Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-29
O. Comgreasto nal.
posr-orrIcE pEPARTMENT.

LINCOLN, OF harstcHusttts, tu suppOIt ~ bis
motion. made in Committee Of the " hole. TO
strike from the Appropriation Bill the provision
for extra Clerk hire in the Post-Ofice Depart
Inent
MIR. Chairman, it is quite time that the
concerns of this Department were more
strictly nqnired into, and its manage
nient severely scrutinized. 1t IS the
foulest spot, as verify believe, in an un-
faithful, corrupt, and corrupting admins
tration ofthe Government. 1t is the Al
gman stable which, with lIerculean Ia,
bor, must be cleansed and purified. If
gentlemen, to whom is assigned the un-
enviable task of defending the depart
ment, will not afford the information
which, doubtless, themselves possess, in
relation to its affairs, they must not COM
plain. even should there be some misap-
prehension in respect to the manner of
its conduct Those who are less fortu-
nate in the means of intelligence, must
proceed with such lights as are allowed
TO them.
1t appears, then, from the Blue
Book" that no less than nineiy-i,so per-
sons, including the Postmaster General,
two Assistants, Treasurer, and Gen
erul Agent, are employed in the Depart
ment, at an annual charge Of S88, ,54O.-'
or these, seventy-five are clerks, six
messengers, two watchmen, and four IL
gents. BY the Register Of Officers, for
the year 1897, t will be seen that there
were, at that time, but thirty-nine persons
in all attached to the Department, at an
annual charge of SAT 200. OF these, J,
thirty-tbree were clerks, one messenger, ;,
and two assistants. In the year 1928,
Congress authorized the addition Of five
more CLERKS; and these, with the thirty
nine persons before mentioned, are the
whole number, it is believed, out of the
ninety-two now employed, which are
warranted by law, the residue having
been appointed upon the sole, uncontrol-
led, and, as it now seems to be held by
some gentlemen on this floor, irresponsi-
BILE and unlimited discretion and pleasure
Of the Head Of the Department. 1t
might not be impertinent to inquire, be-
fore passing the appropriation, how this
tribe Of subordinaies are employed. In
the days Of the predecessor oi the pre-
sent Postmaster General, and wtils the
business OF the otlce Wis UD3sigt1-,E 3
course Of sys.srnIlie ErrbI,r trDtI1, IE,s
the facilities 10 communication vtrt os-
veloPing aod belrs grHutlF Exthnnnt--
that disiing Uis;hed tfbcsr, 10 p'hmn t.s
country Is uaoer 4ssaIrtr obligations it,i
the etficIency, puDciUtAiT, lDa certain
ty, given to mail trans poTaiIol, was con
tent with the number Of clerks assigned
to his DEPARTING Mt by Law. This number
as appears by the Register, never ex-
ceeded thirty-eight. There might have
been some excess Of expense for extra
service, but, if so, it was casual and in
considerable. Whence comes it, tina.
more than twice the number of officers
are now found necessary? 1t may well
be admitted that the operations Of the
Department are very greatly extended,
but, with the preservation of method and
orderly arrangement, this need not &C.
casion'a corresponding increase ofclerk-
ships. If the same system of regulation
and accountability is continued, the ad-
dilional labor would, in a great degree,
consist in causing few more entries in
the same set Of books, filing few mole c
blank forms Of proposals and contracts,
and following out more extensively a
like course Of duties, conforming to the
enlarged scope of similar operations. Ii
cannot serious y be pretended that, for
an increase to double the extent of form
er Post routes, and number Of Post Off
ces, an addition Of one fourth the number
of clerks could have been required -
Does the merchant, who adds to his cap
ital in trade, find it necessary to multiply
in the same proportion, the clerks in his
counting house? A given number are ne
cessary to hrs well regulated order ol
business. Each has his assigned do.
partmeDt Of service, and, although the
capital may be increased an hundred pei
cent, there may be but little additional
labor in its management. Before the
Committee shall agree to an appropria.
ton of more than 10 900 dollars for clerk
hire only, for single year, in this De.
partment, let them he advised Of the new
occasion, since 1923, which has giver
rise TO one half of this expense. How
were all these officers employed The
Chairman ofthe Committee Of Ways and
Means may be presumed to have know.
ledge on this subject, or the resolution
proposing to ask for information from the
Postmaster General, would not have
been refused. | respectfully put it, then
to the Chairman to instruct this House
what are the assigned, distinct, and ap.
propriate duties Of the General Agent
the Examiner, and Clerks of the Exami.
ne,'s Office, Solicitor, and Clerks Of the
Solicitors Office, and Clerks Of appoint.
ments. These are designations of off.
GERS unknown to the law. On such in