Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-19
DOMESTIC NEW >.
From the National Ipteligeneer, FEB. H.
THE POST OFFICE.

The PDS L Of lCE'
In the Hose of Representatives, yesterday, the
bill which has passed the Senate Unanimously
for re ormng the administration OF the Post Othce,
received us first and second reading, and was re-
ed to the Pos, Office Committee.
Iiwss concurrence OF circumstances rather re-
cable, that, on tho same morning, the Commit
tee appointed by the House Of Representatives IN
June last TO examine into tho affairs Of the Post
Office, should have brought in its Report. The Re
port was presented by Mr. Connor the Chairman
Of the COMMITTEE and, withou, reading, (becsuse |
of its grca, length ordered TO lie on the table
and to be printed Mr.. f. Whnlesey, on behalf
Of the Minority OF said Committee, who, he said,
had not been able to take, in all particulars the
same views US the Majority Of tho Committee, o.
fcred Report on their part; which was also Or
dercd to lie on the table, and TO be printed.
We have not, Of course, had ii in our power to
road any maera. portion of these important and
| vouminous documents. But, DESTROYS TO see to
what conclusions the Majority of the COMMITTEE
had arrived US the result Of the investigation, we
TUNED to tho las, pages Of thor Report, and found
| them there stated in such frank and manly terms,
as TO do honor equally to the spirit and intelligence
| of the Committee, who have dared to be honest IN
the teeth of purity. We copy the concluding para
graphs of the Majority Report Chat of the Nine
rity we have not yot examlned)-to which there Is
II
"The Committee, in concluding this brief ma
lyrical review of the results of very patient and
laborious investigate Of the condition and pro-
ceedngs of the Post Office Department should not
consider their duty as fully discharged TO the
House. and 10 the country without frankly submit
ting the general conclusions, 10 which their minds
have been brought The few propositions which
follow and which condense these conclusions. this
, Committee doubt not, if examined. in spirit of
csndor and inrarialiy. will be admitted, as jus.
r corolares from this report
"lst. The finances Of this Department havo hi
thero been managed wi houl ugality, system, in
,elgcnce, or adequate public utility. The card
nal principles of an Gull ghtened economy have
= been violated. Ignorance of the real fiscal ability
c of the Department has long prevailed. Expenses
have not been kept within the limits OF INCOME
c Means have not been proportiened TO the ends
sought 10 be attained; expenditures TO the benefits
II to be purchased. The records of the Department,
IN this vital particular have not been kept with
bod and accuracy: for the data they furnish con-
duet to widely varying results. The accounts Of
. the receipts, expenditures and losses of the De-
# partment do not in fact illustrate with certainty,
v The actual fiscal condition of the Department. No
c common test or standard appears at any time, 10
have been employ cd detect such casual errors
J. might creep in TO derangc the balance between re-
@ ccps and expenditures: and hence the existing I'M
f fortunate excess o. the loer over the former. The
absence OF such test produces The effects of in.
gertrude and doubt. upon the mind as to the accu'
n racy of the conclusion which il may reach by any
!. ordinary process Of investigations; and upon the
. practical operations of the Department. Of per.
e petua liability TO fall into error, without any ccr-
tain mode OF its detection. This evil is within the
" reach of les isaon and sho I'D be corrected by
tabl,shing proper system of checks and balances.
10 " ID The negligent and unsystematie form OF
making and preserving mail contracts Is such, that
lie no human mind could comprehend the whole, and
O. maintain in order so vast and complicated ma
at chine as tho General Post Office. The contracts
a, are now and have, at all times, which have fallen
;, under the Observation of the committee been
n loosely constructed. 1t is occasionally impossible
10 penetrate their obs .urity, often difficult to dcci-
,e phcr their inicrincatons and marginal notes, and
Id always to be doubted whether they are so framed
- and executed as 10 be available in law. An ocu-
is lar inspection Of the Mail Contract Books can
ne alone convey adequate idea Of the careless and
IS confused stale in which they are kept Certain IL
that the experience Of one generalion OF lab,rers
g. in this branch Of the business of tho Office cannot
rs be transmitted, through him, to another. Know
he ledge Of acquircd) is to be obtained rather from
50 those VI no keep the books than the books them
Selves and the consequence is that tbs loss of the
b. book keeper is the extinction of all certain light.
nj, 1.-THE Head OF the Department can alone apply
rs the corrective 10 this evil.
Id "3d. Tho mode of preparing advertisements fo'
,g mail acts has practically inverted the ends OF
a the law, which enjoned it, The law designed il
as a grea, safeguard against fraud and imposition
it, by bringing the sau,ary principle of competition
is into active and benefc al operation. The usngc o
il, the Department, in conjunction with tho highly
he rrehenslble practice OF receiving anal gamated hi IS
has frustrated the wisdom Of this ptecaution, a,o
Sc rendered the system OF lettings, in regard to ,h'
on more important routes. little moro than empty
he form or bitter mockery.
on "1he inter position Of tho legislative power is.ir
of the opinion Of the Committee unnecessary in thi.
to instance, as they deem the existing enae,mens ad
" equate TO their object
in 4th Tho practice Of granting extra ailowan
ces has at various dates in the history Of this De
he parmen run into wild excuses; some ,Negilimat,
to and therefore without an apology; and others legi
L. The committee consisted OF Messrs. Conner
nc Stoddert Z. Wh'nesey. II. Everett. 8eardslcy
Watmough and Hawes