The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-28

finger Of England is deep in the pie.
Posi- OFFICE MIsMANAGEMENT.-We publish
in another column copy of some correspon-
depce which has recently passed between the
Hon. Horatio King, the first Assistant Possmas-
ter General and Mr.. F. W. Golladay, late Post
master of Lebanon, in reference to a complaint
made in this paper short time since Of the
non.delivery Of the HERALD to one Of our sub.
scribers In this instance the fact is satisfac.
torily accounted for by a clerical error in the
direction of the cover, and the Identification of
the surname thus altered with that of another
person to whom the paper was sent. This is
one OF those curious condolences which some
times GAUGE confusion III the best regula,e led
arrangements, and we give the Post Office the
full benefit Of the explanation. In the same
spirit of fairness we also publish, from the Bos
ton Herald, the Post Office version Of Mr..
Hooper's case which appeared in our Issue of the
23d. The Boston Postmaster states that the
cause Of the detention and non-delivery Of his
money letter, was the fact of the omission by
that gentleman to pay the postage upon it
when it was first mailed.
As, however, one swallow won't make SUM-
mer, neither will these two isolated cases of
justification on the part OF the Post Office serve
10 excuse the numerous well founded complaints
that are daily made against its management.
There is scarcely an individual in the commu-
nifty who cannot contribute some of his own
personal mischances to the general catalogue
of grievances against it. Few, however, think
it worth the trouble to make any noise about
the matter, seeing that the more serious charges
brought against the department are incapable
of satisfactory explanation. OF this character
are the extraordinary facts lately made public
with regard to the sale to paper manufacturers
of dead letters, with money enclosures to large
amount. The Connecticut affair, although an
attempt was made to rebut the evidence respect
ing it, has never been satisfactorily cleared
up; and the more recent case which occurred in
Maryland and in which enclosures to the amount
of $424 were found in letters sold by the Post
Office as waste paper, has as yet received no
contradiction from the department.
Let it be clearly understood that it is to the
~ stem, and not to individuals, that we charge
all these blunders. Judge Campbell, Mr.. King,
and the other heads of the Post Office, are no
doubt worthy and capable men in their different
pursuits, but it requires some other qualitica-
ton besides this for the efficient administration
of great public department. 1t cannot be ex-
pected that persons who have passed their lives
in other avocstions should at once, and as if by
intuition, obtain all that practical experience
and acquaintance with official details which in
this, perhaps more than in any other branch Of
the public service, ore specially called for. No;
the whole fault lies in the system itself Since the
time of Amos Kendall, the Post Office has been
rendered sort Of political engine in the hands Of
party intriguers. All the Offices in the gift Of
The department ere now considered merely as
the prizes Of jealous partsanships. The conse-
quence is, that from frequent changes in its or
ganization, and personal inefficiency on the
part Of Office holders, affairs are nov managed
there in manner which would disgrace The In
fancy of the institution.
1t is difficult to understand why the same re-
forming spirit which is carrying out such
severe inquiry into the moral as well as pro-
feseional organization of our navy---an inquiry
more stringent and more inquisitorial than has
ever before been instituted in any country or
in cry service should pass over so long the
elaJng defects and abuses Of our Post Office
system. 1t seems to us that there Is ia the lat
ter as wide, il not o wider field for the Jealous
scrutiny and vigilance of Congress or the PEG.
pie. We would have the principles on which
the Navy Committee is constituted, carried out
in every department Of the public service. We
would have, more than all, an efficient, bust.
ness man at the head Of the government Moral
correctness and professional experience should
be the tests Of mans capacity for government
employment, and not the prostitution Of his poll
teal opinions to the service Of party. Until
this is more generally the case we shall neither
have an elevated standard Of pablo morality
nor correctness or efficiency in our public de-
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