The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-21
TwENTY-FIFrH coNGREss.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, June Is.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
EyEMso Session,
MONDAY, June H.
The House met after the recess, and on motion
Of Mr.. HOPKINS, went into COMMITTEES OF the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr Dayee, OF
Massachusetts, in the ehair) end look up for con-
sderalion the
posr OFFICE BILL.
The bill was read through by States; thai is, the
post routes In Stale were read by the clerk and
any proposed alterations additions were then con-
sidered and disposed Of, when the committee pro-
ceeded TO The routes in The next State In this man
ner the bill was gone through with. As il consists
entirely OF details IL Is Of course impossible TO report
the minuii1 OF the alterations moved, with the fate
of each.
bill, approprating 1926 600 to defray the expense Of
the routes proposed. He stated this approximation
to be indispensable, il the bill should become law
Unless the House agreed to appropriation II was
useless 70 pass the bill For the Department 50 far
from having surplus Of means on hand would be
obiged, unless It's revenue increased TO curta the
routes established; and this bill proposed TO add
nearly 200 routes more, MIR. II. was opposed to The
Oil and 10 the appropriation though il had been his
duiy as member Of The Post Office Committee to
make the motion. He was entirely opposed 10 Civ
ing the Postmaster General discretionary power
10 extend the routes as means should gradually
into his hands; for this would enable him to show
favor al pleasure, TO portion Of the Union al the
expense Of another. MIR. III. had no doubl thai many
Of the routes proposed would be very useful, and
that some Of them were highly necessary; but, with
out an appropriation, they could not be established
unless the existing routes were proporonably cur
tailed There was on the Clerks table letter from
the Postmaster General, IN which, after having ex-
amined the bill as printed he gave i as his opinion
that the routes contained Ia ii would require sum
OF from 100000 to $25O000. Mr. H. taking the
medium between the two, had moved $225, 600
On this amendment debate arose Of much ami
nation, which occupied the House until past
o'clock.
Mr. WISE pressed an inquiry as 10 what was the
existing state oil the Post Office Department When
the present incumbent came into Office, the Depart
ment was in debt nearly million of dollars; YET,
in his very first report, he had stated surplus OF
100000 on hand. This was 10 produce the impress
sion that he al once, as by magic, brought order
then, he had boased that he could take care of him
self and stood in-need Of aid from Congress- but
now It seemed that the people could not have their
usual quota OF new mail facilities unless Congress
should come forward and aid the Department with
quarter of million Of dollars. The old and esta-
blished doctrine had been, that every new posi- route
was 70 pay for itself; yet be must have $3.50
600. Mr. w. stated as his belief that, Che had anv
surplus in his hands, (and the Globe lately boosted
thai ne had $3.50 600 In specie,) he had been manage
ing It for electloneerng purposes. Mr. W. was for
compelling him to disburse He would vote 10 in
crease routes upon him. and not give him an addi-
tional dollar, until he applied his surplus to The ac
commodation Of The people. Were mail routes 10 be
stopped by his mere ipse dixit2 Was he 10 threaten
this House that II they ordered him to establish new
routes he would stop the old ones unless Congress
gave him quarter OF million Of dollars9 Mr.
w would vote the bill, and reject the appropriation:
and then let Mr Postmaster Amos deprive the peo-
pie OF their mail routes if he dared This lacking
an appropriation to the Post Office bill was an enc
tirely novel procedure, and very evil precedent.
Mr. CALHOON, Of Kentucky, referring TO the
report OF the Postmaster General, reminded the
House that he had then stated it be his intention 10
absorb the balance of 800 900 remaining over from
last year in improving the routes established ~ law
but that, owing TO the state Of public affairs he had
suspended this operation; but he gave no details and
entered into no particulars from which II was posi-
Bile for the House to Judge how far the routes had
been extended, how far curtailed or whether The
Department was in debt or now had surplus on
hand II was certain that the express mail had been
dscon.nued % great extent; but il The revenue of
the extent OF half Million still would seem there
must be 10000 on hand. The old States were in
general pretty well accommodated with mail routes.
bu since The last bill had been passed whole towns
and villages had sprung up the West, and regions
OF country then wilderness were becoming densely
populated. He should vote for the BILL and leave on
the Postmaster General the responsibility of putting
the routes under contract or refusing to do So MI
Mr.. MONTGOMERY chairman Of the Commit
tee on the Post Office and Pos, Roads defended the
course and character OF the Postmaster General and
maintained that the case was as plain as the sun
Mail facilities had been largely extended but in the
meanwhile the embarrassments Of the country had
reduced the revenues Of the Department, and con-
tracts had risen 20 30 per cent easy there
fore, to how the surplus would be absorbed The
Postmaster General was indifferent whether the bill
passed not Indeed his opinion was rather against
the expedency OF passing 1t. But ii it did pass one
of two things was unavoidable; either the House
must appropriate money, or some of the existing
routes must be dispensed with.
Mr.. MERCER adverted to the rule which had
always existed in the Department that its expenses
had always been regulated by its receipts and the
Postmaster General had been guilty Of great blum
der IL he had restrained himself from the means Of
extending mail routes to the new States As TO the
100000 mentioned in his report, that was in the De-
partmen before the contracts for this year had been
made, and il could not be known at that time what
the surplus would be. The contracts were made in
October, and the surplus was manifested in Janua-
ry. When Mr. Barryretired from office, he left the
Department heavily in debt, yet such had been its
prodlctiveness, that there was already surplus Of
100000. 1t could not, therefore, be necessary to
appropriate money out Of the Treasury to carry this
bin into effect.
Mr. MONTGOMERY now delivered eulogy
on the integrity and ability of MIR Kendall. but ex-
pressed his beiefthat he was in error In supposng
thatso large an appropriation SS2500 900 would be
necessary The Postmaster General had only look
ed at the expense Of the routes, without consider
ing the revenue that would accrue from them If
the appropriation was refused and the bill passed
he must 90 into the painful and difficult operation OF
cutting down the routes now existing, and must lay
his account to hear himself abused Ike pick-pocket
from one end of the Union to the other The De-
partmen had received $4,000 600 at the last session:
and Mr.. M had no doubt il could maintain the
routes that were now established. MIR. M remon-
strated against The embarrassment created by the
specific appropriations and The inability Of the Post
master Generalto apply surplus of one appropria-
ton 10 make up deficiency in another illustrating
the case by supposing deficiency in mail locks
mail bags wine or any other particular head of ex
pend,ure. lie thought that the whole revenue OF
the Department ought TO be put al the disposal of the
head of the Department He adyerted Ia The great