Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07

the payment Of services not within the contemplation
Congress when the appropriation was made Anxious
however, TO afford to the State the requisite mai
facilities, arrangement made with the contractor
the monthly mail, by which the additional service was
secured with the express understanding and areemen
that the order therefor should create liability of any
kind against this Department the Governments that
the service authorized by such order should be
sdered m fixing the amount of any compensation for
mail service by ocean steamers for which any appropa
ton had been made by Congress- and that the
order for such was subject TO be revoked if Con-
gress 20 which alone the contractor was 10 look for
allowance of pay, should disapprove of the same The
assent OF the contractors to these was required and
obtained as condition precedent the completion of such
arrangement 1t remains for Congress to ADOPT such
sres IN regard to this subject may he deemed just and
expedent
The locks and keys in upon the mails Of the United
States have been in service for many years and the
experienced officer Of this Department to whose charge
this branch of the service has been committed recommends
that the same be changed. in this recommends
ton, and shall ask that sufficient appropriation for that
purpose be made by Congress the approaching session.
The publication Of the list of pest offices and Of new
edition of the laws and regulations which an appropra
ton made at the last session, has been completed
The list OF offices has been prepared and its printing d
reced but the printing Of the edition of the laws and
regulations has yet been ordered The DELAY has been
caused by the desire to await the action Of Congress upon
the bills affecting this Department which reported at
the last session. and by the pressure of business which has
hitherto prevented such revision of the regulations as il
deemed expedent make before the new edition was
ordered.
The accommodations for the post Office Of this city are
entirely unsuted office of its importance and are de-
cdedly discredabe the Department and the country
Some improvements lately authorized and in progress
will afford partial and temporary relief but other arrange
ments of permanent character should be made The
rooms of this Department Also already unreasonaby
crowded. and additional for the officers and clerks Of
the Department and of the Auditors Office will soon be
absolutely required To afford suitable accommodations for
these and for the City Post Office is respectfully submit
ted that the contemplated extension of the wing
General Post Office building should be authorized and
that the upper foors in such wing be assigned the Audi
tor and his clerks and that the first floor be devoted to the
use of the City Post Office.
The laws regulating the action of this Department and
its officers numerous, passed at different times
and contain many obsolete and conflicting provisions An
entire revision of these laws and the passage of single
all the provisions Of law relating this Depart
men would aid all its officers in the discharge of their
duties and give greater ease accuracy and despatch
operations. Such revision is respectfully suggested.
In conclusion desire to acknowledge my obligations
my assistants and the clerks in the Department for the
cheeulness ZEAL and assduty with which they have labor
ed in the discharge Of their respective duties and
the recommendation Of predecessors that the Assistant
Posmasers General be placed upon the footing, in
to their compensation the heads Of bureaus in the
other Departments. .#
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General i
To the PRESIDENT. y .. ~ i