Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-27
To THE EDIroRs OF THE WING.


Some few weeks since, published n reviev oe
MIR Postmaster General Niles report to the last
Congress, and intended TO have furnished these few
additional remarks upon the tabular statement ,,.
tached to that report, Immediately after, but bav.
been prevented by various causes until now-and
now would omit saying any thing farther on the
subject, but that the facts alluded in my review
as going to establish the surplus Of $500 900 on the
hrst OF July last, over and above the accruins re-
ceip,s from postage for the quarter beginning July
LIST, 1910, are necessary TO proper understanding
Of my charge.
AT the time Of my pennng my remarks, / found
other matter in the report which went to establish
the fact OF surplus being on hand, but NJ less
amount; but believing might be better understood
by putting the additional evidence in paper bv il.
sell, did not ihon bring it to the readers notice
II these different parts Of the report lead to widely
different results rs TO the amount Of surplus the
fault is not mines but fact is cear-that is thu,
ON accounts establish an actual surplus beyond
doubt, and give additional evidence of the faIIacv
and great naccuracy in the accounts Of the Post OF
nee Department.
begin with quoting the follow ing paragraph from
the former Postmaster Generals report be,,ing
date December, 1887, viz: ain 1885, the Depart,
ment was laboring under an extraordinary d.h, n,
100000; in 1887, il has a surpius of $500 ooo W
The tenor OF his reports clearly show that there WINS
at least that sum, and perhaps much more.
mr postmaster General Niles, in his report, saws
hat mo expenditures over the receipts for the wear
ending June ~, 1888, were 1886. 100; that the ex
cess OF expenditures over receipts for The YER end
ing June 30, 1889, was sl77, IO4; and Tor the ve,,
ending June 80, 1910, was S2I9, S45 I7-mnking in
all SISS,Io9 l7. IL is, however, worthy of remark
mat the report OF 1882 as we'll as the Presidents
Message Of that year. makes the excess of .Ynensss
and liabilities but Sl47,497 80 instead of N IOI
az noted IN the report Of lS40 IL will however he
perceived that with its aspect the aeereen,o
OF eI pendtures and Liabilities Tor three years are
nearly Sl7,COO less than the ayowed and und;.or,sd
surplus OF 100000 in 1897. IL is here Ibs,scor.
Iuy SHOWN That there was a surplus on the frst of
JniJ last, TO an amount of at least II, 900.
IL Is matter OF no moment as TO the precise
amount, o.her than as clearly showing that so far
rom there being an indebtedness against The pos,
Oihce Department on the fast Of july 1910 ,brre
was surplus IN its favor, as shown by the posi-,
master Generals own report in two distinct n,css
eeS,ues 'he daily accrulng revenue, which will be
luily equal - nave previously remarked IN The
current expenditures of the quarter f,llowine TnI,
Ist $40. IL reliance can be placed ON The seno,i.
made by the Department, believe ttnt I corcI.
sivcly showed IN my former remarks that n s.rnlns
on ne hrs Of July last TO an snoun, exceed
ing sJOO,OOO, and IN this, that there i, an actual
surplus, but OF less amount. The evidences bronah,
forward IN support OF these conclusions are derived
from the Postmaster Generals own repor, e.cen,
as 10 one point taken fom his predecessors renot,
70 when made special reference in my previous
remarks. ny P''''0uS
MY attention has been accidentally called IN N
paragraph found IN the appendix 10 the foros,
POSTMASTER Generals report by his assistant under
anto OF November, 1889. Il is in these words:
pu' uore Is anolher more effective cause of differ.
ence' Inc payments made IN a quarter are for The
services OF the preceding quarter nnd anv former
aHeIrhges. The payments made in the vsa, snd |
ing June 50, 1882 represent no part of the cost Of
service OF the last quarter Of that year. and eIbibt
the cost OF service not embraced in the t,J,I.s
'"a' VI me corresponding quarter of the preceding
year, ana arTearases for former quarters"
IIoIoehr al animadYersiOn or comment ON This cx
'raordlnary paragraph OF plan Of keeping accounts.
ahu content myself with observing that do not !
"Vusr az the extraordinary delays experienced by
INDIVIDUALS IN getting their accounts Stated or even
an e1hont OF supposed balance, without a delsv
OF week, and often weeks and when thew visited !
the seated Government in person, were moi unf,s
quenIly detained week more in finding The si,rs
stances, returned dissatisfied. '"'
Row different under the administrations nrevious |
10 that OF Major barry! Then the Postma.,s, |
Generals Tor the time being and the then two r,b.
iu and punetuai assistants fst II their dutv 10 bav
ng uSSouhus ~ All umes IN such state as that an
individual wishing 70 know the situation of bis ar |
count could, in few moments have mi and s.t.
islaciory eKhibtofil.
Removed, as am, from the scat Of Governmen,
do not know how tbs new Postmaster q sneraI md
MS auditor are progressing with their examination
lho thc state OF the accounts in the Depnrtment-
but hear Of no changes as TO head, OF Bu,sars .,
clerks and u the dependence for discovery Of ar,
roI' IS 70 be on the chiefs the clerks who commit
ied them, then presume all will be reported o. X
am no advocate for prescription, bot Il requires but
little knowledge Of mankind TO be satisfied ,bst 49,
tons. " "PS,y'O-
March, 1871. W.