Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-03
GENERAL POST OFFICE.


and minority of the committee in relation to
the financial condition of the Department. The
majority supposed that on the first day OF April
last the deficit in the means Of the Department
to meet its engagements, amounted to 1892, 567,
Except old balances prior TO first October, 49,
33) The minority supposed the deficit to be
1922, 100 4S cts. These several opinions were
founded on estimates furnished by the Depart
ment The committee, in September last, came
to determination to ascertain the true imam
cial condition of the Department on that day,
from actual calculations and, for that purpose
two skilfu accountants were employed, who
have been assiduously engaged since that time,
but have not been able to report 10 the commit
tee the result of their labors.
From detailed statement Of the finances,
furnished by the Department t. the committee,
il appears, that on the lst day of April, 1884, 1t
was indebted, beyond its available means, the
sum of 1884 SSl 90, which is 81, 227 56 less than
the estimate made by the minority of the COM
mittee at the last session, and $751;, 562 OS less
than the estimate Of the ma jority of the commit
tee, Except old balances prior to first October,
1882
After receiving this financial statement from
the Department the committee went into an eX-
animation of one Of the important items In the
statement and received detailed account from
the Department which showed the accuracy vi
the statement contained in the report so far as
related TO ii.
This item consisted of $685. and SO cents,
which the financial statement showed had been
carried to bad debts, profits and loss, and sus-
pended accounts, and we've not carried forward
in the books of that department as constituting
any portion of its funds. From the time they
were entered under these heads, rumor had said
much respecting impositions practised by con-
tractors for the supply of paper, particularly
wrapping paper, and twine. The committee
proceeded to Providence, Boston, and Lowell.
to procure testimony upon the subject, and the
whole testimony, in its opinion, clearly esta-
blishes the facts, that the contractor, Charles
Green, al Boston, who furnishes large supplies
of these articles, has performed his contract
with the Department with fidelity, and that in
the vast aaount of wrapping paper furnished
by him there was only one detective parcel OF
paper, which was thrown upon the hands Of the
manufacturer so soon as its effectiveness was
discovered which was after a small portion of
il was used; and the defect in that parcel Of pa
per was of kind that it was not dscernible in
its appearance, but could only be discovered in
its use.
Horatio Hill and Cyrus Barton, contractors
at Concord, Y. H., appear to have faithfully per-
formed their contracts also for these articles
The suggestion that the Postmaster at Boston
had any interest in the contracts with the De
partment for the supply of these articles, is
clearly shown by the testimony to be without
any foundation in fact.
The conduct Of the Postmaster at Lowell
Mass. was examined and nothing prejudicial
to him is proved, except slight inattenton to
duty, which produced no injury to the public or
individuals.
Here follows the case of Mr.. o. E. Brown
copied in yesterdays Gazette
1t also appears that shortly before the Bank
of Maryland failed, Mr.. Brown had deposited
i'm il $4,000 of his own money! that after the fail
ho krop Of domestic
which bore five per cent interest to the Depart
ment and caused the Department to be credited
in the books OF the Bank for the same, the De-
partment then being indebted to the Bank in a
considerable amount and also procured Gre
dit in the books Of the Department for the
amount to himself
The unusual number and amount Of extra al
lowances to mail contractors, has been eXa-
mined, and the principal cause which has pro-
duced them is believed to be. that the Depart.
ment has not, at some of the lettings of mail
contracts advertised for sufficient amount OF
service; hence has arisen the necessity of an
immediate enlargement of the service and COM
pensation, and the spirit of the law, which de-
signed that full and fair competition should
be preserved among bidders for the transporta-
ton Of the mail, has not been observed To
obviate this evil, il is proposed that the full SER
vice intended shall be advertised for, and some
principles are laid down in regard to making
mai COUtIdC anu dleTWdTUS changing Inefl;
and it is found that the Department, at its two
last lettings of contracts, has advertised for all
the expected service, and has succeeded gene
rally in making contracts advantageous to the
Department.
The committee, by resolution, called upon
the Postmaster General for an inspection Of all
the papers upon which one Postmaster was re-
moved and another appointed in his place at
Putnam, Ohio The only one Of the minority
then present dissented from the adoption of the
resolution. The Postmaster General declined a
compliance with the resolution, and gave his
reasons, at length, in a communication to the
committee. A discussion of the question in
volved, is deemed unnecessary in this report, as
it is believed that the Senate ITSELF on the LIST of
April 1880, decided against its right to make
such inquiry, by postponing, indefinitely, by a
vote of "a to 81, certain resolutions calling on
the Executive for the reasons for removals from
office. On the 18th of February, 1881, the Sc
nate again, by vote Of "a to 81, declared that
the Select Committee appointed to inquire into
the condition Of the Post Office Department. was
not authorized to make inquiry into the reasons