Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-06-21

the Postofhce Department, requesting from him
information on those subjects. A copy of which
letter, marked A, Is herewith submitted. Such
statements have not been iurpshed, for reasons
Clearly set forth in letter from the auditor, dated
the 25th day OF May inst, of4Yhich copy is here.
tofore appended, marked B.
1t was also important to learn, without delay,
what were the pressing liabilities and what the
active funds of The Department. For this pur-
pose, directions were given TO the chief clerk to
state the amount due to contractors anterior to,
and for the quarter ending the 3lst December,
1910, so far as they had been reported by the Au.
ditor, and also the amount in deposte, subject 10
draft, for the discharge of such arrearnges. His
report is herewith submitted, marked e..
BY an examination Of that statement, il will be
seen that there was due and unpaid 10 contractors,
OF nscertained balances, OIL the LIST day OF Janua-
ry last the sum Of four hundred and ioriy-seVen
tbousdd and seventy-nne dollars (S44z,079) o
considerable portion of which has been paid from
The revenues of the quarter ending on the 31st of
March. report from the auditor upon all the
outstanding contracts will undoubtedly increase
this amount Of Indebtedness to a total exceeding
half million of dollars. In addition to which,
heavy demands are frequently made on the de-
partnent upon unlqudated Claims. OF such de-
minds, no notice can be taken at this time, nor is
it proper that opinion TO their justice should
now he expressed.
Under these circumstances, two questions nat
urally present themselves How is the Depart
mcnt TO be sustained under its present embarrass.
nents and, What are its financial hopes for the
future?
As no estimates, upon which can be based an
answer to the first inquiry, can be presented until
full statement of The balances due from postmas-
tiers shall have been reported by the Auditor, it is
passed. with The single remark, that, although it
can hardly be doubted that large aggregate SUN
will be found due il is to be feared that, from the
small amount OF most of such separate balances,
scnt tbrOu this wide. pation tba
want of responsibility in many of these officers
and many of their securities, and the lapse of
time since these balances accrued, bur an incon-
siderable part Of the amount actually due will ey
er he received. 1t therefore remains for Congress
TO determine whether the amount now due 10
contractors shall be paid from the Naiional Treas
ury or whether this Department shall struggle on
with its present embarassments, consuming its
daily accruing revenues in the partial paymen. of
old debts, and still leaving large balances which it
has not the ability to discharge.
Notwithstanding the heavy increased expendi-
tGie consequent upon the act Of Nh July, 1898,
and although, instead or the supposed gradual in
crease OF revenue the receipts for the quarter en-
ding 3lst March last present, as compared with
the corresponding quarter OF the year before, a
dinlnuition of more tlIan Sir per cent, still the
Department would probably find sufficient relief
III its future operations from the decrease OF prices
which, il may be calculated, will be hereafter de-
the continually increasing eXactions in other BRAN
ches of the service.
To present this subject in its most ineligible
form the First Assistant Postmaster General has
prepared tabular view Of recent proposals, that
comparison may be made between the amount of
present bids and The Sums now paid for mail ser
vice upon the same routes. The table is hereto
annexed, marked ID.
On an examination of this statement il will he
seen that, in some cases, the amount demanded by
railroad companies for transportation OF Ire mails
is more than f,po hundred per cent. higlsr than is
paid for coach service, upon roads forming con-
Meeting links between different railroad cOnpa-
MES, upon the same main route, and that too where
the night service upon the railroads is less than
that performed in coaches. Such demands de-
serve more consideration from the fact that, whilst
at the recent lettings in New York and in the six
Eastern S,ates the accepted service by coaches
and other modes OF conveyance has been secured
at an average saving oil tCenty-tWo per cent. upon
the contracts Of 1887, there are but few III
stances where the demands of Incorporated COM
panies have not been increased in such manner as
imposed upon me the necessity OF suspendiag The
contracts Nor is the extrayagant price demand
ed for mail transportation upon railroads the only
manner in which these interpretations affect the
revenue of this Department. The facilities secur-
ed by this mode Of conveyance for sending letters
by private hands very seriously diminish the re-
ceipts OF the offices upon lie routes single H.
luslration will establish this assertion.
Boston is one of the most important points Of
railroad concentration in the Union. Its business
prosperity is proverbia and yet in thai city the
quarter ending 3lst March last shows, as conpar-
ed with the corresponding quarter of The year be-
lore decrease OF postage receipts OF three thou
sand one hundred ninety ,fue doLldrS--teing double
the amount OF diminuIon 10 be found, within Tie
same time, in any other post Office in the nation
with the single exception of Philadelphia, which
is another great terminus OF railroad commupica-
ton.
These facts are presented in no spirit ofunkind-
ness towards those TO whose management these
interpretations are intrusted, but that | have con-
sidered it due to whole people refer 10 this
subject, as one which will ere long call for nation
al and State legislation, unless a corrective be
sooner applied by public opinion.
considerable saving will be found in the eur
ieilmeM of service generally, directed BY my inn
mediate predecessor, in limiting the transportation
OF the mails to six trips week upon most of the
routes throughout The nation The embarrassed
condition of the finances of the Department, il it
wasto remain unaided by Government, clearly in
dcaaed the propriety OF some reduction OF SER
vice, and the religious sense of the community
will certainly approve the feeling that selects the
Sabbath the day OH which that service should
not be performed. Yet it cannet be denied that
this order las borne heavily upon contracts, and
in many Instances causes great arrangement in the
transportation OF the mails.
Whilst in some sections of our country this al
Ieralon has not only received a cheerful acquies-
cence, but is warmly approved there has been
grcnt general complaint OF its operation, AMI dali
~ appeals for the old facilities are pressed upon
The Department. Without entering upon this sub
ect at large il is sufficient for my present purpose
to state that, as this order purporls to have been
given to reduce the expenses of the Department.
and TO aid in bringing them within its receipts, a
return 10 the former service, at this iime might
well be considered as a declaration of my conf
dencc in its ability 10 sustain the expenditure ne
cessary for such restoration. therefore felt it i'm
peralive upon me TO adhere TO this order of cur
taiment.
The building now being ereced for the Gener-
al Post Office is so far advanced TO give assur-
that il can he led before the session Of