Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-05-05

= ~. s. 1 -.l.
lien. Francis q. d. Smih-Dear Sir: Various ami
conflicting opinions prevail among the people OF this
Sta'c' relative TO the administration and present condi-
ton OF the General Post. Office Department, under Mai.
Barry. For the Information Of others, as we'll as for my
own qualification, / wish you u furnish such facts as
you may possess on the subject, with your own views
thereon, in detail.
And very much obliec, wish sentiments Of respect aud
esteem, your OBJ Serv I, ~. q. JEWE1T.
MIR SMITHS EPL
Cry or WAsluNGroN, February -, 1873.
NATHANIEL g.. JEwETr, Esq.
Dcdr SH;-four letter of the 18th inst. came duly to
hand a reply with 50 much detail a. the subject is
suscePtole OF; would occupy a length Of time in the
compilation, far beyond what other ayocations will per-
init me to devote IN that way, and extend letter TO the
SIZE OF a volume. | viii, however, comply with your
request with As much particularly as may he acccpiablc
10 you, or necessary TO ensure a right estimate of Mai
Barry, and Of his services To- tile public.
l VIII Uegin with renarking, that the recent Report
OF the majority OF the House Committee upon The
subject of the Post Office Department, not only does
uninlcntIonal injustice 10 Major Barry's administra-
ton, but 10 the acknowledged intentions of the mem
ccrs themselves, composing that minority. This arises
from a want Of precision IN limiting the opinions cx-
pressed 10y. t"e report, TO tn periods Ia which the com
mittce designed to have their expressions confined CIV.
ciutively. For instance, the committee have povL.ro
SAID inthcir report, that their examination into the trans
actions Of the Department was quite cniir,Iy co,.
hned to what the Department had done prior TO the
Spring of 1888, and That the report relates to comnara.
uveliy nothing that has transpircd since that period
ANA yet such Is the fact. So, on pare 10 of their o.
port me committee say-thcy "arc satisfied that great
confusion hGS been introduced into the trons,ctiu1s or
IL department by combined and improved bids. and tle
contracts founded upon them; and, in their opinion. the
practice should be totally abandoned" Yet the rc,ort
nowhere says, that no such {" combined and i,n,r..y.d
bids have been the foundation of any contracts made Inv
The department during the past two years. and reported
upon by the committed, and that they have been, in cf-
icct; abandoned long IN advance of the recommendation
. the committee. Inc Ola contracts OF this character
had not, of course, all expired.
On page - Of the report, in reference to the sugccs-
ton OF MO. Il. Brown, that ii was iInpracticable to de-
tefnlihe 70 nj! cases how The mails were run, il is said
p" II the books and papers of the department were i'm a
proper condition, no such officially as is suggested
could exist" The committee here again ouitt,d to re.
street the application OF their remark 70 the books US they
!etrt prior TO le;Ei, but implc0te, against both their own
intention and the fact. the books IS nOc kept.
On page 90 OF the report, where the committee state
inc general conclusions to which their minds have
been brought, 1t is said The finances of the de-
paFlinent have hitherto been managed without frugalty.
system intelligence, OF adequate public utility. The car
dinh principles of an enlightened economy have been
violated. ignorance q The real fiscal ability of the de-
pafiment has lUna prevailed. EXPENSES have not banp
kept within he limits ofincome. Mems nav No. 49,"
Proporuoncd 10 the cnds sought to BE obtained: cyrcn-
aitGFcs, 10 Tue benefits purchased. The records Of the
department ~ ihls vital particular, have not been sept
with method and accuglcy, for the data ary furnish corr.
vr9gs : Wrielk farYiA tssaiis. The accounts of the re-
-oN' ~ '~e' i''stiate Wlth certainty, Che actual fiscal
condition of the department"
IN te three other general conclusions TO which the
committee arrived, thc same general and indefinite Ian
guoge rs USED, indefinite ! mean. as tc the time which ft.v,
were Ihtenuco 90 embrace IL dJcs MOI appenr. as Il
ought that ali these CONCLUSIONS rsl4tc ysJ,tt5.e,,t =. ~
transactions G. the department prioY 10 lS33. and moi a,
all TO The transactions Of tie last two years. The cen
serious part just quoted, relative to the finances and mode
d accounting tor the same, is proved 10 be applicable
ohIy TO Tie administration Of Tie department prior to the
accession OF 'ial. Barry, by another fact stated in tLc
report VIZ; on poge . ii is said" the Tut debt; Of The
amount to only SD 10. 10y
When The immensely of the funds that have been IN.
vowed IN me operations Of The department. during the
p'iiou stated snail have been seen, las IL will be dirrS, Iv s
the great precision and care with which CHE acconrts' -
uu i'eelPls' expenditures and losses oftl.c department, :"
must and actually have been kept under Major BoIr'y
a'" uHTtig ms whole administration, are i|IrcfuiaLly cs.
