The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-07

WASHINGTON, Sept. ., 1si7
To the Editors of the Courier and Enquirer:
My attention has been directed to the card of Mr.
Vanderbilt in which notice some errors that should be
corrected In speaking of myself and the act of lsi5
ducing the rates of postage, Mr.. v aeges-"This act
which by the way everybody will understand to have
Postmaster General The law passed without my
consent, and against my advce, and in opposition TO my
vote and most active exertlons as the journals OF Con-
gress will show
enclose you statement of the pay clerk OF the audi
tor showing that Mr. Vanderbilt has been paid from the
LIST july 1915, TO the LIST july ls4 at the rate of $4,000
per year He will be entitled, at the close of the present
quarter, TO pay for any services which have been
dered since the first OF July last.
The claim Of $2,23l for extra service has never been
presented to the department for allowance, proof of
such extra service forwarded nor is II believed that any
such was performed emitting him to extra pay 1t will,
however, be examined and decided when presented The
New Haven route advertised with others, and several
bids received. Mr. Vanderbilrs was the highest-two
others lower than his--bu all of them than
the maximum allowed second class routes and all the
bids rejected that account The service was af
forwards given to Mr. Vanderbilt, the old contractor,
the maximum fixed in the law for that class service.
OF any word act by the department any
of Its officers which could lead any to suppose that
the classification would be abandoned never intended
it, nor do intend to be forced TO do so.
Notwithstanding the complaints and refusal to execute
contracts the agents of the contractor called regularly
the offices for the mails; they delivered them, and
regularly transported for two years. and the contractor
paid at the rate of 6 900 per year, whenever called for
and to the end of the quarter preceding the apph-
cation for pay. The course pursued by
raj other roads that still continue the service in the
way without contracts. The principal objection now
made is to the classification of that route, and effort
public prejudice against the action of the depart
me Mt by the inquiry Are the people of the New Eng
land States not of sufficient importance have first
ella IS line OF transportation p
The classification of mail routes does not depend so
much upon the quality the boats, the roads the
ner which they constructed the importance of
the section of the country to which they lead, the
quantity of mail matter to be transported and the
speed trh rhich ii taken. The activity and energy
and capital of the citizens of New England, have furnish
ed several routes from New York, which enabled the
Department. should rather say made it the duty of the
demlrtment-to divide the mails for New England.
portion is sent by Stonington another by Norwich,
other by New Haven, and some by Bridgeport. The
dvi sion of the mails necessarily reduces the Importance
of the mail service each If the whole of the New
England mails passed either route, it would have
been placed in the first Glass; although the combined
weight of the mails passing all of them would prob
ably be less than the mails passing from New York
ou,h, or from Baltimore west.
In going south from New York, west from Ball
more, the entire mail for whole sections of the u 81
passes single line. think it probable th !p I
mails going south from New York, west fir .at tit
more, would weigh more every day than the ~, paiu
ing by New Haven would in each week 1W alo i'ss
should the New Haven line be classed I'll Mhy' p p,
adelphia! why should it be classe ha ,at ~ m
one by Stonngton and Norwich - hsnei u'a'' wv
request the publication of his 49,. 81, b0 f,..s mo,
be before the public. hoc' 'iia' INC i"''' ma.
am, respectfully, yor r obadiah, servant
C. JOHNSON.