvency of the depart.