hbiished. Sucha result of itself must strike cvcrv mind
a S"''"oiIIhS'y ana us proving inconiestbly that il
was entirely beyond the intention Of the committee in
thcIT 1eiurc-nGmcdr remarks. to embrace this br,,cL 90
Maj. r.. administration.
l might proceed TO point ont ether instances wherein
'"' "lU4e arm oi remark and ccnsurc contained i'm the
report IS concentrated upon Mai Barry's aduiuisftou io,
u 'He a'partmcni, from the want Of proper restrictions
"Po" 'e meaning oil The committee, and against their
PoS.uFc intentions; and TO show that, therein. great I'M.
justice is done oboth Ma. Barry and The members of tbe
con'lHtl'S' Inc impressions which the report is thus
chicuIattd TO create upon the mind of the pt neral reader
ulc thilIeIy erroneous and unintCntional
Passing iromsuch considerations. which / have dceued
1t proper you should in a measure understand in tIc a",'
SET l can assure you, from minute examination am,
lully persuaded, that tie present organization and divi.
SION "i laborin The 7. q. Department. are also. and since
s y,,ty "a ~ nave Degn' under Ma. Barry, in the best
S,d'c ~ Clhciency. The labor and operations of the
department are immense. The People Of tI,is co,,ntrv
nave no adequate conception OF their magnitude. And
am also persuaded, that members Of Con~rrss oennrolv
have but "a little better UNDERSTANDING of fSo,n ,.,i.,
OIL examination into IT, Even the cxauioin., co,n.
nittce did not make themselves ACQUAINTED with tLis
important feature Of the department. from sonin II y
Planned reason. Yet, 60 have done Mai. Barry Justice
ana To- determine whether the department IL yy,II od,,'
niS'cTcH or not, at This tlmc, it would seem to have bccn
one "i me iirst iuTurCs-Uhat IS tie iuhsrigr a,.y,D;-o
go" " Me DtP9ytmcHt' Is there d iudicious DIVISION of
i'Oor Is there q mu;Jrity olItsponsLhty 10 The IIcod
among subordinatcst What arc the cbocks ,.,, G,
proceedings oil each subordinate What their ,t.c,,,o.
'aGIiiy How has this accountability been cnlorccd5
Ipcn thc results of such and s.!ulur inluitics. nub1c
"P'"i,h would nave very properly TUNED either In praise
OF I'D ccnsuc. OF Major u O. administration. But sucl, n
PROCEDURE has not boon adopted by tic committee. nd
ie ItPoIl o. ue comuHt;c" scarcely adgcds o. auehtout
'Wt detected faults OF the department.. as u,y G,isted
PRIOR TO the iusi two years, and brings into view, not a
s''Re merit nora word OF comnc1datI ~ for auuht Uat
- "''h u'''hpliSht by hdl. Barry for The country Gu-
il5 u' sN years 1l lWs OincHI services.
Nnrn thr magnitude Of the department is taken inf,
Wv WIN US enormous aggregate of services pcflorucd
iI il.'H, ylcidfnS no revenue, and for ether. at stitr.
s,!"o Prices ana Tor thc c,5er several departments ofihc
'"to'a' N'ytI""'' nii THh0W HycompcnsofO t~rialtrcy.
Pe"",i''" nhntctoj wien % Is considered what T. vast
number ci 1geuts and suborJ.ua:es, of varions Grade.
are necessarily employed ODD gdninistcfine the ocyar.
hcnl, ana 0vtt what % wide domain these aIrpfs
ana s"hotGinaio~ are fcaU'i,i, and that Tie fdclt,
ahd"inaiYiou1l responsibility ti each che. i'm n rr,,f
or OF lcss degruc, is br5utht back TO rc.t ,D.6, uo
single Head OF the d"p1rlmcuf-up. the T.. 81 tirrrr,t
aionr-uie wonder 81 thc American rceplc ca.un,, L,t
oc tActed, ih1t Cine administration Of thc droittu.rit Lns
O''n 50 conducted $50 successfully and trunnh,piv
oonu'a''ui DIS To- aci"'Ve Csc two great ends witch a,c
PI"V'G even by ihc aforesaid co|tluil'rc report. To- lave
betn achieved beyond dispute, viz -
isi lie preservation oi uhc department again.t I,s.es
ny D"" HtDfS, except 900 thc sum Of SD go. from D,e III
'u.iy 70 To lt Jniy lS3i, a period OF six years.
IDLY The capacity Of The department a. rre, ;,.,lr
WHOLLY trum CUNl NNrirlu fIr pl..n.F H