The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04
70 render IL probable that the suretcs might be dead


bonds ia all cases where the penalties were made
auate, or where the bond had been executed for
more than six years. More than $3.50 new bonds
were, under this order, prepared and sent out and
nearly all have been returned, examined, accepted,
and registered.
carefully revised and corrected list of the post
Offices in the United States has been published and
distributed to the poslmasters and other ot-ers OF
the Department. On.hs revision II appeared that
the number OF post Offices in the United States was
somewhat ess than that stated in previous report
from this Department.
The Laws of Congress relating to this Depart
ment its officers and business, have been carefully
compiled for republication in connection with the
general regulations ofthe Department, which have
been revised Tor that purpose large portion Of
the work has been for some time in the hands of the
printer, and the whole is expected to be completed
and distributed in February next.
Wooden marking and rating stamps have been
furnished TO large class of offices whose receipts
too small to authorize the supply of metal
stamps. By furnishing these and blanks of n bet
ter quality, as well as other facilities for the de-
spach of business it is hoped that the labor Of post
masters will be, in some degree, reduced, and great
er promptness, accuracy, and despatch secured
In consequence of the want of clerical force in the
dead letter office, my efficient Third Assistant had
been compelled, for several years, to allow an ac-
cumula ton in the deadletter Office Of letters con
tanning promissory notes, drafts, and other papers
of value. This class OF letters had been accumulat
ing from 1887, and rapidly increasing. Upon
examination into the general character Of their en-
closures, / deemed il my duty to cause extraordi-
efforts 10 be made TO SEND tne6e letters and
their enclosures the parties entitled thereto. For
this purpose several clerks, whose duties might
during the of Congress be temporarily thrown
upon others IN the same divisions, were detached
from their respective desks and employed in this
service. In order TO accomplish the object in view
several persops not in the service of the Department
were permitted 10 labor in the office, with the
derstanding that they would be paid when Congress
should specially appropriate for that purpose
sufficient for their compensation This course was
the more necessary as, during the last summer,
come 4, 200 pounds of dead lettcrs, which had been
suffered TO accumulate in California since the
tension of our mail service TO San Francisco, in the
hope that Congress would authorize them to be
opened and examined there, were returned to the
Department The amount equitably due to the per-
thus allowed to labor in the Department ia
timated at S505 AZ As the increased labor thrown
upon the Department by the new postage act of the
30 March last rendered il impossible to register and
send out the letters referred TO without some such
arrangement, and as by it the letters accumulated
during the previous years, and most OF those re-
ceived during the present year, have been properly
disposed of II Is believed Congress will not hesitate
TO make the necessary appropriation. That il be
made at an early day is earnestly recommended.
The requirement of the return of weekly and
monthly registers of the arrivals and departures of
the mails at the termini of each route, showing
whether the number of trips contracted for had or
had not been performed according TO contract
and within scheduie time, has introduces greater
efficiency and regularity into the service.
During the last fiscal year, as appears by the re-
port from the Inspection Office, the fines imposed
upon contractors on inland routes amounted 10
$S,0Sl ST; of which the sum of y 10 % has been
RENTED. The deductions account of failures
and irregular service on such routes amounted, dur.
ing the same period, to $25,97l SO; of which the
sum of S84 n has been RENTED. The deductions
made during the same period for failures and r-
Irregularities on foreign routes under contracts with
this Department amounted to s ,450. and the fines
and deductions which the Navy Department has
been advised 10 make routes under its control
(thc inspection of which had been transferred to
this Department. amounted to s. 1853.
The special agents of the Department have been
actively and usefully employed in the discharge of
their various and important duties The increased
salaries authorized by an act of the last Congress
have not been paid tlem the necessities of the ser
vice forbidding such reduction OF their number as
would Justify the payment OF the increased salary
out of the present appropriation. These officers
render important service to the Department and to
the public. Through their exertions mainly the
proporonate increase Of depreciation and loss, with
the growth of the country and extension of mail
transportation, has been materially checked, while
the number OF and convictions for violation
of the laws has been greatly increased. Much of
the service s performed in cities, and s ola nature
to involve large expenses. recommend an appro-
priaton for the deficiency of salary allowable to
them under the existing laws.
The postmasterg and other persons in the service
of the Department have, with few exceptions, dis
charged their duties with fidelity, promptness, and
accuracy, and have endehvored to increase the
efficiency, utility, and reputation of the Depart
ment.
On the Sd of January last s. r. Hotbe, esq.
then First Assistant Postmaster General, was APP
pointed special agent and postal commissioner,
and despatched to Cuba and Panama, with in
structions to make, if practicable, suitable
rangcmenis for exchange at Cuba Of mails
from and to the West India islands, the Atlantic
coast of South America, and to points the Gulf
of Mexico and elsewhere reached from Havana by
British mail-paekets, but to which mail
arrangements did not extend and also to effect,
if practicable, arrangement for the exchange
at Panama of mails from and to the western coast
of South America.
Temporary arrangements for these purposes
agreed upon by Mr. Hobbie, and confirmed
by the Department. These arrangements have
been found to be useful, but the increase of
spondence with the points named will coon render
more perfect arrangements desirable.
Mr. Hobbie was also instructed to proceed TO
California and aid the resident agent of the De-
partment at the opening of the proposals for mail
service, which he had been directed TO invite. 1t
was then the expectation that Mr.. Hobbie would
reach San Francisco i'll time for the lettings, but
attack of fever unfortunately detained him on
the Isthmus beyond that time. The service was,
however, satisfactorily performed by the resident
agent and the postmaster of San Francisco. Mr..
Iiobbe reached San Francisco soon after, and be
fore the contracts wsre arranged and executed,
and was able to render efficient service in aid of
the resident agent.
AS MIR. Hobbie continued in service as special
agent of this Department for time after the
LIST of April when his resignation as First Assistant
Postmaster General took effect, respectfully re-
commend that Congress make adequate provision
pensation for his services.
Ii was hoped and expected, at the time the ad
refreshments for proposals for mail service in Cali
forna and Oregon were ordered, that Congress
would authorize regular letting to be concluded
there, and contracts for the usual period to be
cuted under the supervision of the agents of the
Department, acting under its general Instructions
Congress, however, adjourned without comforting
this authority, and the agent in California was in
etructed to make temporary contracts only. Act
ing under this instruction, the agent, who had
ed i1ntil thO Inty I'm
1854, Che end of the regular contract term in the
section TO which California and Oregon belong,)
very properly received from the accepted bidders
contracts for the residue of the contract term, en-
dorsing upon each an agreement signed by the
contractor, giving to the Postmaster General ''the
right to discontinue the service at the end of
year, on the 30th day OF June, 1852. making
such additional allowance for the years service
as to him shall seem just, proper and equitable"
As these contracts provide for service at prices
more than fifty per cent lees than those paid under
the previous contracts, and as low can probably
be obtained at a new letting, it is respectfully
commended that q Joint resolution Iesalizing such