The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-06

FOR wrapping paper "a OOL
For Office furniture lin the post offces) 5000
For advertising So 0O0
For mail bags 25OOl
For mail locks, keys, and stamps 1900
For mail depredations and special agents 10000
For clerks for offices Gin the post oaices) $4,000
For miscellaneous 70,O0(
and regulations, and Of the table of post offices
ltnose published in lS47 having been exhausted
Add for New York and Bremen appropriation 66G6i
Charieston and Havana appropriation $4,000
81. 2os, 1867
The only thing is that there mistake, making
il $4,000 more than they ask 1t is for the SEN
ate 70 say whether they will thus summary strike al
this branch Of service 1t is not worth while to spend
time upon it. repeat, that the Postmaster General had
the full sanction Of law to this contract In the first
place he was authorized to make it for ten five years.
q be pleased and he made it for FIVE He submitted to
Congress. Congress approved it, and he subsequently,
extended the contract under his general authority, fol
the benefit of the public service because in so great
outlay he could make more favorable contract in long
contract than IN the short one. That is all there il
Mr. YULEE. regret very much to trouble the Senate,
but it V material to understand the facts in this matter
What did say stated that the fact that this material
change had been made in the contract by the Post Of
nee department had never been brought to the attention
OF Congress; and repeat it, Are we to look into the
TO md there by sort OF nnuendo what the de-
psment dong Here is the report OF the transactions
Q that department laid before at the beginning of
The session. Are to look TO that for what has
been done BY them Is there anything to be found in
new contract being nader Is among the estimates that
should be likely look for anything OF the kind
There you are TO find only what is authorized by law
refer this fact simply for the purpose OF showing there
had been such indication to Congress would na,u-
rally and legmatey draw the attention of any Commit
tee TO this matter, except the Committee Finance-the
had their attention turned particularly to the matter
and their attention would be called only from their
s4Amination Of the estimates They had not been
formed Of it, and the steamship does not appro.
praisly belong TO them say, then, that far any
committee of this body is concerned there no COM
munication which called its attention to the fact that
such change was made in the service
20 further and deny the legality of the extension OF
this contract say that the Postmaster General under
took to exercise power which will show you is not
given him agree that by the act OF 1s45 # admitted
70 be in forceas it may be, although deny il to be in
JoIce-the Postmaster General directed to adver-
0se for proposals for He advertised for propo-
sals, and a contract made with The department for
hve years; which he reported to Congress. and which
met our sanction. Now, Of his authority, without
giving any opportunity TO other parties to come in and
propose four years afterwards he undertakes extend
that contract to double the time for which il orgi-
nay made. without giyag an opportunity for any new
proposaS-to extend the time two years beyond what
was contemplated by Congress for the service. Now,
ny II was in fact and in effect contract with the
same parties, when il should have been advertised and the
whcs public should have been invited and afforded an
opportunity TO make proposals in competition
The interests OF the public service required it, and it ought
Bullet that pass admit that was all rights tina, the
extension made properly the OF that exten-
SION have not been complied WITH and the contract has
fallen They put the vessels on by the LIST of
July, 1850 That time has passed. and The chairman OF
the Committee Finance tells that the first vessel
has not been put on yet The contract has fallen There
an end OF IT, IL we legisaie now, IL is simply the
non Of anew contract Now, know the fact that II il
10 desirable TO make the service Havre and if propo
sels are invited, and different parties brought into
composition, satisfied that the service be done
Tor probably oDeba and it may be three fourihs less
than 10 proposed under this contract Bring the citizens
into competition under the terms OF the contract of lst5
and | aaflsflpd that the mail will he
benefited than it is under existing provisions and you
VIII have better service, cheaper service, and a
offered to all the citizens Of the country 20 into fair
competition. II may be desirable TO give this service to
new contractors However that may be- say that this
10 not the place TO consider it, II matter important
enonsh TO require consideration II ought to be taken
out OF THIS appropriation bill, and up for consider.
atom where belongs That is all propose, by moving
TO strike out that portion of the bill
Mr.: SEWAHD. ] wish to ask whether il is conceded
that this steamer, which be put by the lei of
july but WAS delayed until the ls Of September, $780,
has yet been put on the liner
Mr. DICKINSON. II was not put on by the LIST OF
Jolly; there is doubt about that The service was 10
be full BY the LIST Of July but owing 10 circumstances
over which the contractors had no reasonable control a.
understand, the service is not ready.
Mr.. SEWARD. That understand; but do not un.
dsrs,aDd that the vessel had been put the line
OF before the LIST OF September. 1850. That time being
already passed, do not understand that the vessel has
not been already delivered. Am to understand that tina
Mr. YuLEE. II is conceded
vi SEW ARD. There is doubt that the time Il
Iun' ne contract was extended by the Postmaster Gen
era who, think is clear had the right TO extend il
HAVING extended II for the purpose OF embracing new and
sooIuonai service the provisons.d,d not 20 into eHec
upon the OF July The lapse6 time between the Is
OF July and the lst OF September strikes me- would no
be sumc'en to relieve the government from the respon
ability OF paying expenses damages or dsaffirmns
the contract, II the government at all Consented 10 m.
extending OF the time from the first dav of Jnl,, 30 ~
first day Of September That understand to be- assen,a
10, that this extension OF time from the first day Of nv
the first OF September has been with the consent and on
currence OF the Postmaster General.
Mr. YULEE, (interposing) The senator is under
mistake, and has inexperienced the chairman OF th
Committee on Finance. The extension of time was no
from the Is Of July until the LIST of September but wa
from ls47, when the service should have been put int
operation, until the LIST OF July 1850. On the LIST o
yliy 1850 no vessel having been put on, the contrac
Tell, and the extension fell
MT SEWARD understand it; and yet thank tn
ssns1ot Tor me explanation | say that further della
September "
Mr. YULEE, Tin his seat) No, sir il is not in exc
ecution yet