Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1837-01-04

.he postmaster general recommends
;tself \ It only by the reduction it pro-
, , hut w the simplicity of its ar
lancer ;ts conformity with the fe-
dersl currency, anu the i improvement pcovaa. Mt
it will introduce into IT,. accounts OF
the department and its agents. .,.;.oa
Your particular attention is IN ''. ~
to the subject Of mail contracts VII
rail road companies. 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. 1aton most
of the rail road lines, there is no COM
petition in that kind of transportation,
and advertising is therefore useless.
No contract can now be made with
them except such as shall be negotiated
before the time of offering, or after
wards, and the power of the post-mas-
ter general to pay them high prices, is
practically without limitation. 1t
would be relief to 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 fixed rule of
allowance. Under liberal act of that
sort he would undoubtedly be able TO
secure the services of most Of the rail
road companies, and the interest ofthe
department would be thus advanced.
The correspondence between the peo-
pie ofthe United States and the Euro
pean nations, and particularly with the
British islands, has become very ex-
tensivc, and requires the interposition
of congress to give it security. No OBJ
stacle IS perceived to an interchange of
mails between New York and Liver
pool, or other foreign ports, as propo-
sed by the postmaster general; on the
contrary, it promises, by the security
| it will afford, to facilitate commercial
transactions, and give rise to an cnlar-
ged intercourse among the people Of
different nations, which cannot but have
happy effect. Through the city Of
New York most Of the correspondence
between the Canadas and Europe is
now carried on, and urgent represen-
tations have been received from the
head Of the provincial post Office, ask
ing the interposition of the U. States
to guard it from the accidents and loss
es to which it is now subjected. Some
Some Legislation appears to be called
for, as well by our own interest, as by
comfy to the adjoining British provin-
ces.
The expediency Of providing fire
proof building for the important books
and papers Of the post-oftice depart
mcnt, 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 readi-
ly be made secure. There are weigh
ty considerations in the location OF a
new building for the department, in ia
vor of placing it near the other execu-
tive buildings.
| The important subjects Of survey
of the 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 ola gen.
tleman possessing high scientific at
tainments. At the last session of
congress, the making of set Of
weights and measures for each state in
the union was added to the others by a
joint resolution.
The care and correspondence as to
all these subjects have been devolved
on the treasury department during the
last year. A special report from the
secretary of the treasury will be soon
communicated to congress, which will
show what has been accomplished as
to the whole, the number and compen-
sation of the persons now employed in
these duties, and the progress expected
to be made during the ensuing year,
with copy of the various correspond
ence deemed necessary to throw light
on the subjects which seem to require
additional legislation. Claims have
been made for retrospective allow
ances in behalf Of the superin-
tendent, and some Of his assistants,
which did not feel justified in grant
ing; other claims have been made fsr
large increases in interpretation, WI: !,
under all the circume.l ,cee or tho aa',:
ra' -..ses, declined making without
the express sanction Of congress. In
order to obtain that sanction, the subj.