Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-12-31
, chief clerk for general duties. The examination

a chief clerk for general dutes- Ihe elimination
Of pos,u,astcrs accounts, amounting 10 about A.
200 ANNUALLY, sending Out errors, and other alien-
dant services. constitute severe duty, and require
lS clerks. The rrei.tration Of postmasters' ac-
COUNTS, after examination, aud keeping the leeers
Of the Department, requires eight clerks. To
keep the pay books, sec that postues,crs pay oyer
their balances and return the receipts, and prepare
contractors accounts for settlement, requires niue
CLERKS. To collect balances from former posi-
masters and others. make out statements OF the
accounts, and superniend suits and prosecutions,
requires OF present sese1 clerks over each oil
tb,sc considerable branches Of duty there must he,
as At present, principal clerk, tor whom libe, al
nro,ison should be made IL is but Just TO tie
gentlemen employed this arduous portion OF the
public service, 10 >ay. that their compensation. IN
general compared It'll that given IN other Depart
menis OF the Government, has hitherto been dis
proportioned TO the labor required Of them, and
as TO married men, inadequate to the support Of
their families, and the education Of their children.
To complete Ale organization Of that office, thero
mus, also be a messenger and one assistant mes
seneor.
The proposed Reorganization would somewhat
reduce the number OF persons employed in the bu-
sness of the Posi- OIioe, by rendering useless the
olorks now occupied IN making out the Postmaster
Generals accounts for the Treasury, As also tn.
clerks employed IN examining them ia the Fifth
AUDITORS Office, If not also those il the Compt-
rollers office, assigned In the same duty
TIE utility Of requiring all tho Post Oihee ae-
counts to be reported 10 the Comptroller, Is not
perceived. Ii would perhaps promote the ends OF
Justice and operate as saluraty check upon the
Auditor, ii an appeal were allowed to the Compt
roller al the instance ofthe claimant or Postmaster
General, should either, IN any easc, he dissatisfied
with his decision.
Ii the bushes, Of ahe Post Office Depart
ment were thus organized. II nigh, be
CURED Of the Postmaster General to furnlsh
10 Compress, annually, specific estimates, set
Ting forth the sums expected to be required
under each head OF general account now appearing
IN the books, aud any others that Congress might
require TO be opened and after obtaining an APP
preparation OF the aggregate for the support Of the
Post Oflir, Establishment, not TO exceed The cur
rent revenue, to render an account al the next
session of the amount expanded for each purpose
specified in his estimates. 1t would be further
Improvement If all allowances were prohibited o.
ther Than for services rendered III pursuance of
some prc-esistinc law Nntraet, or lawful reeula-
ton, and small ,ortinNn appropriation were
assigned 10 the Postmaster General, like those
made 10 the service of,ho M,cr Departments. 10
rnre, necessary expenditures, which cannot br
foresecn provided for by contract or regulation.
Essential improvement tight be made, as is be-
loved in some portions OF fhclaw regulating the de-
tails of duty assigned 10 the Postmaster General,
particularly rs 10 the making OF contracts. Ad
diilonal precautions arc necessary against ifre-
>ponsbe bidding, and 10 prevent combinations in
furious TO the Department. II bidders re-
quircd, in all cases 10 furnish the names uirespon
>ihr securities with their bds, who should be bound
from the date Of acceptance, II would prevent the
bids OF worthless men and mere spcculators, which
now produce great Inconvenience to the Depart
ment, and lmotImcs serious loss. And II, ON the
other hand. combinations 10 prevent competition
were puni>hab" by perpetual exclusion from the
service of the Departmental would, it is believed
have an excellent effect ON is Interests, as well as
The character ot Is contractors.
II - worthy OF consideration whether it would
not be- e,pedcnt To change the rates OF letter post
are making them conform 10 the national currency,
IN eradttons of 3. 10. -, 20, 25 & 80 cents Such
i prov isinn would save almost half the Labor NOW
required in the examination OF accounts in the ID,
fartmrn, and prevent nomirrIcS errors. II
would a>o much simplify the system, ifthc mum
BIER of miles 10 which these rates should apply,
were doubled at each increase OF rate from thu
loves, TO thu highest.
There have been many changes III mail routes
since their original establishments that il isnov
their origin in the law, through all mutations,
down 10 their prcson, condition.. 1t would con-
tribute greatly Ia the convenience oi the Depart
ment If they were all re-csabli,lcd in act, with
such alterations and additions, as the accommodate
non al the public may require, and the interests of
the Department admit. \ portion of the surplus
revenue will be required 10 make improvements
on existing routes; hut ii is believed, the Depart
ment can, without nconvc niencr put into opera
ton new routes, not exceeding in cost $500 900 a
year, soon as they can be established, and the
necessary arrangements made.
The aid OF legislation is required TO close. g.
quably, some of the old CLAIMS against the De-
partm~n Various demand, eAist for services rem
dcrcd hy authority Of the Department, measur,
sanctioned by usage, which, though 10 some extent
lnst, cannot, IN the opinion of I'll" undersigned, be
al nsiod and paid without the sanction of Congress
II il hoped that power may be vested in the Au-
dilor, ii one be created, with the sanction of the
Comptroller, 10 settle these claims upon principles
Of Justice aud equity or this course be not deem
ed espedient, that Congress viii provide some o.
Their means for their speedy adjustment.
The UNDERSIGNED cannot close this comnunica-
ton, without paving An humble tribute 10 the worth
Of patriot and 'rcnd--lhr late Postmaster CEN
eral. II may be said q. him. ns thr Head of this
Department. that tho reason he had not a better
fortune was that h. too good man. In o.
iher positions, and under other circumstances he
would have been one of the creates, and most
useful, as he WIS of the best, and most hirhl,
endowed, of oury'nhlic men Having for
than twenty Years been acquainted With Mr.
BARRY, and been honered with lis frndship !;