The republic., 1850-12-03

in fixing the amount Of any compensation for mail
service by ocean steamers, for which any appro
prialion had been heretofore made by Congress !,
and that the order for such service subject be
revoked. il Congress- TO which alone the contract
was TO look for An allowance Of pay, should disap-
prove Of the The assent of the contractors
these terms required and obtained as a condi-
tion precedent TO the completion of such arrange
Incnt Itremans for Congress to adopt such
sures in regard to this subject, NAV be deemed
just and expcdient.
The locks and keys in use upon the mails of the
United States have now been in service for many
years, and the experienced officer of this Depart
ment, to whose charge this branch of the service
has been committed, recommends that the same be
changed. concur in this recomme ndatop, and
shall ask that sufficient appropriation for that
purpose be made by Congress at the approaching
session.
The publication of the list of post offices and of a
new edition OF the laws and regulations. for which
an appropriation was made at the last session, has
not beer completed. The list Of offices has been
prepared, aud its printing directed but the print
ing OF the new edition of the laws and regulations
has ntt yet been ordered. The delay has been
caused by the desire to await the action Of Con-
grcss upon the bills affecting this Department,
which were reported at the last session. and by the
pressure of business which las hitherto prevented
such re, ision of the regulations il was deemed
expedient TO make before the new edition
dered.
The accommodations for the post office Of this
city are entirely uDsuited TO office of its impor-
tance, and are decidedly dscreditable to the De-
Partment and the country. Some Improvements,
lately authorized and now In progress, will afford
pa tial and mporary relief, but other arrange
ments of permanent character should soon be
made. The rooms of this Depar tment, also, are
already unreasonably crowded, and additional
rooms for the officers and clerks ofthe Department,
and Of the Auditors Office will soon be absolutely
required TO afford suitable accommodating for
these and for the City Post Office. 1t is respectfully
submitted that the contemplated extension OF the
west wing Of the General Post Office building
should be authorized, and that the upper floors in
such wing be assigned to the Auditor and his
clerks, and that the first floor be devoted to the
of the City Post Office.
The laws regulating the action Of this Depart
ment and its officers numerous, were passed at
different times, and contain many obsolete and
conflicting provisions An entire revision of these
laws, and the passage of a single act containing
all the provisions of law relating to this Depart
ment, would aid all its officers in the discharge Of
their duties, and give greater ease, accuracy, and
despatch to its operations. Such revision is re-
spectfully suggested.
In conclusion. desire to acknowledge my obli-
cations to my assistants and the clerks the De-
partment for tue cheerfulness zeal, and assiduity
with which they have labored in the discharge of
their respective duties, and to renew the recon-
mendation OF my predecessors that the Assistant
Postmasters General be placed upon the same foot
ing, in respect to their compensation, as the heads
OF bureaus in the other Departments.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General
3 To the PRESIDENT.