The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-03

murder, seduction, sdultery, brutality, riot, and
nearly every other or,me and offence OF which de-
graded and perverted human nature can be guilty.
Here is the hero-the beau ideal-the exquisite
specimen, who is the subject of sympathy of our
modern socialists and reformers-those socialist
philosophers comprehended under the general
term of the Tribune establishment in New York,
who ,ympaihlse, pity, and take part, as much as
possible, with all knaves, rufians, and convicts.
Need we add another word to this new develope-
mcnt of the sympathy of socialism and the ten
dency Of those doctrines advocated by Greeley,
Dana Brisbane, and their associates in the race Of
modern reform! Is this not the real school Of Sa-
tanism in action, and folly in detail? Who the
other associates, Caterers aiders and abettors Of
Ned Bunlline are, We shall inquire.
Posi- OFFICE REFORM We give Mr. Brady, the
new Postmaster, credit for efiectng some reforms
IN the management of the New York Post Office,
particularly in the Increased accommodation given
to the public; bu, this department is still very far
behind the age and similar establishments In other
great cities. For instance, instead of only two
windows for the delivery of letters-one for each
half of the alphabet-there ought to be at least one
window fer each letter of the alphabet, and two
'ime Is precious, would not have to wait for an
hour before their turn Genes to get an answer to
their enquiries; nor would they be put the serious
Inconvenience, and sometimes loss, of having let.
tiers of importance denied them. through the inef-
fciency or hurry of the clerks-letters which, IN
day or two after, will be found announced as I'M
called for, in the advertisements In the Herald.
Several instances of this kind have come under our
own immediate knowledge. Then, look at the kind
of complaint made in our paper day or two since
by a corespondent-that hsletters, forsooth, could
not be delivered because the clerks were receiving
mails for California;
Can anything be more outrageous than thsl II
there are not enough of hands in the office, why
not appoint more, instead Of thus trihng with the
,me and business of the public! We should like
TO know what they would say, i they were obliged
to take letters quarter of hour before the des-
patch of the mail, as they do IN the post Offices In
England; convenience of great Importance In that
country, as merchants and others would gladly pay
a dollar, aye, sometimes ten dollars, rather than
have then letters delayed for another mail Nor
is there any item In the department that pays bet
terthere being three different charges for late let
tiers: for the first quarter of an hour two cents; for
the second quarter, four Cents for the third quar-
ter, twelve cents. Ali this time, be it recollected
letters delivered at their proper windows, to all
who apply for them, by clerks who have nothing to
do with receiving letters. And in our post office
department there ought to be the same separation
between receiving and delivering. Often twenty
thirty persons are obliged to wait at delivering
window, while man who has got the first chance
Of enquirlDg for his letters, post-pays a score or
fifty letters, while the clerk if he is not an expert
arihmeticiaD. goes over the items Of the account
perhaps three times, then takes some minutes to
count the change of, it may be an eagle or half
eagle. Thus the time Of the public is wasted, and
their patience abused.
One great cause OF the mistakes and bunglins,
and delays in the Post Office Department, Is the
changing of the clerks with the change of party
When an intelligent man has served three or four
year,, and has acquired such knowledge Of his
business, and SO much expertness in the discharge
Of his duties, from constant practice, that he is
invaluable to the establishment, man who differs
with him in politics is elected President, and for
this important reason he is victimized; but, what
worse the increste ef tn. public ar. u,ifvvJ,
too, person unacquainted with the business being
put in his place, Us a reward for political services,
who has no natural capacity, or, il he has, knows
with which, and despatch in its performance, can
only be acquired by long experience. Ifhe should
turn out to have ability, and becomes au fat, he 10
sent adrift just when he begins to be really useful
1t "needs no ghost" therefore, to tell US tina,
this Wholesale changing Of subordinate officers in
the public departments, is highly detrimental to the
public interests. II must be 90, and every days
experience atiests the fact Ii takes away from the
public servant all stimulus to activity and the faith
ful performance Of his duty. lie calculates he will
be retained in Office as long his party remains
in power, the same influence which obtained his
appointment being always ready and potent to pre-
vent his dismissal; and, therefore, he is careless,
IL not actually insolent to the people. He knows
that no ability, nc assduty, will be sufficient to
save him from the deoapitatlng knife, If the rens
Of government are transferred to the hands Of the
rival faction, and he has therefore no spur to exer
ton.
IN England they once pursued pretts much the
same course, bu; now act very differently Expe.
rence has taught them, and it ought to teach us.
II IL q melancholy fact, which cannot be denied,
that though in the freedom Of our institutions and
laws, we leave England and France immeasuraby
behind, they are infinitely our .uperors in ad,ni.
pisHauf sVNeihWent. Inc magistrates carry out
the laws us they exist, the police do their duty adj
mirably, and the post Office department IL as
regular as clock-work. Why is this the case
Because, rarely Is any man appointed in the fret
instance, who has no, some fitness for the Office
and he is never Dismissed without good and sui.
fcient cause. He has. Therefore, every incentive
TO scquit himself credtably. If there is change
Of administration, he is net affected by it. The
change operates only in the heads of State depart
ments In the Post Office Department, the Post
master General is the only man removed, and the
subordinate officers and clerk. care little who
holds the helm. Hence the public are well served,
and the people who pay the tax receive value for
their money. The Post Office Department in
England not only maintains itself at the low charge
Of two cents upon each letter, to every part Of the
country, but 10 source OF considerable revenue to