New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-14
FOR REFORM ~ MAIL CONTRIB CTS
BILL REPORTED IN THE HOUSE.
SOME OF THE DEFECTs OF THE PRESENT LAWS
AND HOW THEY ARE TO BE REMEDlED.
InY IFIFGR APn TRIDrNI.l


[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSEl
WASHINGTON, April 13. Tho House Com
mttee on Post Oflccs and Post Roads has favorabV
reported bill regulate the letting Of mail contracts
The original draft OF the bill made by Assistant
Postmaster General Lyman and Is mainly designed TO
restrict the operations Of spccuatlng bidders As the
law now stands may bid every route advertised
at the general and miscellaneous lettings provided each
proposal l. accompanied by bond with sureties
approved by u postmaster" Under this provision "a
spccuator Who desires obtain contracts for the pur
nose W -l-lcng them others for less sums, and who
induce any postmaster In the United States to ap
prove his suretcs has a free field for his operations
Among the objections 10 the system which admits pro
iessiona bidding are the delays In the correction OF
Irregularities of the rcmotene=s OF the con
tractor II professional contractor falls on one OF MS
rouc. may failure many others In which lac
Is interested. consequent interruption OF the service
and letting Of the contracts 10 other spectators
In order TO mako better terms with subconractors'
spccuating contractors insgate petitions for changes
OF schedules and service, which impair the efficiency OF
the latter and subject to great Inconvenience the people
whose benefit they descned such contractors also
often sub divide routes 10 transfer the mails at
points where there post offices, and by disregard
ing the prescribed schedules, cause vexatous delays
Competition among spccuatfng bidders IS sharp and
close that in order 10 profit on their con-
tract they compelled 10 sub let them 10 persons who
provide inferior and inadequate equipment. As con-
and sub-contTactors havo to be madei the service is
wretched, and Trustworthy local bidders shut out
from the business.
To correct these evils the bill provides that every
posa shall be accompanied with bond with sureties
approved by postmaster at post Office on or con-
uous to the which the proposal relates" It is
estimated that change viii increase the cost Of the
star service than per cent per annum during
the next four years.
On this point the committee says: This additional
expenditure could not be better applied, n It will result
In great Improvement in the mall service throughout
the whole country Is presumed that there few
members Of the House OF Representatives who have not
compained inefficient mail service the small routes,
the cause being that under the present legislation which
permits speculation large scale In mail routes, +he
service performed under sbcOntracs at rates too low
TO be renuneratlve to the sub contractors"
The bill also provides that the POstmaster-General
shall not bound award contract 10 any person who
has concerned in imposing an insufficient bond upon
any former proposal for carrying the mail. or who has
view TO defraud otherwise cause loss to the United
states Last the Second Assistant Postmaster
General subjected TO severe criticism because he
had accepted The proposal for mail service Of who
had been indicted for alleged fraudulent practices
contractor Mr. Elmer held that the law gave him
authority 10 reject bid the sole ground OF fraud
atteupted fraud by the bidder previous contract II
l. understood that the professional bidders in arms
against the bill. which il designed 10 curhl their
privileges and profits, ard they Will exert all their
energies to prevent Its consideration or passage.