The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-05


the Occurrences Of any Embarrassment IN carrying
out the new project. The first year OF the expert
ment was considered as tho most critical, and the
appropriation was intended 10 guard against any
difficulties that would derange the whole system.
The Postmaster decided that the deputy post
masters should receive the same compensation that
they had received under the previous law. The IN
iention of Congress was that the Postmaster Gene
raj should take care that the department should
ceiye no detriment. The decision OF the Attorney
General was, therefore, correct. One reason which
showed that Congress intended, IN the law that the
S750,000 should be used TO facilitate the experiment,
that, by another provision OF the law, four mil
lions, If necessary, were appropriated to make up
any deficiency in the revenue of the department.
Whatever might be the amount Of the deficiency, II
was provided that il should be made up out Of the
treasury.
Mr.. PETIT asked if there was nota specific law
for the payment Of postmasters. They were allow
ed commission, and the extent OF their eompensa-
ton was limited.
Mr.. SINS said this was true But the only rea-
son why this Of $780, 900 was placed at the dis
erection Of the Postmaster General was TO guard
against the occurrence OF any Inconvenience arising
from the operation Of the new law. The inconveni-
from the reduction Of the pay Of the deputy post
masters would have been very great. Congress gave
not only the four millions 70 supply all DEFICIENCIES in
the revenue Of the department, but seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars to meet any embarrass-
ments in the execution Of the act.
He was in favor Of striking out the proviso as
unnecessary. There would still be check upon
the amount Of compensation. IL would be limited TO
what the deputy postmasters had received last year
He hoped the proviso would be stricken out, and
that the House would then be prepared TO support
the proportion which the gentleman from virginiu,
Mr.. HoPKtss, would report for the regulation OF
the compensation Of postmasters by law.
Mr.. J. DAVIS said il was necessary to provide
against the recurrence Of the evil that had hereto
fore occurred Ii was an essential principle that
the ompensation Of every officer should be regu-
lated by law. The resignation of deputy postmas-
ters might be very numerous, and very inconve-
nient unless more provision be made for their COM
pensation. He would suggest an amendment 10 the
proyso by allowing that the deputy postmaster
should receive mailabe matter--letters or papers
free Of postage when sent TO them, and for their
own proper This would be some equivalent
for the services they rendered. one that not liable
to the objections Of franking He moved that
amendment.
Mr.. HOPKINS said that the service would be
greatly embarrassed, unless we struck out the pro-
viso. He would venture the opinion confidently
that there not member on the foor in whose
district twothirds Of the postmasters would not
sign, If this prOviso retained in the bill.
Mr.. J. DAVIS remarked that his proposition was
intended TO relieve the small Offices.
Mr.. HOPKINS said It would not dsembarrass
the larger ones. This whole subject was now be-
fore the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads, and they would report bills both in relation
to the rates of postage and the compensation Of
postmasters.
Mr.. GORDON remarked that unless this proviso
was stricken out, or provision be made by law for
the compensation OF postmasters, one-fourth Of the
postmasters would resign. He had nothing to say as
the correctness ncorrectness Of the construc-
ton put on the law by the Attorney General but he
al. al. -.
ed and acted upon, the whole post Office system
would have been deranged and embarrassed by the
resignation of postmasters. IL this proviso should
be retained, 1t would drive onefourth of the post
masters in his district into resignation. He should
vote TO strike out the proyiso.
Mr.. RATHBUN said the gentleman from Vir-
GINA Mr.. HoPKiss was of the opinion that the
large Offices must stop, unless the proviso be
stricken out He did not think The bill ap-
propriated two hundred thousand dollars for the
payment Of the clerks in these Offices, and all the
contingent Office expenses were provided for. He
had great respect for the opinion Of the gentleman
from Virginia, MIR. HoPKNs, but he doubted very
much whether the result that he contemplated would
grow out OF this bill.
Mr.. HOPKINS said, the gentleman from New
York differed, then, in opinion with the principal
postmasters and others.
Mr.. RATHBUN understood, he said, all the
machinery that had been got up for The purpose OF
that the postmasters had been busy here. He had
been postmaster himself, and knew something of
the business of that Office. He would say here
that he not to be frightened by the clamors Of
postmasters any more than he would be by the
warriors of Mexico or England.
The only mistake made by Congress in passing
the cheap postage law, was in adopting a ten cent
rate Of postage There should have been no rate
above FIVE cents. If we would now take one step
down to the minimum rate, it would remove all the
evil that was complained Of in the operation OF
the bill. Before the experiment was half made, it
was now attempted TO embarrass it and break 1t up.
The patriotism of the country was not at so low
an ebb that no one could be found to discharge the
duties of postmaster under the present law. he
believed that, in his district, there post office
where, if there two merchants at the place,
both would not apply for the Office. If there was
no other compensation, the business which the post
Office would bring to them would be esteemed by
them as an adequate equivalent for their services.
Gentlemen said that their constituents would resign
unless this proviso should be stricken out; but
when community should be found in which no ono
would be willing to take the post-ofce, either
for his own convenience or that of his neighbors,
he would undertake to say that the government
would lose nothing by the dscontinuance of the
Office in that community; and he would further say,
that such place would not deserve Office. He
in favor Of retaining the provso, for he believed
that the construction put upon the law was wrong.
There was as mnch appropriated for the compensa-
ton of the postmasters as they had last year. f.
Mr.. HENLEY remarked upon the declaration Of
the gentleman from New York, [Mr. RArHBuN, ]
that patriotism not at so low an cbb that no one
could be found to serve postmaster without COM
pensaton If the service should be put that prln-
ciple of patriotism, his constituents would be as
prompt as any to render the service. But in his
opinion it would be well to mix this patriotism of
the House with little justice.
This government was able to ray for all services
rendered to it, and the service of postmasers ought
be paid for If the proviso were stricken out, the
small Offices would suffer. The postmasters would
be deprived of any compensation, and the country
Of their services.
He did not know what position his colleague
meant to take before his constituents in defence Of his
proposition on this subject.
Mr.. PETIT explained that he was not for cut
ting down the pay Of postmasters. He was rather
in favor Of increasing it, He had taken the same
ground generally in regard to all officers, to allow
proper compensation for services.
Mr.. HENLEY said that his colleagues propo-
sition took away all the compensation from the post
masters, though he nominaly in favor of allow
ing an adequate compensation. The law for the re-
duction of postage got up in the cities, without
uorl IN tbo, A. fha Infpri