Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-07-06

ses; some illegitimate, and, therefore,
without ain apology; and others legitimate,
but very questionable as to their expedi-
ency. To this source may be ascribed,
without hazard or error, much of the en-
barrassmen: 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 much more evil than of.good.
Among its other achievements, If has sig-
nallzed most eminently the too ready
faith and too loose business method of the
Department. The letter of contractor,
suggesting an improvement, and solicit
ing an extra allowance, not unfrequently
has saved the double Office of an authori-
ty for the grant, and record of its exist
ence. Some dark corner Of contract,
or loose scrap of paper, is commonly the
most official evidence OF the order for
large disbursements of money, under the
name of extra allowances. 1t is puz-
zling problem to decide whether the dis
cretlonary power, throughout its whole
existence, has done most mischief in the
character of impostor upon the Depart
ment, or seducer to contractors. 1t has,
doubtless been an evil-doer in both guis-
es."
The minority of the committee, conn.,
posed of Messrs Elisha Whittlesey, Hor-
ace Everett, and John G. Watmough,
went into more minute analysis of these
case, and occupied about twenty-five pa
ges in their comments. In relation to the
contracts, service and pay on the routes
from Washington through Baltimore to
Philadelphia, page 105, these gentlemen
report as follows, viz:
"ln dissecting this contract (misnam-
ed "improred controct',) there is not as
much service required TO be performed,
as Mr.. Stockton was Obliged to perform
by the contract as awarded to him under
the advertisement. The most important
and expensive service is dispensed with
by the contract with the steamboat COM
pany; more time is allowed on the next
most important route than was given by
the advertisement; and on all the other
routes embraced in the improved con-
tract, the contractor is not bo1nd to OBJ
serve any particular time, because no
schedule is attached to his contract, and
the Postmaster General cannot enforce
any one penalty mentioned in the con-
tract against him; and yet he has been,
and now is, in the annual allowance of
$4,000 for doing nothing, except rum
ming an additional mail from Washington
to Baltimore, (if indeed any additional
mail has been sent, not provided for in
the Virginia contract, on a route where
he has four or five lines of stages.
elf he carries one or two additional
mails from Baltimore 10 Washington,
such service is greatly more than counter
balanced by his being released from car
rying the mail by steamboats, from Balti-
more to Philadelphia"
And in reference to statement from
the Postmaster at Washington, Of the
number of mails carried between this city
and Baltimore, they speak as follows,
viz.
elf Mr.. Stockton's compensation de.
pended on this statement, there is not a
person in the community, who, being
placed in the jury box, would pay him
for carrying more than two mails. And
if their was controversy between him
and the Postmaster General, to what
quarter would Mr.. Stockton be as ready
to look for evidence as TO the Post Office
in this city ? If more than two mails
are carried daily, how does it happen
that those whose duty it is to make up
the mails know nothing definite on the
subject2 Until something more decisive
shall appear, it may be assumed as fact,
that no more than two daily mails have
been sent from this Office to Baltimore
since lst January, 1882"
On page 1O9, they say, "the allowa:l-
ces to Mr.. Stockton under this contract,
are of most extraordinary character"
And on page 100, they sum up the result
as follows, viz:
"The history Of the Post Office De-
partment cannot furnish a case where a
contractor hasbeen more generously dealt
by, in failing to fulfil his engagement.
Con the 3lst day of December, 1885,
the day the contract expires, Mr.. Stock
ton andthe steamboat company will have
been paid, on this single contract, more
money than would have been paid if the
bids of Mr.. Beltzhoover and others had
been accepted, and no improper allowan-
ces had thereafter been made, by the fol-
lowing sums:
To the Steamboat Company
$1,000 annually for four
vears $2s.O0O