New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-04


tSef advantage have thea sulet them - the local con
eb would become useless ana source 90 Oss II inc
routes uuun which they hpd carried tne mhis pi'S'u
specristion only ana never Intending to a The work
required By Their contracts, have, I'D many hlsl"Ce,;
,fferwnrd defrau,ied them Of tIeIr paw.
by law the Department Is rghfr" io ACCEPT 'n. o r
Of tbc lowest bidder who complies wt lbs terms am l.s
no power to REJECT lower Did, conforming 10 Jaw !o
higher one. That these hdfi ds i'c Do' NJ ,ij
abp Norcan see that any chGngc 90 fhc Jaw ih ne
respect would be advisable or lust 10 lAe go, eis;
The Government IS Interested ~ obtaining the iD"Vi'
term. Tor the work. and ~ promoting c0hlfuiNh' li-
stead OF discoumgng IT, Under me l; the l}o nm
such cases, must deal WIZ uic Patty 10 D ~ him
tract has been awarded, must make laylnenls 10 "h
and can take no notice of and make no rynents 10 NC
subc contractor IL has sometimes i',f Te1der,d
1g Nc r,,itcloaI received the pay and yet tie sub
confracor received pay from his prnclWi peoys9
me me, I,t,e ,ss ~" f'r he coI'eciion OF debts.
would recommend that law be enneteL giEhs vac
sub-coutIactOr lien for MS pay on '.S M f he
due the contractor provided nc me III w, gr ~
second As is.ant postinastcrG General s'tsId't"'} 49,
dence Of his contract tc9ot4cr WIN ita t.lia ~ %
rry 10 8 rendered ny ont Of The funds when may ne
due or become due his principal under ms coLc' y.
re @ aIiioi 81 the second Assistant Postmaster
General in regard u this SUBJECT
TIE RAILWAYS.
The railroads ~ the country constitute che main INES
the arteries so to speak, OF postal system, aud 1t s
~ tbe highest importance tdt railway mail service
be AZ perfect in ts organization and reliable in s
operaton as possible The relations between The railroad
officers aud the Department have been and are now OF
nst friendly character. The managers ~ tho railroads
All over the country manifest a disposition e aid she
Government In the PROMPT safe SPEEDY, ana regular
Transmission OF the mails. and very FEW cOntroNesies
have arisen tween he officers OF the DcpaTtmoH. ana
those OF the railroads IN regard 70 the posth scr
Indeed during the late unfortunate laborstrkes, and tie
disorders following them, the railroad companies tneic
involved made every reasonable cIort 10 cav lut NE
during the dsordarly period, and resumed the service
not disturbed immediately notified the Department. th
they were ready 10 assist it by forwarding the delayed
n Is hoIsd ths these friendly relations Will he contin
ned bnt il NAV be wen to provide remedies against
tbcr 81 sfurhance should dispute arise between any
railroad company and the Government III REGARD Z" car
ryng mail The company has il in rs ower 20 Oppose
or resist the demands OF the Government - refusing
longer carry the mails leaving TINS Department 10
make such other arrangements for Their transportation
AZ NAV be within its ability. Itiseasy 10 see t!at sel
Gus interruptions Of the postal service ana consoqae'
enbaIra to the business ~ lie country may rc
suit from such condition OF alhrs .
To prevent provide against such eyl Consequences
sag esi tat legislation would be advisable 20 .niopo
fbe railroads 10 carry To mails terms 20 be prescribed
BY law u mEht be wei 10 leave the matter O cGmpeh
salon TO The discretion Of Posmasor General With
i'm such narrowly cir umscribed boundaries NAV be
prescribed 10y Congress II this officer and the railroad
coWanes should any use, TAIL "a agree az To ne
terms OF the service. the compensation therefor let
tDrrp be uWms~iOn. board or drnifaGuni or olhtf
tribunal established by law ~ which such disputes may
he referred uuou she application OF the PCstmaScTGen-
eTal or OF the railroad authorities.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The intimate postal relations recently established oe-
tween the principal commercial nations have greatly In
creased their intercourse promoted their trade aud I'M
proved their acquaintance with and knowledge OF each
other Inasmuch az this country one u The first 10
cali for an international postal treaty It behooyes MS, A.
matter If uat0nrl pride, % make our postal ma
b.. AID ought in particular 10 permit our postal
seryc 90 bee surpa 4ed by that Of any other nation An
intelligent inspection of the postal systems OF iuropc
and au accurate knowledge of their details would be OF
great advantage IN this respect therefore sug
from his Department three able and experienced officers
10 20 TO Europe and examine The operation
ucnts which have the most complete ana cnc,h postal
fySfrms Persons familiar with our own postal opera
d.,an cheer Sc Of the bcTarment would involve
expense 20 tine Government tnan the appointment oil
esr- would need 20 Dee provided for ~ addition 10 theif
salaries. Al appropriation of 10000 would be Eui'cient
sat factory results O1coi fhCsc officers might exam
t tIr etaI orgapizaiion OF he pnstal Systcis
its incidents; AMI the tifd, The mc DDS OF conducting
.t 0iacs he ii tIisutio N tho mails the carrier sy
most nearly allies s.l to our star aud s'ctmboa serV-
Idesre especially 20 invite attention TO the necessity
for Increased appropriation iOr tie taiWaF-maN aF
tht report oi Mr. Vail. general sUpernt uden or that
@e MN adj p,1ri, H. IFS egics1Icy
CONFESS. by Act OF February H. 1868. authorized
contract Tor carving tie mails between san .ucl,c0
- 1Inin According 10 ths uroyisi ma of tHs aei, the
POSTMASTER General 10Th October. 1866, made con
tract with RE Pacific MaIl--teamship Company FOR car
Nug said mails. The COMPANY under the terms Il tc
ficf 100000 iOI thc performance
of Twelve round trips per foo contract fern ~
zen years 20 b-g before lie fret day o. January,
-G7, ald the day the first steamship OF toe limo shall
drHar from the Port OIL san Francisco with the mails FOR
China" Five millions Of dollars were appropriated for
this service Hrequir-da lil,ie more than two months
to make round tip. Ten years from the beginning
OF the conrac; expired December 81 1916 bat ho trips
commenced The 1T Of November and tie Isl OF De
ccmber 1876 not completed uItil after uury ],
~
tUu Tor Cfryiu the mails ON these Two round trps aud
no money has any ae hcen specifically appropriated
for that pun puse THIS matter mentioned that the a
cuion OF Congress be called 20 II for such action
Judgment. the law and equity OF the contract
may demand.
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