The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-25
THE MTELLIGENCER I'M H PROPOSED EX.
FRA SESSION.

compromising eHOft, ueIeateu te usual appropfla-
ton for the Post Office Department. They accom-
plished their revolutionary purposes on the jusuiti
cal pretence that the privileges Of the House had
been invaded by the Senate. They maintained with
admirable deceit that their own bill, which had
been amended by the Senate so as 10 increase the
rates Of letter postage, had become 50 tainted by the
Senate's action that they could no longer recognise
it as a subject-natter of Legislation, but must send it
back to the upper house, not with simple remon-
STRANGE against the constitutionality of the amend
ment, but with a declaration that the dignity of the
representatives would not allow them further to
take oognizance of the original work. We beg to
remind the hteYigeneer that on the 10th of June,
1883, a like postal appropriation bill being before the
Senate, that body appended an amendment in the
very words ofthe amendment this year, and sent the
bill back to the House, where it originated. The
House considered and discussed the amendment,
and rejected it by a decided vote, without SO much
as referring to the question of privilege al all. The IN
~teiigeneer is also respectfully reminded that these two
proceedings are recorded as the action of the same
bodies of men, under the same political and legal or
CARNATIONS. We have now only to say that the In
~teligencer and its friends defeated the postal appro-
priation bill and that if any evil befalls the coun-
try in consequence, it 10 all chargeable to them. At
all events, there is no fitness or ~propriety in the
complaints which our n~eighbors urge against the
President for not calling AN extra session of
Congress to remedy or overcome existing diff
culties. If the Legislature had made appropria-
lions TO the extent of a million of dollars it
would have afforded. little actual relief to the
department, and yet it certainly might have been
taken as the sense of Congress touching the sub
iect. Their refusal to make any appropriations was
in like manner a decision upon that particular point,
and we contend should be 80 received by the presi-
dent. Congress did not repeal existing laws direct
ing mail service they simply refused to appropriate
money to pay contractors and others: They raised
the question of payment between employees and the
government. They did not order a discontinuance,
in whole or in part, of the work to be done-they
did not limit the authority of the Postmaster General
in respect thereto but simply neglected to provide
the ways and means. This neglect the President was
called upon to consider with reference to its bearing
upon future service. If that service could be con
Quoted, under existing laws, until the regular meet
ing of Congress, then no i%mperious necessity existed
49, - NNNby s"S SAaO I'd JlllS
obvious that Congress intended to test the power of
the department to conduct its business without the
usual appropriations. At all events, it ill becomes
the parties who defeated the appropriations to COM
plain of the probable increase of expenses by reason
thereof, and of the President for not calling Congress-
together to remedy the difficulty. We venture to say
that the country is not wanting in confidence in the
present able and upright gentleman at the head of
the department, that he will give due weight to the
public interests, meet and satisfy the public necessi-
ties and accomplish all this on a scale of economy
adapted to the straitened condition of the treasury.
The mail service has been largely directed by Con-
gress. That body has undertaken to exercise execu-
tive functions and we trust it is in the power of
Mr.. Holt to institute q rigid inquiry into the wants
of the people, and to cut off many routes which are
rather prescriptive than necessary. In this way a
much-needed reform will have been effected, and
large amounts expended without necessity or justif-
cation saved 10 the country.
The fateQigeneer. speaking of Mr.. Hollis letter,
says
eve are told by the Postmaster General that the evil
dences of debt which shall s3crue against the department
under this certificate system are expected TO draw interest
from the date of their final adjustment by the accounting
On1Cefs Oh inc government. lhlS, lie argues, would be
no mcre than strict Justice on the part of Congress, as it
DIS by the default of that body that no appropriations have
been made to meet the outstanding debts of the depart
Irent. Congress may dispute the validity of this plea,
and retort upon the holder Of the certificate the Postmas.
ter Generals logic, by declaring that it is called TO audit
accounts in a shape never authorized by law, and render
ed necessary only by the default of the administration in
refusing to call an extra session of the national logisla-
ture."
The LateHigeacer commits an e~gregious blunder in
this. it sapposes that the refusal or neglect of Con
gress to make appropriations repealed all laws di
recting die organization Of postal service. IT, then,
the LateAigener viii correct it's ridiculous error in
this particular, perhaps it win be ready to endorse
the conclusions of the Postmaster General. which :.
as now so apt TO condemn. This point bears direct
ny, too, upon the question of calling am extra session
of Congress. We have a right TO infer that the In.
AeHiges~rs condemnation of the President for de-
olining to ca'i Congress together was based upon the
idea that the department, under existing laws, is
mot authorized to carry on the mail service. That
foolish assumption lays at the foundation of the en-
tire criticism. 1T is charitable, at all events, to con-
Cludc so for on any other basis the observations of
our n~eighbors look directly to the creation of en-
barrassments to the administration with no higher
or better aim than that which controlled Mr.. Grow
and his associates in defeating the appropriations.
We stated in our comments upon this subject that
4hn ,~anrnfa of confraotorc vvorId he au1;to1 = IL.