The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-07

and employed in this service In order to accomplish The
object in view. several persons not in the service OF the
department were permitted 10 labor IN the Office with the
understanding that they would be paid when Congress
should specially appropriate for that purposes sui
cien' Tor Their compensation This course was the more
necessary as during the last summer, 200 pounds
OF dead letters, which had been suffered accumulate IN
California since the extension Of mail service TO San
Francisco. IN the hope that Congress would authorize
them TO DC opened and examined there, were returned
TO the department The amount equitably due to the
persons thus allowed labor in the department, is es
limated at 1905 AZ. As the increased labor thrown
upon the department by the postage act oil The 81 OF
March last rendered II impossible 10 register and send out
the letters referred TO without such arrangement
and as by the letters accumulated during the previous
years, and most of those received during the present
year, have been properly disposed Of u 10 believed
Congress will not hesitate TO make the necessary appo
pra'ion That hbe made at an early day is earnestly rec
commended 4.t
The requirement OF the return of weekly and monthly
registers OF the arrivals and departures of the mails at
of trips contracted for had had not been performed
according to contract and within schedule time, has
introduced greater efficiency and regularity into the
vice.
During the last fiscal year. as appears by the report
from the Inspection Office, the fines imposed upon
tractors on inland routes amounted 10 $S,0Sl 81, OF
which the sum OF $40 25 has been RENTED. The de-
ducons account of failures and irregular service
such routes amounted, during the PERIOD $685.
91l SO, OF which the sum OF 1884 n has been RENTED
The deductions made during the same period for failures
and irregularities foreign routes under contracts with
this department amounted 10 81 $50, and the fines and
deductions which the Navy Department has been advised
to make routes under lis control he inspection OF
which had been transferred TO this Department. amounted
10 81 1853. ~
The special agents of the department have been ac-
lively and usefully employed in the discharge of their
various and important duties The increased salaries
authorized by act Of the last Congress have not been
paid hem the necessities of the service orbiddng such
reduction OF their number 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 exerons mainly the
proporionate increase OF depreciation and loss with the
growth OF the country and extension of mail transporta
ton has been materially checked while The number Of
and convictions for violation of the laws has been
greatly increased Much Of the service is performed in
cities, and is OF nature to involve large expenses,
recommend an appropriation for the deficiency OF salary
allowable to them under the existing laws.
The posmasters and other persons the service of the
department have, with few exceptions, discharged their
duties with fidelity, prompness, and accuracy, and have
endeavored increase the efficiency, utility, and repui
lion of the department
On the Sd OF January last s r. Hobbe, esq, then First
Assistant Postmaster General was appointed special
agent and postal commissioner and despatched TO Cuba
and Panama, with instructions 10 Make if practicable
suitable arrangements for exchange at Cuba of mails
from and to the West India islands, the Atlantic coast of
South America, and TO points on The Gulf of Mexico and
elsewhere reached from Havana by British mail packets
but to which own mail arrangements did not extend
and also 10 efecs il practicable arrangement for the
exchange at Panama OF mails from and to the western
coast of South America.
Temporary arrangements for these purposes were
agreed by f1OODle and confirmed by the depart
ment THESE arrangements have been found TO be use
full but the increase Of correspondence with the points
named will soon render more perfect arrangements des
rabe.
Mr. Hobbe was also instructed 10 proceed 10 Cafor-
MIA, and aid the resident agent of the department at The
opening OF the proposals for mail service which he had
been directed to INVITE II was then the expectation that
Mr.: Hobbe would reach San Francisco in time for the
lettings, but attack of fever unfortunately detained him
on the lsthmus beyond that time The service was, how
ever, satisfactorily performed by the resident agent and
n Hnkh Iad
San Francisco soon after and before the
arranged and executed, and able to render efficient
service in aid OF the resident agent
As Mr. Hobble continued in service special agent OF
this department for time after the LIST OF April when
his resignation First Assistant Postmaster General took
effect, respectfully recommend that Congress make ade
quaie provision for the payment OF bis expenses and
suitable compensation for his services.
1t was hoped and expected at the time the advertise
menS for proposals Tor mail service in California and
Oregon ordered, tina, Congress would authorize
regular letting 10 be concluded there, and contracts for
the usual period 10 be executed under the supervision OF
the agents OF the department. acting under its general IN
s,rucons. Congress. however, adjourned without con-
lerng this authority and the agent in California was in
sructed to make temporary contracts only Acting under
this instruction. the agent who had received bids for
vice until the 30h day OF june 1884, he end OF the reg
ular 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
dorsng upon each agreement signed by the contractor
giving TO the Postmaster General " the right to discon
ilnue the service at the end OF year. the 3oh
day OF June. 1882 making such additional allowance
Tor the years service as TO him shall seem just proper
and equitable"
As these contracts provide for service prices
than fifty per cent less than those paid under the pre-
yious contracts, and as low probably be obtained
a, new letting it is respectfully recommended that
JOINT resolution egalzng such contracts for the residue
OF the contract term be adopted at an early day.
Contracts for the service IN Oregon, under proposals
received and opened IN pursuance OF an advertisement
directed under the circumstances, and with the
expectations that directed in California have been
ecued Tor the residue OF the conac, term to end on the
Both OF June. 1884, and returned by the agent TO this de-
partmen The acts OF the agent have been confirmed
Tar as 10 authorize temporary contracts only The prices
OF The service stipulated for high, but IL IL believed
that they are nearly or quite reasonable as could be
obtained at new letting. The early passage OF joint
resolution 10 legaze these contracts for the residue OF
the contract term is recommended.
Under the provisions OF the first section OF the navy APP
preparation act approved March g. 1851 contracts have
bee made with The Pacific Mail Steamship Company to
increase the trips of the mail line between Panama and
Oregon TO semi monthly thus making tina, service
form 10 the seml-monihy service the Atlantic side OF
the sthmus directed by The section referred This
service contracted for at the of seventy per
cent OF the OF the trips under the original or former
contracts and the contract therefor is believed TO be IN
strict accordance with the provisions Of the referred 10
Under the provisions OF the section, thus depart
men has consented 10 temporary arrangement by which
the mail steamers from New York 10 Havana not
CURED 10 touch at Charleston Savannah and the CON
named and Havana has been renewed for -four years.
from the LIST day OF July last al the price heretofore paid
for that service.
The contractors for the mail service from New York
and New Orleans, via Havana, TO Chagres, time
proposed TO take mails by their steamers, which run
direct 10 Chagres in addition to the mails taken by their
steamers touching at Havana They desired additional
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