Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-29

toWInS out thc SoHsc HuchcSo w "hsuR"
BILE appointments. mean no reproach
in this, TO the clerks themselves. | am
quite ready to do justice to the inlelli- |
gence, capacity, and fidelity Of many of
them. Doubtless, there are those who
assiduously aud meritoriously devote
the mselves to the public service. But
maintain, that SO great number are un-
necessary. The Hon. member from
Kentucl y, (Mr. Iiardin) told US yester-
day, that one Of these public servants, at
1000 dollars per annum, was practition-
er at law, attending the courts in his
own State; and that another, at 1000.
dollars per annum, might he seen daily
in this House, in the character of a Re
porter for the GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL,
How many more have similar induIgen-
ces cannot be known, until the House
shall please TO require more accurate in
formation of their duties and employ
ments. A clerkship is most conven-
lent place IN which to retain the servi-
ces of political partisans; and the position
of Post Office establishment, in the
command Of The great channels Of COM
munication, the best suited to give di
recion and effect to the machinery Of
patty organization and arrangement.
The financial condition Of the depart
mcnt should furnish an additional and in
superable objection TO the passage of
this appropriation. 1t should be brought
at once, to the necessity of full and ex-
plicit disclosure of its situation to the Re-
representatives. Of tho People. There is
ground to believe that its pecuniary af-
fairs are in deranged and embarrassed
state, beyond reasonable hope that
they can ever be retrieved by the shill
or good fortune Of those to whose man
agement they are, at present, commit
ted. There must be, sooner or later,
deep and searching operation, an over
hauling and overturning of the doings Of
the Department. 1t needs ~ be probed
to the bottom. 1t was once prosper
Gus and creditable concern to the nation;
conducted with order and method; af-
fording all desirable facilities to commu-
nication; absiaining from associations
and arrangements foreign to the objects
Of its institution giving universal satis-
faction, aud enjoying unbounded conf.
6euce.
1 Under the able and successful admin
isiI alton OF the predecessor Of the present
Postmaster General. it had become a
source Of certain aud rapidly increasing
rttsnus 10 lhe State. The last annual
re n1df OF Judge Mclean, in 1929, trans
Irrit6 by iae President TO Congress,
sth Tie documents accompanying his
message, states the amour; OF accumula-
TED surplus TO the credit Of the Post Of
ice Department, to be S332, 100 TO- In
the Report Of the present Postmaster
General, the following year, l82s, af-
ter giving precise and critical review
Of the financial operations Of tho De-
partment, and particularly adverting to
the balance OF credit stated by his prede
cessor, he reduces the amount by sub
fractions for various causes, and places
the true and actual balance on the st OF
July, 1929, at $23O,849 OF. Here, then,
is distinct admission that the nett avail
able funds, after he came into Office, ex-
ceeded the sum Of S2S0,O0O Nor is
this all. He somewhere boastingly adds,
in the same report, that "the new con-
tracts have been made, including all the
improv ements, for $751; l95 81 less than
the sums paid under the expiring con-
tracts for the transportation of the mail, y
in section of osnlry to which he refers,
and that "the advantageous terms oi
these contracts will effect saving to
the Department, Of about % per cent. in
proportion to the services to be perform
ed" He also admits that "the Depart
ment has always been sustained by its
own resources, and that no money, al
any time, has been drawn from the Trea-
surv for the transportation of the mail
but that it has contributed 10 the revenue
Of the Government"
/ These references are intended to prove
to this Committee, beyo all controver-
/ sy, the prosperous state Of the Depart
ment, when the present officer entered
! upon its administration. Subsequently,,
and as late as November, 1889, its con
dition was made subject Of congratula-
tion by the President. in his annual Mes.
sage to Congress. "From the accompa.
nying Report (ssys the message) Of the
/ Postmaster General, you will perceive
that that Department continues to exte nc
its usefulness, without impairing its re-
sources, or lessening the accommodation
which 1t affords in the secure and rapit
transportation Of the mail"
i The report referred to, fully sustain.
the message, and contains the expres,
assurance that, "with all the increase o
mail facilities during the year, ending
the 30th of June, 1882, the revenues o
the Department have, within an incon
siderable sum, equalled its expenses. %
The surplus available fund, although
j Lsc..aa.. Lu4 s..d..a1l L. a4.I..l e.eaan