Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-18


over 573 miles of post road, on go miles of
which it was carried twice day for six days
in each week If in that case there had been
no compensation allowed for the service be-
yond once day. the compensation would
amount to thirteen cents per mile. We pursu-
ed these Investigations to ascertain whether
there is any ground for suspicion, that special
favorS have been extended to MIR. Reside UNI
der the present administration OF that depart
ment; and 1t does not appear that the slightest
ground for such suspicion exists. lie performs
the service at a much lower rate than under the
former administration, and it does not appear
that he has ever received compensation, but for
services rendered fully equivalent to the same.
An investigation was instituted before the
committee to ascertain whether he Mr.. Rec
side, had not afforded to the Postmaster Gene
raj such pecuniary aid, from which an inference
might be drawn, that he might thereby become
the object ofspecial favor with the Department.
Upon an examination into this subject, it APP
peared that the family OF the Postmaster Gene
raj was in Philadelphia, and had been there tor
some time, attending TO his sick son, who was
under the care OF a physician OF that place.
That the Postmaster General when on visit
to his family in Philadelphia, concluded to re-
move his family, including his son, from that
place, at an earlier period than had been inten-
died. and to enable him to discharge the demands
against him. obtained from Mr. Reeslde lUOO
dollars upon an acceptance OF short date,
which was paid when it fell due. From TINS
transaction, we are wholly unwilling to draw
any unfavorable inference. In it we can dis
Germ nothing but the performance OF kind
Office, for which praise, rather than censure Is
due.
The committee examined carefully into all
cases where complaints were made, or Wnere
any suspicion was intimated of favoritism ha-
wing been extended by the Department to any
contractor, or of any improper exercise of the
discretion of The Postmaster General in grant
ing allowances. Every such case became the
subject of rigid scrutiny; and not single in
stance of alleged abuse has been omitted by the
committee.
The route between Baltimore, Md and Cham
bersburgh, Pa. II miles, on which Jas. Reside
is contractor, was among those which were
examined by the committee. 1t appeared that
the proposal of James Reside to transport the
mail on this route was accepted at 1900 dollars
a year; and that under his contract he received
at the rate of 3,495 dollars a year from the
commencement of the service under his con-
tract January l, 1882, till the 31st December,
| 1888, when it was reduced to 1900 dollars. On
investigation, it was found that his proposal
contained two propositions, the hrst to carry
the mail daily, in four horse post coaches as
advertised, which was to leave Baltimore daily,
at a. m. and arrive at Chambersburgh the
same day by p. M, II hours leave Chambers
! burg every day at a. m and arrive at Baltl-
more the same day by p. M, Is hours; and to
| perform the service for 1900 dollars per annum.
The other proposition was to leave Baltimore
daily, after the arrival Of the steamboat from
Philadelphia, and arrive at Chambersburg same
day, in time to connect with the mails from
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, for the annual COM
pensation of 3,495 dollars The steamboat at
that time left Philadelphia in the afternoon,
and arrived at Baltimore at an early hour the
next morning; and the mail from Philadelphia
for Pittsburgh, passed through Chambersburg
| L - IL. e.
proposition required very considerable in
crease of expedition, and would gain an entire
day between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, ofwhich
this route is part The proposal of Jas. Rec
side was the only one offered for the route, and
was accepted on the first proposition at 1900
dollars. The acceptance was made in October
1881, the contract to take effect from the 1st
day Of January following. On the Goth of De
cember, 1881, the Postmaster General appears
to have directed him to perform the service
stipulated in his proposition for 3,495 dollars;
and there is endorsed on the contract in the
hand writing of Thomas b. Addison, the clerk
employed in preparing and filing contracts,
" alteration made this 29th December; 1881"
Some of the members of the committee were
induced to suspect that this endorsement had
been made at a recent date; but on the eXami-
nation on oath Of three clerks, MIR. Addison, by
whom the endorsement was made; MIR. Dundas,
who was then the corresponding clerk for this
responding clerk OF this division; the fact was
clearly established, that the endorsement is not
of recent date but was made at the time of the
date which it bears.
The route from Hagerstown, Md. to McCon-
nellsburgh, Pa, on which Mr. Reside is con-
tractor, was also a subject of examination. The
distance is stated to be 26 miles, and it was ad-
vertised to run three times week, in four horse
post coaches. For this route there was several
proposals. the lowest of which was $3.50, "a
sum wholly inadequate to the service) except
that of Mr.. Reside, which was as follows: "We
do agree to carry the mail on route No. 1891,
from Hagerstown to McDonnellsburgh, via
WEIGH Run and Mercersburgh. as advertised, |
for the yearly compensation of $40 or we will |
carry the same so as to connect the mail at
each place, with the great Eastern and West
ern mails, daily in horse post coaches, for the
yearly compensation of ninety nine dollars"
This bid was accepted, and the contract APP
pears to have been Immediately filled at $40, |
and put into the hands Of Mr.. Reside to be |
executed 1t is alleged both by Mr. Reside !