Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-05

M.
opc.~S.', l'.,e ino has been man mo
private express since the ono , h. MAJ 70 set up
Journal of Commerce And il is hoped that The .,.
adopted by the Postnas IN IL ica
VIII teach ali our citizens the inuy such attempts
The next inquiry is whether the Postmaster G neral
mas acted Judlclously in eecting the object intended
he attempted TO make contract for specific sum by
his agentin New York The sum demanded was ,noy We
than the agent thought fair equivalent for tho service
NI heeslae was then directed to perform the service
ana was promised n far compensation therefor The
contractor was TO run the distance ninety miles in sx
according to the testimony
w0 -rsc should be more than
nNr', - .eo sr,, 4s..ss!e necessary to
horseS Tor each day service, exclusive of those which
had TO be kept the line to supply the place of those
disabled by the service Mr. Reesde brought for,
ward to the Department, the of three wit
hesscs, vered by their oaths stating that they were
well acquainted with the service, and that the CHARGE
made by him was fair and reasonable. The account
charges dollar horse for every mile run which
several witnesses say IS the common price for such SER
vice If this price be allowed Mr. Rcese has not recciv
ed more than he was entitled to- Mr. Schcnk who was
employed IN carrying the private express says his tes
umony that sometimes the public express arrived first at
N York, and sometimes the private express Mr. Hale
the editor of the Journal fComncYae saws that tho r
vate express generally arrived first This was owinp no
doubt TO the fact that as the Government ex-
presses commenced running from Philadelphia from
which place the private express had before that
time, Mr. Hale the editor changed the place of start
ing his express TO Port Deposte and afterwards 10
washington cty and by receiving his mail matter at
these places, his express would outrun the mail coach
and pass Philadelphia before the Government EXPRESS
could receive the mail matter to be carried by from the
Post Office in that city.
The deficiencies in the finances of the Department
has arisen mainly from desire in the head of the de-
partment, TO extend the benefits of mail facilities
and stage coach accommodations every porion of the
community; from the extension Of the rankng privilege
and from the legislation of Congress in extending the
transportation OF the mail unproductve routes The
public however, have been greatly benefited and accom-
modatcd by the very which have produced the
present embarrassed condition of the Department That
and most of ha oeen produced by the representa-
Ems ana pressing solicitations of the citizens of towns
ana hcigborhoods through which the increased mail IA
cliiies have been extended. Their applications have
been sustained by members of Congress from alnos,
every section of the country. The recent measures
howoVcT adopted by the Department curtailing mail nc.
commodatoDs seem TO promise a restoration of its adj
mnistration to the true principle upon which il should
be conducted which u.s. that its expenditures should NOT
exceed its own resources and income.
IT Congress should appropriate sufficient snro
70 pay the existing debts against the Department and
by law make the provisions TO be mentioned most
OF winch were suggested at the last session. no
bic poubt could be entertained but that The operato H
the Department would hereafter he safe and economical
and most OF the useful facilities which have scen cnrtal
cd, be restored, and the department enabled from its
own resources to meet the expenditures which win pro
baby produced by the extension and incrcas. Of aa
routes at the next session Of Cor
s1ons recommended