Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-10
The President Of tho United States S'' '-'"
IRON THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT

~. H..
SiR: The arrangement of business At and the
manner OF returns To the General Post Oii,e for
oid detailed report OF its operations nj the
ing session OF Congress. ] have, however, felt II
my DUTY at this tIme TO call public attention 10 the
present state OF It's finances so r as have yet been
able TO learn their condition.
Nhcn hfst entering upon my Official duties nv
attention was forced lO the constant demands fnr
payment beyond the ability Of the Department 10
discharge and with view to ascertain ns nearly
as might he, its undsputcd liabilities and prohnbi,,
mems, on tie 27!h day Of March last a letter was
audreSscd TO The Auditor Of the Treasury for the
post Once Department. requesting from him in.
'"''''uUh on lhoso subjects. copy Of which l,t-
ter, marked A, Is herewith submitted. Such stnte.
men have not been furnished Tor reasons clearly set
iorIh IN letter from the Auditor, dated the 18th
DAY oi May instant; Of winch copy is hereto np-
pended, marked Il.
IL was also important 10 learn, without delay.
what were the pressing liabilities and what the oc-
| i've funds OF the Department. For tins purpose,
dfecons were gwen To the chief clerk 10 state the
amount uue 10 contractors anterior To and for the
quarter ending the 3lst DecembCr, SiO5 SO far as
they hid been reported by the Auditor aud n "a
the amount ~ d0pOsc subject to draft for the dis.
charge OF such arreamges. Ills report is herewith
submitted, marked G..
by an examination Of that statement. II will
he seen that there was due aud unpaid to eontrnc.
icrs "i aSceraned balances, on the fest day Of Jan
uary Lat, the sum Of loT hHndrfd and joriy ssrU
Thousand and serehiy-ninc d0iidrs (SIi7 U7gJ con
I siderable portion OF which hls been pnrd tfom ia,
revenues OF the quarter ending on the Jlst Of March
| ~ report from TIC Auditor upon all tie outstand.
ing contracts will undoubtedly increase this amount
Of Indebtedness to a toal exceeding half n million
| OF dollars. In addition To which, heavy Jem,uI,
arc frequently made on the Department upon unI
qudatcd claims. Of such domnnds no notice ear
bc taken at this time, is 1t proper that nm opn
ION as 10 Their justice should be now expressed.
Under these circumstances, two questions ma tu
!a'y present themselves; How is the Department Il
TIC sustained under It's present omUira ssmcntsI
ana, what are IT'S financial hopes Tor the future
rs no estimates, upon which can be based an an
s"er 10 the first inquiry, can he presented until
IuI statement oi the balances due from postmaster
shall have been reported by the Auditor IL is prsod
wrh tho single remark, that, although II can hardl,
he doubled that q large aggregate sum will bc loun,
due u Is 10 bc feared that from tho small amount q
most 81 such separate balances scattered thtourhou
THIS dc spread natl0n the want ~ fespnns,lniit,
IN many Of these officers and many rthcir sccuri'
ties and the lapse Of time since these bnlnnccs nc
cfued, but an inconsideruble part Of the amour
actually due will ever he received. IL therefore re-
mains Tor Congress 10 determine whetherthc amour
now due "a contractors shall be cid from the NJ,
uonal Treasury, or whether this DEPARTMENT sbnl
struggle on with ts present cmbauassmcnts, con
somng us dlly accfung revenues IN the pnrtir
payment Of old debts, and still leaving large balon
, ccs which II has not the ability to discharge.
, Notwithstanding The heavy increased cRpcnditu,
consequent upon the act Of 7th July, 1898 and nj
though, instead of the Supposed gradual increase
! revenue, the receipts for the quarter ending 81,
March last present, ~ compared with tho core,
pOnding quarter oi the yoNr before, a dminuiron ,
more Than sir per cent, still the Department woul
probably nd sufficient relief IN its future operation
rom The decrease Of prices which, II may 10 On lie,
o lated VIII he hereafter demanded upon most Of IA
routes were II not for their continually incrensn
leIae,Ions IN other branches Of the service