New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-27


AID senate I, required tina, the revenues Of the
Department should be paid into the Treasury, and
that The necessary sums for carrying on the postal
service should be paid from that Department on OF
appropriations annually authorized by Congress, on
warrants drawn by the POsimaster-Generai, couh-
teIsigned by the Auditor, and based on statements
ofbalances certified by the hast mentioned oihcer 70
be due To the individuals in whose favor they were
drawn As this new accounting officer was empo"-
cred to refuse the payment of allowances ordsed by
the Postmaster. General, If deemed by HIM Illegal,
of course he constituted check that indvidui H.
This arrangement was a vas, improvement on the
previous loose system, under which all had 10 be
entrusted TO the fidelity and correctness of the re-
ceiying. who was likewise the paying agent Of the
Postmaster. General.
Thu. Act arrangedthe clerkships of the Office on
an improved basis. giving iS to the Accounting
branch and 81 to the Department proper, with far
salaries Il also authorized the appointment OF a
third Assistant Postmaster-GeneEaL
Mr. Kendall improved Mr.. McLean'S system Of
paying the mail contractors by sending them, quar-
terly, in lieu OF drafts postmaSters for SPecWt
amounts collection orders Tor the entire net hostages
collected in the previous quarter. by this simple
process the Department made its creditors It's col
leciing and settling agents for most of It's smas and
distan, Offices. This practice still continues.
In 1896, Mr.. X. established several lines OF horse
back express 10 carry the letters of those desiring
great dispatch az triple the ordinary rateSo postage
This however, did not prove profitable and was
soon dropped. Near the close of that year the De-
paIment was burned down. but lost few papers OF
value by the accident. 1t was then removed to the
building now known a. Wizards Hotel, where 1t
remained till December, ISL, when 1t was trans
ferred to the present magnificent structure.
The present arrangements OF duties and principles
Of proceeding at the Department are nearly iden'
teal with those IL operation during the Latter part
OF Mr.. KS term.
On hi resignation in May, 1910, Mr. Van Buren,
called to ihe postal chair John W. Miles, OF Connec-
iicut, who kept only about nine months, owing TO
the political revelation that occurred in the country
toward the close Of that year NJ. Niles evnced
while NOTICE a strong desire, when cases were pre-
sented to him, 70 ascertain what would be jus, de
cis.on, and TO act accordingly
or the l.h Of March. ISL, Gen. HARRISON selected
for his posimaster-General Francis Granger, Of
Newly ork son Of a previous incumbent of ihe office
Ia consequence o. political rupture with Mr.. Iy-
Ter, which Induced HIM and other members of the
deceased Presidents Cabmet to resign, Mr.. G re-
tired from the Department IN about SIX months. He
cyuced great pfomptness IN deciding on cases, aud,
without doubt. woult have administered the Office
wei had he continued IN it long enough to familiar
re himself with lis duties.
Charles \. Wickliae, OF Kentucky, was commits
stoned PostmasteT.G General in September lsil. The
establishment nss in a prosperous condition
throughout his term of three and half years Ca
the last day OF MS official term, 81 March, 1915
# Iar 10
snce touching the Pos..O Office the first, authorizing
the Postmaster General to make contracts, for peri
DDS from four to ten years, for mail transportation
10 foreign countries giving preference to bidders
proposing 70 carry IN steamships, and agreeing to
surrender their vessels 70 the United States for their
value If wanted, in time Of war the other, reducing
the postage on letters not weighing over half an
ounce or going over 800 miles, 10 i've cents, and
recurring tn. Postmaster General, when making
future contracts Tor the service to regard only the
regular, safe and expeditions transportation Of the
mails The former ordinance was called for by the
wants Of our rapidly extending foreign commerce
The latter was an immense boon 10 the social inter
course Of the masses well as JudiciOus release
of the inland correspondence Of the country from
taxation for the conveyance of passengers in the
mail coaches.
On the accession of Mr. Polk to the Presidential
chair he called 10 the Post Office Cave Johnson, Of
Tennessee, a gentleman Of bland manners and clear
head who presided over its interests with dignity
and success for four years Owing TO his opposition
hile a member of the House of Representatives to
sundry Underlined old claims and other projects for
relieving Uncle Samuers pocketbook of It's surplus
cash. many lpated that he would prove exceed
iDgly psTsimonious IN his new capacity. So far,
however, as have been able to learn, he uniformly
eynced very just and liberal spirit whenever cases
Of real merit, improvements IN the mail service Of
clear value, were submitted for his consideration.
JACOB CollameT, Of Vermont, was the person Sc |
lected for the Office by General Tay lor on his eeya
ton 10 the Presidency, in March, 1919. He united /
10 good heart and frank disposition great frnness
and strong sense-quaiiLles tending to ht hun well |
for his post But the decease OF the President, and
the formation Of new Cabinet by Mr.. Fillmore,
his official term in July Of the following
year. Previous 10 his retiracy at his suggestion
ongress made large addition to the clerical force
Of the establishment, an increase made necessary
by the rapid expansion of the mail service.
On the 23d of July, $780, the present incumbent
y. X. Hall, Of New York, was commissioned Post.
master & eneral, at which time there were about
eco Postmasters, 100 mail contractors, and $500
operating post routes on the lists of the Department
Inc revenue nom pOstages amounted 70 So4so,OOO
per annum, Of which s9i9,4s6 arose from newspa-
Dets OF the gross annual expenditure for mail con-
yeyance SARA 1907 $264, 500 for five foreign
routes This estimate does nottake Ia the Liverpool
Chagres and Astoria lines, which paid for by /
the Navy Department.
In his first report to the President Of the condition
Of the Department, he strongly urged reduction of
the single postage rate 70 three cents prepaid or
i've cents unpaid, and of more accommodating
tariff newspapers and other printed matter. Ills /
having BEEN in the main, adopted, as |
the public are aware, this highly important improve
ment went into effect the list of July last. IN.
defstand that It's workings during the first quarter
were highly satisfactory.
Delicacy forbids my speaking freely Of Mr.. II. | |