The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04


others than the parties who frank them, and the
ranking OF letters of other persons, are presented
some OF the existing abuses. All these should,
in my Judgment, be prohibited by severe penalties,
and conviction for such fl nee shoold deprive
the offender Of his ranking privilege. IL Is also
proper that the attt ntiOn OF Congress should be d.
rected to the fact that the penalty Of I'VE hundred
dollars imposed by the existing law Is found 10 be
insufficient 10 prevent ACCOMMODATING Of franks,
either with or without the assent OF the person
whose frank is counterleited.
! Authority should be given to the Department to
increase the compensation Of its special agents in
California and Oregon 10 an amount more nearly
corresponding with the general high prces of those
Sc 'tions These agents, acting at points remote
| from the central organization Of the Department,
must necessarily be invested with a large discre-
ton, and implicitly relied upon for the infOrma-
ton on which the action Of the Department, in
| spect 10 those portions OF the country, must be
based. The highest salaries now authorized TO be
paid are entirely inadequate, and 10 secure the SER
vice OF competent men assurances nave been given
that authority to pay higher compensation for
past as well as future services would be asked Tor
| 'rhe early passage of an act authorizing the Post
master General 10 allow them just compensation
tor their past services and adequate salaries for the
| future, is earnestly and urgently recommended.
The Postmaster General should also be empow.
| cred to authorize the special agents In California
and Oregon, respectively, toreceive, open, and de-
eide upon proposals for mail service, and, In the
PRESENCE and with the aid Of such postmaster the
Department shall designate, to open the dead let
| tiers accumulated from time TO time within their
Districts TO destroy those found TO be OF no value,
and TO return to the Department Ihose containing
valuabes, under such regulations and instructions
as may be deemed proper
! An extension OF the building occupied by this De-
! partmcnt, for the better accommodation OF its
raj bureaus the Auditors Office, and the City Post
| Office, wac recommended in my last annual report
The reasons then urged for such extension are con-
siantly acquiring additional force. The rooms Of
the Post Ollice building, now unreasonably crowd
cd, will soon be entirely insufficient for the accom-
mediation Of the business Of tai5 Department and
of the Auditors Office. lndeedsgtis now, and dur
ling the last year has been, found necessary to oc
cupy 5tveral rooms over the City Post Office, where
the papers Of the Auditors Office exposed to
luss by fire and other causes. Large quantities,
too, OF important papers are from necessity packed
in the halls and in the basement or cellar OF the
main building, where they exposed to inidew
and gradual destruction. They should not DC so ex
posed; for the loss of the papers OF the Department.
| and especially of the Auditor, would be public
! calamity and would be rreparab!e ! respectful
ly ask that it be earnestly and urgently recon
mended to Congress TO take immediate and efiec-
ual measures for the extension Of the west wing of
the present Post Office building for the erection
Of its north front, as originally contemplated.
The accommodations for the post office of this
city are entirely unsuitable and insufficient.
Situated at the seat OF the National Government,
and appropriated chiefly to the correspondence Of
it's various Departments, 1t ia continually visited
by the representatives of foreign governments and
srangersfrom every part of the world. lite present
condition is not only unsafe, but decidedly dis
CTeultaDe 10 TINS department ana the country.
Some improvements made during the last fiscal
year have afforded partial and temporary relief
from the evils before experienced Tor want OF room;
but other arrangements Of a creditable and per-
lnanent character should soon be made.
Ia my last annual report also recommended
that the laws for the government of the Depart
nent and its officers which are numerous and
complicated have been enacted at different periods,
and contain many obsolete and conflicting prov-
sons, should be revised. An entire revision of tSese
laws, and the passage OF single act containing
all the provisions OF law relating TO this Depart
ment and its officers, would give greater efficiency
10 its operations Such O revision is again respect
fully recommended.
again renew the recommendation that the AS.
sistant Postmasters General be placed upon the
same footing In respect to salary rs the heads OF
Bureaus in other Departments. | cannot but re-
gard the invidious discrimination now made G.
tween these ofhcers-whose duties certainly require
equal capacity, and whose labors are admitted TO
exceed those OF officers of like grade in other De-
partments--as incongruous, and detrimental TO the
interests of the Department.
The increased business of this Department, con-
sequent upon, the rapid growth of The country and
the extension OF its correspondence, made 1t neCes
sary in 1916 TO assign to tie chief clerk oil the De-
parment the duties appropriate to the head OF n
bureau. These duties have since been greatly in
creased and it is submitted that he should have the
official designation and salary ponding with
his dutics. To bestow them now would be to rem
der but justice to able and faithful officer, who
has served the Department long and well,
\ III foreign desk of the Department has become
one of great importance. requiring more than or
binary capacity and labor for the discharge of its
duties. 1t is respectfully suggested that authority
should be given to increase the compensation OF
the officer performing them TO that of principal
clerk, by adding 5000 to his present salary.
The annexed reports from my First and Third
Assistants will present useful and interesting de-
tails OF the business of their respective bureaus, as
we'll as show the necessity for small increase OF
The clerical force of the Department. Believing
that such increase is required for the despatch OF
the business Of the Department with promptness
and accuracy, recommend the increase which
these reports suggest
In conclusion, desire again to acknowledge my
obligations to the Assistant Postmasters General
and the clerks of the Department for the zeal and
aesiduity manifested by them in the discharge OF
their laborious duties, and especially for the cheer
full willingness with which many OF them have,
when necessary for the despatch of the public bu.
siness of the Department labored beyond the usual
office hours, and in the discharge of duties not
pertaining to the desks to which they bad been
assigned
N. K. HALL. Postmaster General.
To the PRESIDENT
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TREASON TRIALs.-The trial of Hanway, in the