Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-12-14

the Postmaster General recommend
Itself, not only by the reduction il pro
poses, but by the simplicity Of its ar
rangement, its conformity with the Fe.
deral currency, and the Improvement;
AZ will introduce into the accounts o
the Department, and its agents.
Your particular attention is invited
TO the subject Of moil-contracts with
rail road companies. The present laws
providing for the making of contracts,
are based upon the presumption that
competition among bidders viii secure
the service at a fair price. But on
most of the rail road lines, there is no
competition in thatlkmd Of transporta-
ton, and advertising is therefore use
less. No contract can now be made
with them except such as shall be ne.
gotiated before the time Of offering, or
afterwards, and the power ofthc Post.
master General to pay them high pri.
ces, is practically without Limitation.
1t would bea reliefto him, and no doubt
would conduce to the public interest,
to prescribe, by law, some equitable
basis upon which such contracts shall
rest, and restrict him by a fixed rule OF
allowance. Under a liberal act ofthat
sort he would undoubtedly be able to
secure the services of most of tie rail.
road companies, and tho interest OF the
Department would be thus advanced.
The correspondence between the
people ofthe United States and the Eu.
ropean nations, and particularly with
the British islands, has become very
extensive, and requires the interposi.
ton of Congress to give it security
No obstacle is perceived to nm inter.
change of mails between New York
and Liverpool, or other foreign ports,
as proposed by the Postmaster Gener-
al /; on tho contrary, it promises, by
the security it will afford, TO facilitate
commercial transactions, and give rise
TO IN enlarged intercourse among the
people OF Indifferent nations, which can
not but have a happy effect. Through
the city Of New York most of the cor
respondence between the Canadas and
Europe is now carried on, and urgent
representations have been received
from the head of the Provincial post
office, asking the interposition Of the
United States to guard it from the nc.
Icidents and losses TO which it is now
subjected. Some Legislation appears to
be called for, as well by our own inte-
rest, as by comfy to the adjoining Bri-
fish Provinces.
The expediency ofproviding n fire.
proof building for the important books
and papers Of the Post Office Depart.
ment, is worthy Of consideration. In
the present condition of our Treasury,
It is neither necessary nor wise TO leave
essential public interests exposed TO so
much danger, when they can SO read,
lily be made secure. There are weigh.
.ty considerations in the location Of a
new building for the Department, in
favor Of placing it near the other Elk.
ecutive buildings.
The important subjects Of a survey
ofthe coast, and the manufacture of a
standard Of weights and measures for
the different custom-houses, have been
in progress for some years, under the
general direction Of the Executive, and
the immediate superintendent of a
gentleman possessing high scientific
attainments. At the last session of
Congress, the making Of a set OF
weights and measures Tor each State in
the Union was added to the others by
a joint resolution.
The care and correspondence ss to
all these subjects have been devolved
on the Treasury Department, during
the last year. A special report from
the Secretary ofthc Treasury will soon
be communicated to Congress, which
will show what has been accomplished
as to the whole, the number and the
compensation Of the persons now en-
'ployed in these duties, and the progress
expected to be made during the enSu-
ing year, with u copy of the various
Jul iSoPOiIbtBSC dCCiilcu DCCtsSufJ ~
throw light on the subjects which seem
to require additional legislation. Claims
have been made for retrospective al.
lowances IN behalf Of the supcrintend-
ent, and some of his assistants, which
/ did not feel justified in granting 9TH
err claims have been made for large
increases in compensation, which, I'm"
der all the circumstances of the seve-
raj cases, | declined making without
the express sanction of Congress. In
order to obtain hat sanction, the SUBJ
ject was at the last session, on my sug-
gestion, and by request of the lmmedl-
ate superintendent, submitted by the
Treasury Department to the Commit
tee of Commerce of the House Of Re-
representatives.. But no legislative ac-
ton having taken place, the early at
tention of Congress is now invited TO
the enactment Of some express and de-
tailed nrOvisiopc IN ralatiop IN the va.