Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-03

allowance.
without sufficient evidence 1850 90
= fork---a charge wholly unprecedented -. 500 90
FOR transporting the mail from Philadelphia
to New York from the LIST January, 1892, to
LIST July, 1854 two years and six months,
heeside has received S54 ,372 Ia His ORR
ginal contract was ST 00G year for carry
ing daily mail, but, in his improved bid,
which was afterwards made the contract
ne agreed Tor $4,000 torun two daily mails
and third mail for 81 sos, making $780,
QUO and furnish guards and carry ali g
presses. This allowance, though cnor-
NOUS, falls short of the sum actually paid
IN TWO years and six months that route,
~ .-'-'-.......- .....---.-.-.,...... 33l22 Ia
30 that the whole sum paid 10 Rccside which
Is ioendcd on no law and on apparent
yesuce ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SlIOID4 81
If the name of Mr.. Recside makes thus nromaen,
hguc IN this summary is because it does so in the Re-
port ana not from preference of ours The private
Pccuary transactions OF the citizen with the Post
master General and with the Chief Clerk of the General
rostoce are also brought into view in come xon VI
ie OF nus extra allowances 50 also his
i9in 70 the Chief Clerk, 60 b. Brown and said Brown
alleged partnership in the contracts OF f. Porter mon
wlich large extra allowances have been made &c ln
reiaoh TO these passages of the Report IL is
caDe Tor Ms to give the whole, forbear making ex
v waSs waieh might only give partial aud imperfect
Adverting again to the generally confused manner in
wnc9 the largest and most important accounts of the
rosonce are kept the Report presents the following
a smaller type: -, - ~
In examining the of Jas Reesde, your Cour
iS33 April 30. Cash deposited in The Les,erp hank
ct PhliadelPhia, $50 U00,'
,,o Your Com,,m,itce, while in PHILADELPHIA examined
the books of the North Western Bank and obtained a
statement ofs transactions with the Post Office Depart
ieht Dy which II appearsith that this sum was raised no
cesae on draft drawn by himself in favor of r. &.
StocSton, and accepted by o. Ii. Brown Chief CLERK
dated The 18th day OF April IS}a and PAYABLE tIrp,
months after date, which draft paid by the Depart
ent az maury so that, the stood at the
une the account of Reside was made ONT and
20 inc committee he was entitled to credit arising
tio tnIS transaction If credit entered on the
LIONS the Tune The draft was negotiated then when
inc draft was paid by the Department there should have
seen charge OF an equal against Reside ito balance
u aus was not done and this sum stood nc crpl;, 4,
hcesde and ii helped to reduce balance of sI 3i NJ
which, notwithstanding his large extra allowances s,oo,
against nun ON the books ofhc Department on the LIST
oi april 1854. Your committee called upon Obadiah
- brown TO explain this transaction and he stated TN,
te draft on which Reeside raised this money had not he
conc que until some time in the month of November
anu tat since that time there had been settlement
WIN me Bank so that the credit could in the ordinary
80 oi tnings DC entered member of your Commit
- 'nei'' IN lie nearing OF the Witness asked for the
statement OF the Cashier of the Western Bank of pbI
ueipa, and the paper not being in the Committee room
~ was sent for, and the witness was dismissed mill /,
should be brought in. After short time the witnes
feturned stated that he had been mistaken; that the
cnuge against Mr. Reside omitted by mistake and
~. s1 sy hsstaEe entered against II. G.. Stockton
o u."t ne RAD promptly CORRECTED the entry on the books
anu tnat 1t was now all right. Your Committee directed
,h o wiess 10 BRING IN the books in which he had made
w correction; he did and showed less than seven
ENSURES anu changes @ eafry which he had caused TO L,
IN inc books IN the short time that your Committee
tae 7sosped him from examinations The credit which 4,
cue 10 books thus kept and thus altered TO suit the
~ Inc OCCASION can be readily appreciated by
After reciting the testimony of C. K Gardner o,o
Oh Tue assistant Pos:masers- General in regard 20 th
PaiuSuiar Transaction khe committee SUN up tic case
Thus, when these acceptances are made they arc
credited 10 the contractor much money pad bv
INN 70 .he use OF the department, though he in fact
pays nothng, but merely lends his drawer or
endorser: the same is charged TO the Bank as SO
inuch deposited to the credit ofthe Department. and
inc drait IS at last taken up by check which is certi
ned TO be for transportation by the three officers who &C
cordihg TO the improved system of checks or disburs-
ment, adopted by Mr. Barry are reouired To ccrtiG
every check which issues from the Department Bui
Dy examining these debts, and credits and certificates
JoT transportation, no accountant however skfIl could
ascertain that sfc expedents had been resorcd TO- or
ii@-J fisfd IN that manner. These certificates upon
Whatever grounds they maybe supported are contrary
: to the plain fact of the case
Alter advcrng farther to the erasnres in The hooks f
the Office, the conflicting testimony of witnesses Sc ali
OF WHICH we are obliged by time to pass by for
che present, the Report comes to the following conoI,
SON. to which give insertion at large as M, less dine
70 thc Importance of the subject than to the indoftil
oe laDors OF the Intelligent Committee by whom it has
been prepared:
So numerous and so great are the abuses which
have grown up in this Department that reform has be-
oe "osoigteiy necessary but the measures by which
IS 10 DC eHeccd arc by free from ebarrass-
ment They arc the difficult as many of the evile
wch require remedy do not arise from defects in the
existing law, bat from habua disregard OF pain To-
gal provisions. They may, however be principa IIv
traced TO the absolute and unchecked power which a
single IndvdUal holds the resources and disburse
ments and all the vast macbinery.of this Department
The checks Of various inferior officers upon each
oher arc o: no value when all guided and controlled
III their acts by one dominant will.
WlthIn the comparatively short period of fify-6yc
years tins Department has from feeble begnnng
nntl IT has acquired revenue equal to that of Inc
Union itself ut te ac Of organization; and it's OK
tensve and diversified operations its patronage its re-
sources, and its power must by the mere lore of cir
cumstanccs, go on increasing indefinitely with ihe IL.
crease OF our country in population, busincas, and
he annual Reports Of the Postmaster Ccnor,il asa
OF little value as restraint upon the Head of the Dc
Partmcnt or as means of calling public attention 20
his Official conduct. These Reports may be true vet
The state of affairs which they indicate cannot be an.
dersood without that careful exalniaatiop which few
or none will feel wliiag to give them amidst the other
arduous duties Of legisatoR: those statements may
be false, and yet few will be disposed Go bestow on
them the labor bodily and mental which would be
necessary TOR their correcoI-and To encounter the
bitterness OF party rancor aud the reckless violence of
party calumny, which those must encounter who ven
tuTe TO explore the secret myscrcs of great patronage
and high power and to expose tcir enornities 10 the
public gaze.
" From reflections these and other Causes LEADING
70 TIE same result, your committee. incline 10 tic
opinion, that there will he few instances in the future
history Of our Country Of full aud searching ga
ton into the conduct and Office