The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1836-12-17

subject Of mail contracts with railroad COM
panies. The present laws, providing for the
making Of contracts, are based upon the
presumption that competition among bidders
will secure the service At fair price But
on mos, Of the railroad lines, shere Is no
competition in that kind Of transportation,
and advertising is therefore useless. NO
contrac, can now be made with them except
such az shall be negotiated before the time
of offering, OF afterwards, and the Powe! OF
the Postmaster General 10 paw them hieh
prices. Is practically without Limitation. !.
would be relief to him. and no douo' woaio
conduce 10 the public Interests, tn Prescr'Oe'
by law, some equitable basis upon which
such contracts shall rest, and restrict HIM oy
fixed rule Of allowance. Under liberal
&C, Of tha, sort he would undoubtedly be
able to secure the services Of mos, Of the
railroad companies. and the interest OF the
Department would be thus advanced.
The correspondence between the people
Of the United States and the European ma
tions, and particularly with the British Is
lands, has become very extensive. aud re-
quircs the inierpostion OF Cougrcss 10 s'Tc
il security. No obstacle is perceived TO an
interchange OF mails bc,weeu New YORK
and Liverpool. or other foreign ports as
proposed By the Postmaster General; on The
contrary, il promises. By tho security II VIII
afford, 10 facilitate commercial transactions,
| aud girc rise TO an enlarged intercourse
among the people Of dtffoscn, nations, which
cannot but have happy effect. Through
| the city OF New York most Of the cores
pondcncc between the Canadas and Eulopc
IS now carried on, and urgent representa-.
tons have been received from the head Of
the Provincial pos, Office, asking The inter
position Of the United States TO guard II
from the accidents and losses to which il is
now subjected. Some legislation appears TO
be called for. as well BY our own interest,
as BY comfy 10 the adjoining British Pro-
vincca
The cxpcdieney OF providing frc-proof
building for the imponan, books and papers
Of tho Posi- Office Department, is worthy OF
consideration. In the present condition OF
cur Treasury. it is neither necessary nos
wise 10 lcarc essential public Interests expos.
cd to SO much danger, when they can 50
readily be made secure There arc weigh'y
considerations in tho location Of new build
ing Go, the Department. in favor Of placing
il near the other Executive buildings.
The importan, subjects OF surrey OF the
coast, aud tho manufacture OF standard of
weights and measures for the different Gus
,om-houscs. have been in progress fur some
gears, under the gcncral dircctiou Of the
Executive, and The immediate supet'n'cnd-
cncc of gentleman possessing high ssicn-
life atlaiumen,s. Al tho last session Of
Congress, the making Of SC, Of weights
and measures for each Stale tn the Union
was added 10 the others ty Join, resolution.
The care and correspondence rs To all
ibrsc srbicsis have been devolred on the
Treasury dcpar,mei during the last year
A speeiai :cport from tho Secretary Of
the Treasury will soon be communicated
TO Congress, which will show what has
been accomplished Us 10 The whole. The
number and compensation Of The. persons
now employed in these duties, and The
progress expected 10 be made during The
ensuing year, with copy Of The various
correspondence deemed necessary tol
throw ligh. on the subjects which; seem
10 require additional legislation. Claims
have been made tor retrospective allow
auccs IN behalf Of The superintendent,
aud some Of his assistants, which did
no. feel justified in granting; other claims
have been made for largo increases in
compensation. which, under oil tho cir
cu,us,anccs OF tho several cases. de.
elincd making wi,hou, the express sane !
ton Of Congress. In order TO obtain
that sanction. tho subjcc: was a, tho last
session. OH my suggestion. and by request
of the immediate superintendent. submit.
ted by The Treasury Department 10 the
Couim,,iec Of Commerce OF The Hocac
Of Representatives. But 10 Legislative
,c,inu having taken place. the early NJ.
,cniion Of cungrcss j. now invited To tho
cnsciumrn, of some express aud detailed
provisions in relation 10 the various
claim. made for the past. and to The CON-
pcnsaiion and allowances dccmea proper
for the future.
I. is further respectfully recommended
that such being the Inconvenience OF at {,