Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-04-13

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND Tnr
MAIL CoNTRACToRs.--Ihc dry routine Of
official duties is occasionally relieved by some
thing out of the usual way. An instance OF this
kind occurred on Monday, ID inst, in the bureau
OF the Postmaster General.
The approaching lettings OF mail coniracis
bring to our city, at this time, large number
Of persons DESTROYS Of entering into engage
ments with the Government for transportn;. the
mails for the next four years in the States of
New England and New York, where exis ing
contracts are about to expire, aud in the differ
ent States Of the Union, upon new routes, 'rea-
ted by recent act OF Congress.
These gentlemen called in body on the Post
master General, some to make his acquaintance,
and others TO remind him Of what they had pre-
viousy suggested Of the importance and adyan-
tage OF liberal course towards them in making
tn contracts. The number around him made
The Postmaster General feel as IL he WAS upon
his old theatre Of action-thc floor OF Congress,
and he was all at once, betrayed intn a speech.
Our informant saws that he canrot presume
10 report it, not being prepared at the moment
TO do SO, but the impression produced 10y the
remarks was so agreeable, that he has attempted
TO make the following imperfect sketch
Mr.. Colamer said Some Of you complain Of
tie change made in 1915 in the mode Of letting
routes TO contract This change was required
by law. 1t was, know, Procrusiean opera
ton. Every contractor who was too long for
tue bedsicad was Curtailed, m many cases Where
il was not fatal, though rather disagreeablc, by
trimming him of at the feet, and, in others, by
taking of his head. But the Postmaster Gene
raj was bound TO execute the law then, and he
is bound 10 execute it now, though circumstances
have somewhat changed. lie said that he found
that the service they were to bid for was speci-
fed in the advertisement, and he perceived that
regulations were also promulgated under which
the bids and the decisions were TO be made
Without saying whether these regulations were
right or wrong; and he did not wish to be un'
ders,ood as making any objection whatever to
any of them--those regulations must govern the
course TO be pursued. \ departure from them
now would be acting in bad faith to the public
but he found by these regulations, there were
some cases ia which ne could exercise discretion,
and that be would endcavor 10 exercise il in
such manner rs beat 20 subseryo The public in
terest. Some thought economy was every thing,
aud nothing else was TO be considered. lie did
not think the Department wSs made 10 save
money. II that was the only object, the best
way would be to have no Department and save
it all Another opinion was, tina, expedition and
accommodation was every thing, no matter what
il cost that the wheels were 10 be kept going
whether there was my thing TO grease them OF
not That was the other extreme and il was
plain TO see that such course would soon run
the Department OF its legs He had travelled
over some OF their slippery roads, when tho
question was, which is the best track 10 take
Some advised to "dri,e on the upper side, dasl
ahead, and fear nothing" Others said 'siick tC
the lower side, or you'll upset" He was mol
disposed to run the risk of capsizing the coach
nor willing to drag along in the ditch. lie shoult
keep the middle track. 1t was the safest anC
best. 1t had been the rule Of his life 10 do 20
These, with other obsor, atoms, Swallowed out
in very significant and at the same time hu
morous and agreeable manner, the upright, just
and iudicious course that The Postmaster Gene
raj intends to pursue.