, 1859-01-28

subject, reported as follows:
That Mr. Anderson had full discharged
the duty imposed, and had placed in the
hands of the committee what appeared tc
be an all sufficient revision and compilation
of the laws now in force in this territory
The committee recommend that said report
be laid upon the table, and that the com
mittee be discharged from further examina.
tion of the natter :.
Mr.. Phillips, Of the select committee to
l.whOm had been referred the House resolu
ton relative to the mail service on Puget
Sound, reported the said resolution TO the
Council with the evidence taken by them
in committee, recommending that the reso.
luton be laid upon the table, aud that said
evidence be printed. Report adopted
The evidence alluded to is the defence
of MCssrs. Hunt & Scranton, mail con
tractors, a letter Of B. ]. Madison, of New
Dnnginess, alleging Irregularities, and an
explanation by Capt Hunt (for Hunt &
ScrantOn) Of the causes thereof. Although
the said report has been ordered printed, it
is proper here as a matter of justice to the
contractors, and for information to the nu-
merous parties interested, that a brief
synopsis of the documents should be given.
In regard to the character of the vessel
employed, Messrs. Hunt & Scranton say,
that true it is that the act of Congress re-
quires q first class steamer, suitable for war
purposes; that they have placed on the
Sound steamer thoroughly fitted in every
regard for the security Of the maiIs-well
found and provided for the comfort and
safety of what passengers she might carry,
and fully capable Of serving for any ordi-
uary purposes Of war; that when she first
arrived on the Sound the objection urged
was that she tCas Too large for The business on
these 1caters-her tonnage being nearly 600
tons; that in February, 1858, they were,
in consequence of difficulties wholly unfor-
seen, deprived Of the services Of this steamer
for time Such an accident will not war
rant the tone of condemnation of the third
resolve.
In regard to the contractors not owning
the steamer, they say no phase Of the law
or the contract requires them to be owners.
But the allegation as to ownership is un-
true And in May, 1858, the said commo-
dous steamer first placed by them on the
route, resumed her regular trips, and has,
except for two short periods when neces-
sarilly laid up for repair Of accidental dam
ages, regularly performed the services, as
the receipts Of the postmasters on the route
will show.
The contractors then allude to the ex.
pense Of running q steamer Of the class
required by the act Of Congress--the ina
biity Of but few parties to invest the ne
eessary capital = the smalness of the
allowance for the service, being not more
than half it should be--the diiiculiy Of re-
placing machiney in case Of accident for
want Of a foundery and machine shop, in
volving the delay Of sending to San Fran.
risco without possibility Of return for four
weeks at least--that accidents are likely to
happen on Puget Sound as on other inland
waters, and that here are encountered the
difficulties and delays above recounted.
The "Resolute," used while the "Consti-
tuition was laid up, was the largest steamer
which could be obtained, her tonnage, BY
register, being 1872 tons; for the use Of
which, these contractors paid the sum Of
FIVE hundred dollars per week. The con
tractors say thar they endeavored once TO
secure the Santa Cruz" but failed to Oh
tain Der, she being under charter. When
the "Resolute" was out Of order, these
parties were forced to secure the services
Of o small steamer called the Ranger
and have at times been forced TO perform
it in boats or canoes. The contractors next
alluded to the building Of the "a v.
Brown" upon which much money has been
expended, and she is expected to soou be
ready for service.
Much Of the defence relates TO the de-
livery Of the mail at Penn's Cove. They
say at the signing Of the contract they
were not obliged to go to Penn's CoVe-
that the chart was show TO the Postmaster
General, the distance out Of the way lover
ninety miles) clearly pointed out, the po-
sition Of Ebey's landing denoted. and the
agreed to land at Ebey's land
ing, and carry the mail thence by sworn
mail carrier. This has been done by u
faithful aud good citizen, at the expense Of
the contractors, for the past fifteen months;
and appended hereto is the receipt Of the
mails for the quarter ending October Isl,
1858, by F. Cranney. the postmaster Of
Covelahd, similar, receipts having before
been given for the performance Of said
service.
The postal agent, Messrs. Thompson and
Norris, have each examined complaints Of
this nature, and each have officially mott.
fed the contractors that the steamer was
not required to go to Covelahd-and for
the very reason that the good accomplished
TO the few interested, would be an inconve-
nience aud sacrifice to other portions OF the
territory.
10 regard to Major Van Bokkelin's let
ter, by examination Of it, it will be found
to refer to the mail service between Olym-
pia aud San Francisco, and seeks to have
Port Townsend made a distributing Office
The contractors say there are eleven
postmasters and posi-ofiices on the Sound,
and only three Of them (and one is Maj