The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-16
BALTIMORE AND NORFOLK MAILS.

BALTIMORE AND NORFOLK MAILS.
We invite the attention of the good People
of Norfolk and Portsmouth TO the following let
ter Of the Postmaster General TO one OF their
prominent citizens. 1t shows conclusively that
in the present deprivation Of direct mail inter-
course with Baltimore, under which they are
laboring, the Department is entirely bameless.
In adhering faithfully TO the requirements Of the
law, and in resisting the demands for increased
compensation for mail service at this juncture,
the Postmaster General performs manifest du-
ty that no enlightened public sentiment In this
country will ever condemn.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
April IA, 1912.
Sin: am pleased to receive your letter respecting
the disconlinuance of the steamboat mail between
Baltimore and Norfolk. 1t affords an opportunity
Of correcting general error into which the citizens
of Norfolk and Portsmouth have fallen
That service was not discontinued by the direction
or request of the Department On the 7ih Of March,
Mr.. Moale, the agent of The Steamboat Company
wrote the Department as follows: "We shall continue
carry the mail, under any circumstances, up to the
end of the quarter (3l March,) and then abandon it,
unless the Department and ourselves can come TO
terms" On the 3lst March, the Postmaster of Bal
timore reported "Mr. Moale, agent of the Norfolk
Steamboat line gave notice yesterday that the Com
pany would no longer take the mail by that route
We, therefore, to-day send it to Washington, and
shall continue to do SO until further advised"
The terms to which the Company desired the De-
parment to come, and the reason why they not
accepted will be shown in the following letter from
the Department TO the Company, written the 18th
March: "Ths proposition of the Baltimore Steamboat
Company, transmitted in your letter Of the 7h inst,
has been considered by the Postmaster General and
in answer am directed to inform you, that the price
asked to wit $50 per trip, cannot be acceded to by
the Department, its finances not being in a condition
TO admit Of an increase in the expense Of mail trans
potaton. The execution of contract has not, here
tofore been insisted on because of the uncertainty Of
the continuance Of the Steamboat line but its having
been kept up for time past rendering probable
that it may be continued the Postmaster General does
not feel authorized TO make payment for the service,
unless contract be executed as imperatvely required
by the act of 1885, More than $4,000 per annum
for daily mail cannot be allowed.
The Company had been receiving pay at the rate
Of SIS, 900 year for daily mail. This is something
less than 1922 trp-and it because the Depart
ment refused to pay them more than double this
amount $50 trip, that they abandoned the mails on
the LIST April. True, they would have continued run
ming at the curren rate of is22 trip, if had
scented to pay them for it, in mode expressly forbid
den by law. The 29th sec ion Of the post office act
of 1886 declares, that person whose d FIR the
transportation Of the mail may be accepted, shall re-
ceve any pay until he shall have executed contract
according to law and the regulations of the Depart
ment"
The execution Of the contract, drawn up according
TO the Companys bid at $4,000 a year, has l learn
been heretofore postponed by the Company from time
to time under the plea, that they about to dis
solve, and payments made upon the ground, that
the service for that merely temporary No
such plea is now set up. No such ground exists.
On the contrary, they perfectly willing to enter
into contract, if will pay them 100 per cent
than they agreed to do the service for in other
words, if will give them bonus of about $500
year, simply for signing the indentures Of contract
for there Is not particle more service TO be performed
and paid for in consequence of their agreement being
drawn up in the form Of legal contract trust, sir,
that you, and every other capable Of approaching
the obligations of law, resting upon one sworn to
ecue and maintain it, will that it was impossible
for me to take any other than did; and that
the Company slone responsible to the public for
their voluntary abandonment Of the mail service.
But it seems to be thought the Department is
asking too much, TO require the mail TO be carried by
regular schedule of departures and arrivals. In the
nature of things, and under the injunctons of the
act Of Congress- the specification of days and hours
for the regular departure and arrival Of the mall forms
essential part of the contract well in regard to
steamboat service any other But imposs ib
ties required by it, Irregular that una
voiJably is at times, and we have much of it under
contract and under schedule stpuations more rregu
lar than that the Chesapeake, no fines or deduc-
tons ordered whenever it is shown that the delay
beyond the time set is caused by circumstances which
the contractor could not prevent CONTROL No more
is asked of this Company, in this respect than is re
qured from all. What reason has ii for standing out
in matter universally acquiesced in2
l. am, sir, very respectfully,
| Your obedient servant,
| (Signed,) C. A. WICKEIFFE
JOHN W. MUaDAUGH, Esq, Portsmouth, Virginia.
| L r