The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-05

There were appointed, during the same period,
3,033 postmasters. 1887 were appointed in conse-
quence ofdeaths designations; II in consequence
of change Of the site of the Offices; 1853 removals;
IA where the commissions expired, and not reap
pointed; 352 by the establishment of new Offices.
sic Of the number of contractors fined, or de-
ductions made from their pay for omissions TO per-
form, Irregularities in the performance Of their
contracts--which amounted to Sl052l SO, after de-
Quoting the remissons Of fines. IA .
The revenue of the department for the same PEE
Rod amounted to "a ,2S9,84I &c. The expenditure
for the same time amounted to 1920, 73l 80.
The nett revenue, after deducting the commis-
sions Of postmasters, contingent and incidental ex
penses, amounted to S2,s42,2i7 81.
Full returns of postmastcrs for the quarter end
ing the 30th Of September last have not as yet
been received and settled, as to enable the depart
ment to make an accurate statement of the revenues
of that quarter. A careful examination has been
made of those received; and, by comparison with
them of former returns from the same Offices, am
induced to believe that there will be falling of
from the nett revenue of the last fiscal year of about
fogsy-6ye pee cent Assuming this TO be true, and
that the savings on contracts let and to DO let, will
equal the expense of routes to be put in opera
ton and the improved service that may be rendered
necessary to meet the demands of the public, then
there will be diminution Of the means Of the de-
partment to meet the expenses for the present year
Of n, 323,997. ,'s'.s,
The most expensive as well as the most important
branch Of business under the control Of this depart
ment, is she transportation Of the mails. To ad-
just the degree and mode of service; to regulate the
connexions between routes, so as to effect speedy
INSTRUMENTATION between the several parts of
the country to secure contracts for the faithful and
punctua performance of the service to settle ques
tons which constantly arise, involving public and
private interests to the amount of millions Of
dollars Of each year; to meet the urgent demands
of the public for mail accommodations, which the
growth of the country and its rapidly increasing
population require with the restricted means of the
department, and without impairing the efficiency of
the present service, upon which SO many and such
important interests depend-requires the utmost yigi-
lance and circumspecton, and cannot be presented
in detail in a communication of this character.
The statistical tables marked l, 2, 8, 4, s, and
A, prepared by the First Assistant Postmaster Gem
cra, and appended to this report, present view Of
the extent and cost of the transportation Of the
mails, as well in the several States for the whole
Union They give comparison with the pre-
| ceding year, and show the tendency to increase or
diminish the cost since the commencement Of the
present fiscal year. and the manner in which it is
| produced. Two important circumstances have oc-
Cured to affect the prices of transportation in the
| present year:
| First. The renewal Of the contracts in May last
for one section of the Union, composed Of the
States Of New England and New York;
| Second. Putting in operation the act to establish
| certain post routes passed Sd day of March last.
Taking the contracts already executed, and esti-
mating the cost Of the railroad and steamboat ser
vice. for which no contracts have yet been made, at
the minimum prices which the department has Of
fered under the recent act Of Congress- and it will
be seen that the cost of transporting tho mails in
New England and New York will be reduced
1851 1872 for the present year. ending the 30h June
next, below the prices Of the last year--being sa-
wing Of about IS per cent without any reduction of
| the amount Of service performed in the preceding
| year. On the other hand, the letting Of the new
routes to contract will add to the expenses OF the
present year $50, 200.
The cause of the great saving lover $3.50, 000)
| in the annual expenditure in that section may be
traced 10 two provisions in the late act of Congress
to reduce the rates of postage--one requiring the
Postmaster General sin all future lettings" of con-
tracts 70 give the same Ito the lowest bidder ten
dering sufficient guarantees for the performance,
without other reference TO the mode OF such trans
portation than may be necessary to provide for the
due CELEBRITY certainty, and security of such trans.
portation;' and annulling the regulation Of the de-
partment which required the under-bidder, in GER
tain cases. take the stock of the former contract
or. The other provision was that which directed the
Postmaster General to classify the railroad and
steamboat routes into three classes, and limited him
to certain maximum rates of compensation for each
class. The act was passed the Sd Of March last
to 60 into operation on the LIST of July The con-
tracts for New England and New York were let in
April and May last to 60 into effect on the LIST of
July, and continue in operation four years. en-.
tcraned doubt that these contracts should be let
under the provisions Of the new law, and that such
was the intention of Congress. A due regard to the
other sections of the country required it; fair trial
Of the experiment Of low hostages demanded that
full effect should be given to the provisions Of the
law intended to reduce the burdens on the postage
fund, and that they should go into operation cotem-
poraneonsly with the law, where pre-existng con-
tracts did not prevent it, Notice was at once given
of this determination, and the contracts were made
in conformity to it. This course was strenuously
resisted by the former contractors, who seemed to
expect higher rites of compensation, under the old
system, than the enlarged field for composition crea-
ted by the new law would permit Their memorial
and my answer are hereunto annexed, marked No. 5.
The provision referred to did not direct the Post
master General to assign the contracts, in all cases,
to the lowest bidder. An exception is implied when
''the CELEBRITY, certainty, and security Of the
mails' required higheragrade of service than that
proposed by the lowest bidder. This called for the
exercise Of discretion unusual and new in the prac-
tice of the department. VI
To render il both just and uniform, careful re-
view was taken by the department Of the different
descriptions of bids, classes of routes and of the
policy and requirements of the new law; and an
opinion drawn up, and read the bidders who were
present. in giving decision in Of the cases, that
defined the principles regulating the lettings. A
copy is herewith appended--No. 6.
The service throughout the Union will be placed
under the operation Of the new law as the old
tracts expire--which will be, in the western section
in May next, in the southern section, in May, l847
and in the middle section, in May, l64S; so that,
after the LIST of July l848, the whole service will be
placed under the provisions of the new law.
regret to state that the difficulties and embar-
easements attending the making of contracts with
the railroad companies have again been experienced
in Yew York and New England.
OfGxty-seven cases requiring contracts with rail-
road corporations, which should have been closed
in July last, but thirtyfve have, as yet, been adj
usted This is owing to the demand, on their part,
of prices exceeding the rates prescribed under the
act of Congress of the Sd March last.
The classification required by that law has been
made, and the maximum prices allowed in each
case. This has been done under the most liberal
construction Of the aw--one that gives an addition
al compensation, whenever the road necessarily
conveys the mail oftener than once day. But
these terms, favorable as they are have received
but a partial acceptance. Whilst they decline ex-
ecuting the contracts above stated, the service is
generally performed, and the companies are paid