The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-12


frequent failures to execute contracts as required or to
put the lines in operation according to their propositions
and when put in operation inability, in some IN
stances to keep up the service, and changes and
talny IN the mode OF transportation. these have pro-
duced failures and reguarity in the delivering of the
mails causing much complaint in some sections OF the
pense the department before new contractors could be
obtained These evils were more sensiby felt az the
cent lettings because of the great distance OF portions OF
the section from the seat Of government and the
voldable delay in sending through the mails the accept
anccs 10 contractors, receiving their replies and making
provision for the new service in the cases of failure,
Notwithstanding the inconvenience 10 the department
experienced in putting into operation these provisions of
the law, and the complaints produced by it, they wise
and saluary IN couneracung, TO extent, spirit OF
monopoly and IN keeping the expenses of the department
within proper bounds.
The deductions from the pay Of contractors for fail
and irregularities in the performance OF mail service
for the year ending 10th OF June last, amounted to
$50 273 81.
The service in Texas has not been satisfactorily per-
establishing post routes in Texas the late Postmaster
General OF Texas Daniel j. Toer) was appointed the
special agent OF the department, and despatched, with
proper instructions, 10 put the routes in operation and
superntend the service generally. contract made
with Charles Morgan To transport the mails from New
Orleans to Galveston and hack once in every FIVE DAYS in
ocean steamers The Galveston and New York
gagged in the performance OF this service when the New
York was lost in storm on the gulf The agent Croler)
board ana reported the loss of his papers
ed with the service which had been prepared for the de-
partment. The other vessel (he Galveston it is under
stood has been much engaged in the transportation Of
troops and supplies to the Rio GTande. lTegularity in
the delivery OF the mails at Galveston ensued. Independ
emily Of this great arrangement of the mail service exist
ed in other parts OF Texas, and justly the OF
much complaint 80 soon as the department was IN
formed of this state OF thngs-whIch information
greatly delayed from some unknown cause-a
ond agent was despatched 10 Texas with proper in
structons for the regulation OF the service and the
postmaster AT New Orleans directed to forward the
mails to Galveston whenever opportunity occurred under
the provisions OF the 18th and 18th sections of the Of
acts n he tp m
annument of so favorable contract the one with
Mr., Morgan, who II Is expected will at distant day,
supply the place OF the New York. and cause the service
TO be again regularly performed Recent reports from
the agents induce the belief that the whole service in
Texas will be soon IN operaIon as authorized by the
| act OF Congress
On the Both of June, 1916, there were lI,6Ol post
Offices 81 Offices established during the year,
and $50 discontinued making and increase OF AIS offices
during the year. On this day the number is 1873
There were appointed during the year 1865 postmas
ters of whom zoos were appointed in consequence OF
designations or deaths.
3Ol in consequence of change of sites OF the Offices
! 81 by the establishment OF new Offices
! 81 by removals.
4 where commissions expired and were not renewed
Near onchrd of the Offices in the United States, has
been voluntarily vacated since the passage OF the act OF
the ID of March, l,l5 This, in great degree, is at
trlbutable the increased labor the Offices, and the
diminished compensation to postmasters produced by It,
Prior TO the passage OF that law, certain per centum on
the proceeds OF the Offices given to the posmasters
compensation for their services and for the payment
of the expenses of their offices, including rent fuel pay
of clerks &C. together with the ranking privilege. The
! latter much more valued by many holding the
smaller offices than the pecunary consideration allowed
them This mode of paying the expenses of the Offices
from the commissions allowed to the posmasters, was
the best that could have been adopted to secure proper
economy i'll their management. The commissions allow
ed pOstmasters by the 18th section of the act of 1925
the hostages were regulated, ample if not lib
eal compensation for the services performed by them,
particularly the larger Offices The act of Sd March,
1915, abolished the ankng privilege and left their COM
missions regulated by the act of 1925. The reduction
of the of postage increased the business OF their
Offices in cases. than double and at the
time diminished the OF the offices, and the com
missions of the postmastes: thus doubling their labor
and diminishing their compensation They thereby
deprived of the of employing the additional assist
ants which the increased business of their offices
CURED and OF the ability retain the number, at
the price engaged in the service prior to the pas
sage of the law; and hence within the first month after
that law went into OPERATION four hundred and seventy
seven designations were received at the department.
The construction placed upon the act by the Attorney
General, which was communicated to Congress with my
annual report enabled the department to increase their
compensation to the amount they had received the
preceding year, and had the effect of arestng de-
gree the designations which going on that, IN
the month of August, they numbered only $685. and in
September 22snaking 80 designations in the FIRST quar-
ter. This order OF the department only enabled them to
continue the number of assistants at the
pensation, which they had prior to the passage OF the
law which was not greater than the business of the
offices required and wholly inadequate to the perform
anCc of their increased duties An accurate opinion may
be formed of the reduced amount of compensation by a
comparison of the of of the principal offices
for few years past:
1912. 1913. 1874 lsi0. 1886