The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-06
The Post Office Department.

The National lntegencer is attempting TO diversity
the dry routine OF official duties by something out Of the
usual icay" The last of these is the interview
between the Postmaster General and the mail contractors
and between them and the President We take the lib
ey of copying these important anecdotes from the Off
cial organ Mr. Collamer's address is neither very eo
quen its profound in its views 1t abounds
with such classic phrases trimming him (the
tractor off at the feet" 'taking of his head" Ia sugi
cal operation with which Messrs Warren and Coamer
becoming sufficiently famiar)"the wheels were to
be kept going, whether there anything to grease
them or not'-"running the department off its legs
"running the Isk of capsizng the COACH" dragging
along in the ditch" These observations may be very
significant but they not, certainly very humorous
nor very witty:
From the National Inteligencer.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL NAIL CONTRACT
oRs-The dry routine Of official duties is occasionally
leved by something of the usual way AN instance Of
this kind occurred Monday in the bureau Of the Post
master General.
The approaching lettings of mail contracts bring
city, at this me large number of persons DESTROYS Of
entering into engagements with the government for trans
porting The mails for the four years in the States of
New England and New York; where existing
about expire and in the different States of the Union
upon routes, created by recent act OF Congress
These gentlemen called in body the Postmaster Cen
ea make his acquaintance, and others remind
him of what they had previously suggested Of the import
and advantage of liberal course towards them in
making the contracts The number around him made the
Postmaster General feel if he his old theatre
OF actionthe floor Congress- and he was, all be-
tray ed into speech.
Our informant says he cannot presume to report it, not
being prepared the do but the impression
produced by the remarks agreeable that he has at
tempted to make the following imperfect sketch
Mr. Colamer said Some of you complain of the change
made in lS45 OF the mode OF letting routes TO contract
crusean operation Every contractor who too long
for the bedstesd curtaied, in many where it
the feet and in others, by taking off his head. But the
Postm General bound to execute the law them
have somewhat changed He said he found that the
vice they WIRE to bid for was specified in the advertise
ment and lie perceived that regulations were also promu
gated under which the bids and the decisions were TO be
made. Without saying whether these regulation, were
tight wrong-and he did not wish to be understood as
making any objection whatever to any of heHthose reg
ulatons must govern the course to be pursued depart
from them would he acting in bad faith to the pub
lie but he onnd, by these regulations there were some
in which he could exercise discretion and that ne
would endeavor exercise il in such manner as best TO
ubserve the public interest Some thought economy was
everything, and nothing else was 10 be considered ne d,d
If that the only object the best way would be to have
and ACCOMMODATION were everything, no matter
that the wheels were to be kept gong whether
other extreme aud it plain that such
would soon the department OIL Its legs ne had av
ssa IS the
drve the upper side, dash ahead, and fear nothing
Others said, " stick the lower sde you'll upset" He
disposed the risk OF capszing the COACH
was he willing drag along in the ditch He should keep
the middle track Ii was tho safest and best IL had been
the rule Of his life to do
These with orer observations shadowcd out, in very
significant and at the time humorous and agreeable
manner, the upright just, and iudcious that the
Postmaster General intended TO pursue.
VISIT PsEspESr.-At noon yesterday a large
number of mail convened the General Post
Office for the purpose of proceeding in body and paying
their respects the President OF the United States
panied by the officers of the department. who were
Quoted by committee, consisting of Messrs Plummer OF
Massachusetts, Cottre Of Vermont, and Buckley of New
York. and marshaled by Col Nye they marched to the
White House in the order of the several States from which
they came.
The Assistant Pos'masers General by the
Postmaster General the President and then the con-
tractors were severally introduced by Mr. Coamer
remarked to President Taylor that these gentlemen like
his military oficers they of few words but of
efficient action They formed, under the immediate
charge OF his First Assistant tho most mportant arm OF