The Evening critic., 1882-01-20

Office Department gave the Postmaster-Gcn-
cral authority TO establish and control
postal routes, and necessarily conferred
with these powers q great discretion that
could not be limited except by Congress
and by it only in general way. This dis.
cretion-this right to judge and determine
was of the largest, and has never been
limited by any legislative act, until n sug-
gestion to that effect was made by Second
Assistant Postmaster-Ge General Brady.
The language of this law Isl
The postmastcr-General shall provide for
carrying the mall ON all post-roads established
by law so often as he, having due regard to
productiveness and Other circumstances, may
think proper. n. s., $685.
If the words we have underlined had not
been in the law the Department would
have had to be conducted OH business
principles, that is, the mail could not have
been carried to any point where it did not
pay its expenses.
Evidently by the insertion of these
words Congress did not contemplate that
cuisines principles were to rule. That
body intended that the people of the
country shonll have the advantages of
as speedy, certain, and secure means of
communication as their circumstances and
situation would permit. " Business princi-
pies" and the Post-oflice Department as
self.sustaining institution are the after
thoughts of selfseeking demagogucs and
self-elected reformers.
Section 161. Revised Statutes, reads;
The head OF each Department is authorizel
TO prescribe regulations, not Inconsistent with
law, for tho vornmentof his Department, the
rff M hn
lion and performance of Its business and the
custody, use, and preservation Of the records,
papers, and property appertaining TO it.
Under this law, by Sec. % of the Postal
Laws and Regulations, the business of
arranging tho Mail Service of the United
States was assigned to the office of the
Second Assistant Postmaster General this
assignment carrying with it the discretion
confded by law to the Postmaster General.
Post routes were established by Congress,
and the Second Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eraI was required by law to contract for
the carryingof the mail on these routes. In
doing this he was not to be governed by
productiveness alone--he was not to
consider whether the mail would pay
lie was not to be governed by the considera-
tions that would govern ward hummer
contemplating the establishment of u cor
ner grocery; Cuisines principles" were
not to s.be the rule, but what under all
the circumstances would be best was TO
determine his action.
Common sense tells every one that the
Second Assistant Postmaster General could
not personally know whether mail was
required over every line in the country
once a week or seven times, whether its
speed should be three miles an hour or
seven, and that he would have to depend
upon the best attainable evidence in each
particular case to guide his " discretion in
that case.
Mail service was placed on routes, and
soon the residents aud representatives on
some of those routes asked that the service
should be more frequent and greater speed
should be used. To secure uniform rule
in regard to increased service aud increased
speed, in 1872 Congress passed the laws
which are sections 1860 and 1861 of the Re-
vised Statutes:
IEcgeQseof Conspensdtioa for Increased Ssrrics-
Compensation for additional service In carry
ing the mail shall not be in excess of the exact
proportion which the original compensation
bears to the original service, and when any
such additional service is ordered the sum TO
be allowed therefor shall bo expressed In the
order, and entered upon the books OF the De-
peYtment, and no compensation shall be paid
for additional regular service rendered before
the issuing OF such order (R. s., s396Ol.
jncrease f ConlPensation tT lacreased
any increase OF expedition in carrying the
mail, unless thereby the employment OF addi-
tional stock and carriers is made necessary,
and in such case the additional compensation
shall bear no greater proportion TO the addi-
tionai stock ana carriers necessarily employed
than the compensation in the original con-
tract bears TO tho stock and carriers neces5a-
rily employed in its execution. Or. s., 3931)
These statutes arc made sections 6l8 and
6l9 of the Postal Laws and Regulations.
Under the last quoted section il becomes
necessary to determine what evidence
should be required as to the increased num-
ber of stock and carriers required when
Increased celerity" was ordered, and the
following rule was adopted;
SIC. G2O. determination Of COMPENSATION J0j
Inc1tdstd ttterify.--When It becomes necessary
10 increase the speed ON any route, the con
tractor viii be required TO state, under oath
the number OF horses and men required tC
perform the service according to contract
schedule and the number required TO perform
II with the proposed increase Of speed.
On the contractors oath the compensa
tion was granted and then p. o. ID. in
speetor was sent to verify the statement o
the contractor.
Sec. $500 provides for simple caleula
tion in addition, and rule 620 for one il
multiplication and division by which t.
determine the additional amount Of pay +
be given to any contractor for inctease
service" or incIeased celebrity" No on
pretends that either Of those laws has eve
been violated.
These are the laws under which tn
Second Assistant Postmasters- General hay
acted for years. Under and by virtue
them they have expedited Starrouts
according to the discretion vested in thea
Gen. Brady was governed by these law
He used his discretion in expediting Stai
routes, and for it has been made the mar
Of slanderous tongues In no single ca;
where he has expedited route has he don
so without ample evidence to justify IA
action, nor in any case has the compens
tion exceeded the amount allowed by Las
We give the laws that the public ma
understand this subject. They have bee
deceived by these slanderers who, hayin
failed in their atteapts at blackmail, ca
only be hty described as
"s . the moths and scarabs Of tho state,
The bane OF empires and the dres5 of couri