Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-07-10
REPORT OF THE POST MASTER
GENERAL.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, !
Man 30, 1S41. {

May 29, 1041.
SIR; The arrangement OF business at, and the
manner OF returns to, the General Post Office,
forbid detailed report Of its operations at the
approaching session Of Congress. have, how.
ever, felt it my duty, at this time, to call public
attention to the present state Of its finances, so
far as have yet been able to learn their condi-
ton.
When first entering upon my official duties,
my attention was forced to the constant demands
for payment beyond the ability of the Depart
ment to discharge, and with view to ascertain,
as nearly as might be, its undisputed liabilities
and probable means, on the 9th day of March
last, letter was addressed to the Auditor Of
the treasury for the Post Office Department,
requesting from him information on those sub
jects. A copy Of which letter, marked A, is here
with submitted. Such statements have not been
furnished, for reasons clearly set forth in letter
from the Auditor, dated the 25h day of May in.
stant-of which copy is hereto appended, mark.
ed B.
1t was also important to learn without delay
what were the pressing liabilities and what the &C.
tive funds Of the Department. For this purpose
directions were given to the chief clerk to state
the amount due to contractors, anterior to and fol
the quarter ending the 3lst December, 1910, so
far as they had been reported by the Auditor, and
also the amount in deposite subject to draft for
the discharge of such arrearages. His report is
herewith submitted marked G.
By an examination of that statement it will be
seen that there was due and unpaid to contract.
ors, Of ascertained balances, on the first day oil
January last, the sum Of four hundred and forty
seUen thousand and Scuenty.niae dollars, (447,
079,) considerable portion of which has been
~ E.on, tLo Of ,bor
the 31st March. A report from the Auditor up
on all the outstanding contracts will undoubtedly
increase this amount Of Indebtedness to a total
exceeding half million of dollars In addi.
ton to which, heavy demands are frequently
made on the Department upon unliquidated
claims. OF such demands no notice can be
taken at this time nor is it proper that an opin.
ion as to their usce should be now expressed.
Under these circumstances two questions nat.
uraly present themselves: How is the Depart.
ment to be sustained under its present embar.
easements? 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
post.masters shall have been reported by the
Auditor, it is passed, with the single remark, that
although it can hardly be doubted that large
aggregate sum will be fonnd due, it is to be
feared, that from the small amount Of most oil
such separate balances, scattered throughout this
widespread nation; the want Of responsibility
in many OF these officers and many Of their Sc.
eurltles, and the lapse Of time since these bal.
ances accrued, but an inconsiderable part of the
amount actually due will ever be received. Il
therefore remains for Congress to determine
whether the amount now due TO contractors shall
be paid from the national Treasury, Or whether
this department shall struggle on with its present
embarrassments, consuming its daily accruing
revenues in the partial payment of old debts,
and still leaving large balances which it has not
the ability TO discharge.
Notwithstanding the heavy increased expendi
tufe consequent upon the act Of 7th July, 1898
and although, instead Of the supposed gradual
increase OF revenue, the receipts for the quartz
ending 3lst March last, present, as compared
with the corresponding quarter of the year be
fore, dmnuton OF more than sir per cent.
still the Department would probably find sul1i
cient relief in its future operations from the de
crease OF prices, which it may be calculated vii
be hereafter demanded, upon most OF the routes
we're it not for the continually increasing exac
tons, in other branches Of the service.
To present this subject in its most ntelgb
form, the First Assistant Postmaster General ha
prepared tabular view of recent proposals, tina
comparison may be made, between the amour
Of present bids and the sums now paid for mai
service upon the same routes. This table
hereto annexed. marked ID.
On an examination Of this statement, it viii
be seen that, in some cases, the amount demand
ed by railroad companies for transportation q
The mails, is more than too hundred per cen
higher than is paid for coach service, upon road
iormng connecting links between different raj
road companies, upon the same main route, an
that too where the night service upon the raj
roads is less than that performed in coaches
Such demands deserve more consideration frol
the fact, that, whilst at the recent lettings in Me-
York, and in the six Eastern States, the accep
ed service by coaches and other modes of COZ
veyance has been secured at an aversge savin