New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-13
BEEN opposed to the winning party are forthwith

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made to walk the plank, and their places ere
filed with men destitute Of experience, aud fire.
quenily possessing no qualifications for ofics.
They have worked well at the c.ucuses aud at
the pells; hence they are deemed suitable can
dioates for, and are rewarded with, ofce-gth
lucrative and honorable ones If they have been
hard workers.
So long as this state of thing. exists, so long
will there be complaints with reference to the
administration Ct the Post-Ofice. Few men
who are mere politicians are ct for the Office of
postmaster. 1t should be filled BY some care
full, juoicious business man-by one who is
good accountant, and who keeps bis own affairs
in good shape; for. depend upon it, man who
conducts bis own concerns in loose, slovenly
manner, will manage the Government business
in the same way We need good men in the
Post Office, the best that can be found in the
coDmunity-men of known integrity, who will
take a pride IN the discharge Of the duties of
the ofice-those in whom everybody will feel
col fdence.
Shall the post-ofices Of the country be given
to this class of men, Shall men be selected
with reference to their qualifications as business
nen-on account Of their personal VIC rth-or
because they have been efficient politicians
These questions are addressed to the American
people, all Of whom have direct interest ia
having our postal .ystem managed in prompt,
careful, efficient manner. Shall the Post Office
establishment be mere political machine, used
to reward men for partisan services, or shall it
be managed for the benefit of the great body OF
the peoplel
That the Post Office is not what it ought to
be, everybody admits; complaints are frequent.
Few who have used 1t to any extent are satisfied
with the way things are managed. Letters mis-
carry-money and other valuables are lost-no
man who mails letter feels entirely certain
that it will ever reach its destination. Now,
would this be go were our post-ofices filled
with perfectly reliable men letter should
seldom misearry-it should never be lost; and
it never would be If our postmasters were
what they should be-. e. careful and honest.
That we can have such postmasters there is no
doubt. But the people must take the matter in
hand and resolve that they tciu hare them. The
plan of appointing psrtisans must be abandoned,
and men must be selected because they are
qualified
Those who would use the PostOffice as
means Of acquiring or retaining power must be
frowned down. Ambitious politicians must be
MADE to rely upon their own qualifications
rather than upon the number of promises they
are able to make in the way Of helping unworthy
persons to Office. If man is in nomination for
Congress, let IN go there because he is worthy
of the tfice; and let the people see to 1t that
they, and not their congressman, select the
postuasters. THIS plan must be adopted or the
time will soon arrive when no one will intrust
communication to the mails.
But we may be told that the party in power
would object. That the Postmaster General
would be disposed to give Office to his political
friends only. Such Postmaster General would
be unworthy of the Office. 1t should be his am
biton to see the mail service of the country
performed in an efficient, satisfactory, honest
manner. We should say he would feel pride
in knowing that his employees were selected
from the best men in the country-appointedo on
account Of their personal worth; and the time
may come when this will be SO. And then see
what a saving of labor and trouble there would
be. At the Inauguration of each new admins
tIation months are spent in turning out one set
of men and appointing others. All this business
would be dispensed with. Incompetent men
would occasionally be discharged, and vacancies
occurring by reason of death it would be neces-
sary to fill; but the duties Of the appointing
officer would be comparatively light and trihng.
In this connection, let US say single word in
regard to post Office clerks. Two brothers have
recently been detected in plunderiDg the mails
in the Chicago post office. They were Jerks in
the Office, and are characterized in the papers
as fast Young men" Now why are auch per-
sors allowed place in Government office
We should expect them to steal-they are
useless creatures anywhere; but the post-office
is the very last place in which they should be
put. No postmaster is excusable who furnishes
employment to them. They feel no care, no re-
sponsiblbty. We can thlpk of only one place in
the public service TO which they are suited, aud
that is the State Prison where, as general
thing, they bring up sooner or later.
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