The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12

the Pacific portion of that important route The
contractors the route had already 30 far yield
ed to the complaints and wants Of the public, rs
70 take occasionally second monthly mail but
for want of legal authority to make compensation
for such service, its performance had never been
properly organized Ii was voluntary merely, and
only occasional.
The action Of the Department was urged in
view of the provisions Of the recent acts OF Con-
cress making an appropriation for actual mail
service performed, or to be performed by mail
steamers, but did not feel at liberty TO make an
order which might divert portion Of that appro-
priation to the payment of services not within
the contemplation of Congress when the appro-
priation was made. Anxious, however, TO afford
to the new State the requisite mail facilities an
arrangement was made with the contractor for the
monthly mail, by which the additional service was
secured, with the express understanding ana
agreement that the order therefor should create
no liability Of any kind against this Department
or the Government that the service authorized
by such order should not be considered in fixing
the amount Of any compensation for mail service
by ocean steamers, for which any appropriation
had been Heretofore made by Congress- and that
the order for such service was subject TO be re-
voked if Congress, TO which alone the contractor
was TO look for an allowance Of pay, should dis
approve of the same. The assent Of the con-
tractors to these terms was required and obtained
as a condition precedent to the completion of such
arrangement IL remains for Congress to adopt
such measures, in regard to this subject, as may
be deemed just and expedient.
The locks and keys in use upon the mails OF
the United States have been now 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
oap,a ha oh Aoad | cnncur in this recommp nla-
ton and shall ask that a sufficient appropriation
for that purpose be made by Congress at the ap-
preaching session.
The publication of the list Of post Offices and
OF new edition of the laws and regulations, for
which an appropriation was made at the last scs
sion has not been completed. The list Of offices
has been prepared, and its printing directed, but
the printing Of the new edition Of the laws and
regulations has not yet been ordered The delay
has been caused by the desire to await the action
of Congress upon the bills affecting this Depart
mpnt. which were reported at the last session, and
by the pressure Of business which has hitherto
prevented such a revision of the regulations as it
was deemed expedieDt to make before the new edi-
ton was ordered
The accommodations for the post office of this
city are entirely unsuited to an office of its i'm
portance and are decidedly dscreditable to the
department and the country. Some improve
ments lately authorized and now in progress, will
afford partial and temporary relief but other ar
rangements Of permanent character should soon
be made The rooms of this Department, also,
sS1S sSye62y uaFcseonably crowds,i s. 1'it;aGat
rooms for the officers and clerks of the Depart
ment and Of the Auditors office, will soon be alb
solutely required. To afford suitable accommo-
dations for these and for the City Post Office it
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 Au-
ditor and his clerks and that the first floor be de-
voted to the use of the City Post Office.
The laws regulating the action of this Depart
ment and its officers are numerous, were passed
at different times, and contain many obsolete and
conflicting provisions An entire revision of these
laws and the passage of single act con aiming
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 a revision is
respectfully suggested.
In conclusion desire to acknowledge my ohli-
cations to my assistants and the clerks in the De-
partment, for the 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
footing, in respect to their compensation, rs the
heads Of bureaus in the other Departments.
NIX. HALL, Postmaster Gmeral.
tn yLe pyTsiIeut