Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-25
GFom he .Nsw lork HeroJl


WASHINGTON, April II, 1875.
Hon. c. JOHNSON, Postmaster GcqTd'--
Sir; The undersigned, in behalf Of the Mail
Contractors who now have contracts Tor coach
service in New York and New England. and who
are now in Ibis civ for the purpose Of again en-
ierng into the service o: the Department have
been requested 10 state You Tie difficulties un-
Ger which they are called upon 70 make their pro-
posal>, in consequence Of s. ur Circular Of the
Sih UT, materially changing Tie terms and ser
vice specified in The regular advertisement. pah-
lished III December last, and 10 solicit from you
relief againS, the rninous consequences which
must inevitably result 10 ilany OF those, if The
new contracts shall be let without regard 10 grade
OF service. Until The publication OF your Circu-
lar II was generally supposed thatlhe provisions
OF this acl OF Congress could no, apply 10 the
lettings which were 10 take place within six
weeks OF lis passage, in pursuance OF an adyer-
li>ement previously published, especially as the
late period OF Us enactment would moi allow the
twelve weeks notice which The Postmaster Gene
raj was required b. law 70 give in advertising
Tor mail proposals. This opinion was strengthen
ed RON the Tact, that supplementary act was
passed, liking The hrs, day OF July next as the
time when al The provisions OF the new law were
TO 60 mo operation. Tie Contractors upon coach
routes III New York and New England, as well
a III otter sections Of The coupirv al the time of
entering into the present contracts had the pletlg.
ed faith Of The Department. that, if superseded by
unirr-Gidders, such underbidders would he requ-
rcd 10 purchase OF them The stock necessary for
lie transportation Of the mail Under rhc pledge
annually made BY the Deparm and informal
" redeemed, they made their Proposals, an. en-
tered INTO contracts upon terms much more fayo-
Fable than they would or could Otherwise have
done: and for the prompness, regularity and f!c-
hly with which they have executed those con.
tracts, they can with pride refer Ia The registers Of
The Department. To deprive them Of the hene
MS OF ms Saluiary provision, the only safeguard
tof many Of them against absolute ruin, could
mol nave been anticipated, and they feel confident
maj ha? such consequence been i0icseen, 4 Ie-
gard ioi The public faith, aad 4 sense Of Justice
wonid have caused their Representatives in Con.
grt>> 10 have Introduced into the law some in.
tenniYirs provisions. Another result OF Tie
Postmaster Generals circular which must ope-
rate ln,uriousy upon the CONTRACTORS and which
cannot he aveIlcd, is from he increased compc.
tilIon II has called forth among class OF men
that would not otherwise have embarked in The
business Of mail contracting. The effect Of This
unusual competition will inevitably b. 10 reduce
the price OF coach service below what il would
have been uner the usual advertisement for maj
proposals. Of ibis, however, The contractors are
no, disposed 10 complain and will be the last 20
censnre any Official vigilance on tie part oil a pub
lie officer in The administration OF his Office
They only claim III. rights and privileges 10
which they believe themselves entitled and then
ask "a fair field and no favor"
In addition 10 the personal loss which all con-
tractors upon coach routes must suffer, and the
ruin in whic! many Of them will be involved, il
Is believed that the Interests the Department and
vi the pablo will be inluriousIy Affected by The
new Arrangement Upon mos, OF The important
rnu.es new contractors, ami, 10 many cases, ire
sponsible men, will have charge oil the service. =
Undertaking IL at low prices they viii expcc, 10
perform il rs low grade Of service and will lie
unwilling, il not unable, 10 stock their routes pro
perl. particularly a Iheg can have no hope, al
the expiration OF their contracts Of di>posing OF
their properly Tins invested. Upon many adyer
Used Ionlps the schedules are such thai il will br
impossible" 10 perform Iii" trips wiih lower grade
than coach service. The consequence will be
broken CONNECTIONS. and coaches running for pas
srngrrs only, carrying intelligence hours in adj
vance oi lii, mail. Thus n he yarions routes
from Concord, \. Fl, 10 Montpelier VI, and
thence 10 Burlington, VI, where important con
neciiors are made with the Lake Champlain
boats il will be impossible 10 perform the irip>
with one or Two horse service il schedule time
Upon several oi these rOn,es The contractors hnd
il necessary 10 use six horse teams. The same
statement would be applicable 20 many o'hrrrouie>
in New York and New England Another fac
within The knowledge OF The undersigned, entitled
Ia no lille consideration from The Department,
if The regular and promp transportation Of The
mail is desirable, is, lha, for several weeks in all
the Northern States there is period OF bad ira
Yelling in the Fall ana Spring, when the Important
mail routes cannot Re run in schedule lime with less
than lon, -horse service. llptovis;on is not made
tor Ibis cxigency, The contractors who expect 10
carry the mail with one or two horses :nusi
be rnined, OF the Department and the public sui
Ter from frequent failure in the service. Under
The whole view Of The case, and with the conf.
dent beiici that Congress did not intend that the
new principle Of letting ont The mail contracts
mentioned in ihe act should he applicable 10 The
rfesen. letting, and believing HAT al t;e next se>-
sion This portion Of the act now bearing so hcaT-
" and 80 uneqnally upon The contractors in dit
lrren sections of Inc Union, may be amended,
he undersigned would respectfully reques, The
Postmaster General, in behalf olthose they repre-
sent /, suspend The iering OF those routes aiver
iepd Iur coach service I'LL he Isl oi January or
the Isl q. April next and continue The same under
The existing contracts ill that tine. We lei au-
thorised 10 assure the Postmaster General thai
the coach contractors will one and all assent to
the arrangements; and whatever action may br
taken by Congress in relation 10 ii, they VIII
cheerinlly acquiescc in The result As bn, LILLE
progress has hecn made as yer in preparing pro
po>als inr the service bv those interested IN M,
application, the undersigned will be grasiiiet
with as early an answer as your convenience Will
admit Yours, respectfully. &c, &c
[Sisnei bv thirty FIVE Coach Contractors fer
NewYork AMI The New England States
The following is the reply Of Cave Johnson, in
which Ee refuses 10 accede 10 heir requests. II
gives strong evidence ol Il determinations on his
par TO carry on fully and faithfully III new law
and promises well (or IN able econor..ical and
energe,ical administration Of The Post Office De
panment
W.snlxcToN, April -, 1915.
To Tur Committee + rHE Contractors
of .Ncr Yort aad The Mr. England 'Staffs--
Gentlemen: Yours, dated Inc l2tn April, was
handed 10 me on Sunday morning b. MI. Chapin;;
express ed 10 him at the time very decided
oninion that your requests could not be complied