Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-09

Tho second and the bill provides that in
the revenues Of the Department shall prove insufficient
meet the appropriations the deficiency shall be paid
any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated Pro-
rded, That nothing herein contained shall be construed
authorize any payment to supply deficiency in the appo-
priahon for compensation of postmasters.
Mr. COBB moved to amend this second section by striking
out the povso relating TO the compensation
Mr. e. said that the session. when Congress was
passing bill to reduce the of postage had been feared
that the effect might be greatly reduce the
OF small post Offices that responsible would refuse
as posmasters and the neghbohoods thus lose the privilege
Of the mail altogether and, in fact had the new
law been promulgated than the General Post Office de-
uged with designations, IN instances than hun
dred being received day. The service being thus thrown
into confusion and seriously endangered the Postmaster
era under official opinion submitted to him by the Ator
ney General had allowed additional compensation in the
small Offices but not exceeding in all the paid during
the previous year. This sxpedent put stop the resgna
tons, and the service went again before.
The provso which he moved strike would undo this
action Of the Postmaster General the posmases would again
be reduced to short allowance and similar state OF dsur
bance would again from the cause and the people
would again be deprived Of the privilege of the mails except
IN the larger towns Mr. c. in favor Of leaving this dis
cretona power in the hands Of the Postmaster General
This would enable him retain valuable officers in the pub
Inc employ. II not compulsory and when the Postmas
General did think the provision necessary he need
avail himself it.
Mr. PETIT considered the facts stated by the gentleman
from Georgia. for striking out the povso the
very best arguments for retaining it, Mr. p entertained
high esteem both for the Postmaster General the At
toney Generals yet he had heard but opinion expressed
the construction given by Of these officers the law
Of last session. and acted by the other No part Of the
country approved Of and how could IT, since the whole
proceeding in direct violation OF the law Mr. p did
not believe expedient TO keep in Office by giving
him compensation which the law did allow He had
been the advocate Of liberal allowances public servants
but let the know precisely what his compensation was
let be fixed by law, and let him be dependant its
IN he dIerrp Of 10TH
dsappoved Of the extreme reduction Of salaries and held
TO be the true Of most Of the corruption and bribery and
stealing which pracised by in public employment.
II the Of much of the bribery which took place in
Legislative halls Pay pnblic servants wepay them liberal
but place their compensation out Of the reach control OF
any individual.
Asto the postmasters IL the Of Congress bad wise
unwise reduced 30 low that they could
not live by it what right had the Attorney General TO put
such construction Of his of Congress AZ to
warrant the Postmaster General retain the salaries which
had been fixed by the previous law The law declared that
the allowance Of the posmasers should consist of GER
tain per cent the Of the receipts Of letter post
age at his Office The last year Congress reduced the rate
OF postage, and the per reduced amount of
postage must OF course reduction Of the postmaster
compensation What could be palmer What place was
there here for any legal bubble And how could either the
Attorney General the Postmaster General I've sustained in
allowing the old rate Nothing could furnish the slightest
apology but the plea Of necessity This was in act the
ground mainly relied hundred designations in a day
created alarm The posmasers understood the opera
ton OF the law well enough know that their allowance fell
WIN the rates Of postage and hence their sudden
Mr. r. had been opposed 10 the bill he was against the
whole movement; but, when the bill became law il was
not 70 be ridden by the construction OF law officer Of
the Government Instead Of leaving dangerous and mpo
per discretion in the hands Of the Postmaster General let
the House. u the compensation small increase IT,
Instead OF giving the postmaster hy-three per cent Of his
receipts give him oneha give him the whole But leave
not with the Postmaster General TO say what he should
have. He might well have allowed these postmasters
per cent beyond The amount Of his receipts he
away IFS plain and obvious meaning