The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-17
DEFICIENCY OF APPROPRIATIONS.

necessary number OF clerks to the Department let me-
state brlfy facts calculated largely TO influence
my VOTE have had occasion al that department, during
the present session. 70 make applications TO the dead.ei
ter department. and have Learned facts there which
convinced me. beyond all doubt that there i necessity
for an additional force and that necessity which will
win my vote think am right in stating that ii one 81
the 70 which aude, learned the fact that letters
returning there with money with valuable papers in
them belonging 10 persons who have reited them and
which have not been received BY the persons to whom
they are addressedhat those communications, before
they are returned to the persons to whom they belong.
force am very confident are retained full six months
Now SIR II IS wrongit scertainy wrong that the depart
nent here should retain funds in their hands belonging
to individuals tor that length times and should pe COM
peed retain them for other earthly reason than that
they have not got the force there reach them in the
dnary course OF business One very serious objection 10
the additional force in that bureau, am quite certain,
would be obvlated Very much money transmitted through
the mails IN this country is transmitted by oregn mails
TO persons who arrive here from foreign countries,
and who are TO certain esent iiinerants they have
hxed iocaon and IN great variety OF letters q that
character when the person removes from the place to
which the letter originally mailed, the department
utterly unable, alter SIX months have expired, to nd
the ndviuua and the money remains here and goes into
fond, to be repaid whenever the owner comes for it.
learn the fac that there are many cases OF that de-
scrpon, they arise in consequence OF thai delay which
is occasoned by their inability to transmit communca
ion to the post Office where the letter originally
mailed But sir, have another reason. ! have con-
fered with gentlemen who have been connected with that
ed with it-men in whom ! have the utmost con
fdence-men that have known always; and If it would
give any additional strength, would add, they are my
political friends and associates, and have hal confidence
in they have told me- because know they under
stand the details oi their business; they ened
10 confidence rom their moral worth, and they are en
tied confidence in what they state OF the kno Wedge
they possess in relation to the matter. Now, sir with
those facts which have been possessed of, come TO
the conclusion that we owe IL 10 ourselves and 10 the
government give them additional olce there that
mayd dtSrn "A arpQ he ihfrp may
be, and think there is. something the suggestion which
fell IRON The senator from New YORK, Mr.. DicKINsoN
that the force in that department may have been
somewhat weakened by change OF oflcers. VI
that, sir, Il make no complaint II is matter which
they have to settle elsewhere than here; But
from the other fact TO which | have alluied, and
in wnich have iull confidence, shall certainly vote
TO increase the force IN that department WHAT may
be the necessity in the other bureaus | do not 50
well know. should have been very glad TO have learn
ed from the chairman o the committee who has brought
these details here il anything less than thai number
would the purpose should prefer H. II nothing
else i'll answer the purpose, vote Ior IN nomber And
lei understand AZ which OF the various bureaus the
are required have sndeavored 10 slate 10 the
Senate sAnr Knowledge whca have oolanei III my in
quiries what is the want al OF the bureaus.
have stated il communicated 10 me By gentle
competent 10 state the acs aud upon those facts
may state there necessity for OF The number
In the Posi- Oce Department. and should like TO learn
in relation TO The other bureaus ain willing TO vote for
Mr. RUSK / will give the information as given 10
10 me. | am informed that six additional clerks
needed 10 the Appointment Oice, eight IN the inspec-
ton 0fce Contract Once. and two The Fis
cal Department Now, sir, have bal one word more TO
say. Ii is this: that when the number OF foriy-nine
clerks was given 10 that department. there were ten
thousand Offices. There about Twelve thou -and
ofices The additional amount OF labor thrown upon
that department by The postal arrangement with Eng
and New Gfanada, and The propositions that are made
for additional arrangements winch necessity and
proper be made, aud which interests Of The
Try require to be made, win increase the number twenty
thousand Offices. Now. II 1orty-nine clerks
say for ten thousad Offices, II seems 10 there is.
additional ten thousand.
Mr. BRADBURY. would now send the amendment
70 The cnar which propossd The amendment o. tae
ment OF twenty-five clerks, specifying the pay OF the
several clerks. propose, instead OF the amendment OF
the senator IRON Texas 10 provide TO authorize the Post
master General 10 employ such Temporary clerks may
be necessary and 10 appropriate the sum OF $4,000 Tor
the pay OF them, leaving the responsibility upon the
Postmaster General, appropratng almost tne identical sum
which would be appropriated under the amendment Of
the senator from Texas but leaving the responsibility
upon the Postmaster General TO employ no more than
Necessary. strike all after the word "employ" in
the fourth line, and insert the following
'sucn TEN porary cless may be necessafy and the
thereofn
MIR RUSK Mr. President, hope that viii not pass
IL seems 10 me u Is wrong. What do we want! We
want increase OF force IN the department Is il not
better 10 give the number Of clerks and 10 give their aa
Iiesi He would put the whole into the hands OF the
Postmaster General and he II as be pleases tie
Is not conhned 10 any particular salary Now sir, do
know, IRON my intercourse with the officers here that
there are clerks receiving salary OF $1,000 not doing
bali 40 much as some receiving salary OF $500. Well.
throw that into hIs hand and cad him
into temptation. We should place the officers perma-
neny before him, and fix the salaries and let him ap
point them IT.
MIR KING AIR President, my friend from North Car
oina [Mr. MkSeUMl seemed really TO come TO con.
cluslon in his own mind that we were discussing a
subject we knew nothing about have listened 10 him
with some attention, but he did not give any inoTma
ton in which deficient, but unfortunately gave
us no explanation at all
Well, SIR wish TO be distinctly understood that am
~ favor making any appropriation necessary 10 enable
The department yet along II any idea entertained
department. any other department. 10 enable them 10
carry the business properly and with despatch, was
entirely misunderstood The oay difficulty this
that inasmuch ms we had particular information.
were TO look out and judge for ourselves and select com
pe,ent clerks 10 do the work. many were necessary
70 bring up that which had got behind, until Congress
should take in the regular manner, rather than TO
employ permanent clerks In every department. Some
DINERS suppose, will have to be increased We have
ALREADY seen very large appropriation for the Secretary
oI ihe nerior Tor thrytwo clerks. by my friend IRON
Mississpp lMr FoorE These were employed by the
sunoriy OF law; they were necessary will not myself
withhold the means TO enable the government 10 get on,
and TO get successfully by giving them the aid neces
sary and as my friend says, they then should 20 little
beyond the law, and that 10 the public bus
ness, shall not very strongly objec, TO H. although
should much rather myself that the officers of the govern
ment should keep themselves within the law and not
go beyond IL except upon an imperative necessity What
ldese s this appropriate gross amount The honora-
bic senator IRON Texas fMr. RUsrl tells ~ hat we
miaht subecf the Postmaster General m W hv