Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-12
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Posr OFFICE DEFICIENCY. &c.-The ex.

;nsuf6c;ant IN meet the demands due on the
ouarter ending Both of December last indeed,
that the Department is already nearly six
months in arrears The deficiency stated In
the Postmaster Generals Annual Report as
likely to occur in the appropriation for the
current year was SO, 800, 900. The Postmaster
General did not, however, take into account
the fact that it has long been the custom of the
Department to pay the expenses of the last
quarter Of the year out Of the appropriation for
the succeeding years; and with that sum added,
the deficiency Is probably fully $1,000 900.
This custom arose from the fact that the ac-
counts for each quarter are made out at its close
and sent to the Department. They have there
to be examined and audited. The Department
then issues its drafts to its creditors which are
also audited All this takes time and the
accounts are not usually closed till at least half
the ensuing quarter has expired.
1t is said to be apparent from the exhibit
that the Department will have to be supported
at least three quarters of year by resources
from an unusual source, if it is determined to
keep up the service and dispense with an extra
session Of Congress. As the effects of suspend
ing the service would at this time be ruinous to
the interests of the entire country, and also be
attended with an enormous outlay of money, for
which the Government would derive no equiv
alent in consequence Of the failure to fulfill con-
tracts for transportation, rents, &c. we cannot
suppose the President entertains any idea of
accepting that alternative. The question then
is, can the service be maintained without call
ing an extra session Of Congress to make an ap-
preparation for it
Nov, are there funds sufficient at the dispS-
sal of the Department, and are there other
sources from which money can be drawn with
out express provision by law?
The exhibit answers the first proposition neg
atively. The law answers the second. The
ninth section Of the act of August 6, 1916, and
the first section of the act Of July 2, 1896, make
it the duty Of the Postmaster General to direct
the payment of moneys aecruing from the postal
service into the Treasury of the United States
rs they accumulate and there is no other law
existing behind which he can shelter himself
in the nOn-pcrformance of this duty, except SO
far as concerns . the compensation of deputy
poStmastcrs, the expenses Of post Offices, and
such other expenses of the Department for
tchich appropriations hare been made, as may
be incurred by deputy pOstmastcrs," which
may be deducted out of the proceeds of their
Offices, under the direction of the Postmaster
General, Act Of July 2, 1896, sec A.. Nor
can this revenue be drawn from the Treasury
again, except in pursuance with law apprOpri-
ating it for the specific purposes of the Post
Office Department.
The postal revenue does not belong to the
Post Office Department, but to the Treasury; just
as that revenue does which accruas from import
duties, sales of public lands, &C., and should
be equally guarded. Although the amount
mentioned in the above quotation from the law
of 1885 does not in fact go into the Treasury,
its payment by deputy pOstmasters must be pro-
vided for by an appropriation act. But even
that's cOnstructively paid into the Treasury
for the Postmaster General is required to give
his warrant to the Treasurer in lieu of this
amount, and that warrant is credited and
charged to the Post Office Department
The WORK on THE TREASURY EXTENSION
At the time Of the refusal Of Congress t. make
the usual appropriation for continuing the con-
structiOn of the extension of the Treasury De-
partment, the Superintendent had in hand,
unexpended, of the appropriation of the previ-
Gus year. a balance of S250, 900 Of this SUN,
considerable portion, some 800 900, must neces-
sarily be paid to contractors as balances re-
tanned from them to secure the faithful perfor-
nance of their contracts. The rest, we hear
with the $4,000 appropriated, will be expend-
ed in continuing the construction of the south
wing, suspending the work on the west wing.
In that way it is hoped that the main force
now employed may be retained until Congress
shall again meet, if called together earlier than
usual, az is anticipated. We hear that the
granite contractors have, at this time a force
Of twelve hundred hands employed, and three
vessels constructed wholly to transport the
stone for this building, and utterly useless for
aught else. If it becomes necessary to violate
the Government contract with these parties,
the damages they will probably land JUSTLY
obtain from Congress in tho end, on that a.
count. can hardly fail to be less than half a
million of dOllars-the full amount of the ap-
preparation for the entire years work on the
building, as originally inserted in the bill by
the Committee of Ways and Means,
Were not the House penny -wise and pound
foolish in this matter?
Mr.. PECKsNIPF.-Our Pecksnifian neiyhbor.
Al