South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-21

alone Apply the corrective 20 t1'is eSN'
Esd The mode of preparing sdvef.
tisements for mail contracts has practl'
cally inverted the ends Of the law,
which eDjoined it. The law designed
it as great safeguard against fraud
and imposition, by bringing the saluta-
ry principle Of competition into active
and beneficial operation. The usage
OF the Department, in conjunction with
the highly reprehensible practice OF re-
ceiving amalgamated bids, has frustrat-
edthe wisdom efthis precauion, 81 REM
dersd the system Of lettings, in regard to
the more important routes, little more
than an empty form OF bitter mockery.
"Fhe interposition Of the Legislative
power is, in the opinion OF the Com
mittee, unnecessary in this instance, as
they deem the existing enactments ad-
equate to their object.
"4.h. The practice Of grating extra
allowances has, at various dates in the
| history Of this Department, run into
wild excuses some llegilimate, and
therefore without an pology; & others
legitimate, but very questionable as to
their e1pediency. 10 this source may
be ascribed, without hazard of error,
much of the embarrassment Of the
Department /; and, in whatever aspect
this committee has had opportunity to
examine it, it strikes them that its
practical operation has been fraught
with nluch more OF evil than of good.
| Among its other achievements, it has
| signalzsd most eminently the too rea-
DIV faith and too loose iness-method
of the Department. The letter of a
! contractor, suggesting an Improvement
and soliciting an extra allowance, not
unfrseuently has served the double
Office Of an authority for the grant, and
| of record of its existence. Some
dark corner Of contract, or loose
1 scrap Of paper, is commonly the only
1 official evidence of the order for large
disbursements Of money, under the
name Of extra allowances. 1t is a
puzging problem to decide, whether
this discretionary powers throughout
its whole existence, has done most
mischief 10 the character Of impostor
| upon the Department, or seducer TO
contractors. 1t has, doubtless, been
/ an vil-doer, in both guises.
"The committee have not deemed
it within the scope of their authority to
prepare bill. This duty comes within
| the proviace Of Standing Committee
of the House.
! "The committee, in surveying the
wide field of their labors, regret only
4 that their reward had not been discov'
cries of more pleasing character.
1 They had hoped that their researches
/ would have brought to light the fruits
of an enlightened and well directed la
| Dor, instead of proofs Of error and
neglect. But they have finished the
task assigned them with an honest
! purpose and to ,herbest Of their ability.
1t remains for Congress to give more
! perfect organization to this Depart
ment and, for those who administer
it, to bring 10 its renovation the most
efficieat and persevering application Of
practical talent and business-like habit,
with general and vigilant personal
superintendeRce Mat. Int.
The Report of the Minority Com
mitteeconcludes with the following sug-
gestion, the Significance of which the
Intelligencer hopes, will not belast up.
on its readers:
"Many important subjects other than
mail contracts and extra allowances,
remain to be examined, particularly the
incidental accounts of the Department,
and of Pos, Offices, and the most i'm
portant OF all, the pecuniary condition
of the Department.
"The Committee were not authoriz-
ed to report by bill, or to propose any
course for the aetien of the House
much less would the Minority feel them
selves warranted in offering an opinion
as to what that course should be-
whether to revise the post Office laws
alone-or to exercise the Constitution
al power of the House as the grand in.
quest of the Nation. "-Ib. FEB. 10.
Publications of the Messrs. Harpers
and Brothers, of New York.
"During the year that has just end.
ed, the issues of this house have a.
mounted to upwards Of five hundred
thousand books, of the average size of
Bulwef's 'Last Days Of Pompeii."-