The Portland daily press., 1867-09-30

PORTLAND, Sept %, 1867
Mr.. EDIToR:-Presuming that you are will
ing 10 give all chance to express themselves
on the question just now agitating our CITY,
that of closing the Post Office at 8 z. M. in
stead of 10, as usual, 1 will occupy small space
in your columns for that purpose
We, the public, know that the Western mail
is distributed before o'clock, so that all. if
they wish, can get their letters ere the office is
closed; and not only that, but it again opens
at "A NJ, giving merchants plenty of time to
M their orders Tor the day, and would ask
now many business men can, if they feel DIS
posed, attend to any business after 9 o'clock
one OF many" seems to have suddenly taken q
deep interest in evening meetings Icertainly
nope 1t may continue; most likely he thinks
government officials and employees do not
need to attend these meetings. he also drinks
tnsre are many who would be glad to fill the
position OF Postmaster, and keep the office ope n
as long as the public might desire. do not
doubt the former assertion; but this do know
our worthy Postmaster is every way qualified
Tor the place he occupies, and 1 am certain tn at
a large majority of our citizens are perfectIy
saUs1led with the way things are managed
Inc system seems to be perfect, and all con-
nected with the office are always ready to favor
the public as much as possible
NOW would like TO enquire why we should
demand more of the Government officials in
our city than they do in Boston, New York
at o'clock, and the citizens cheerfuy comply
with the rule. Certainly it cannot be that we
do SO large an amount OF business that we re-
quire our Post Office to be open some three
hours longer than in those places
Ii We pause and reflect We shall come to the
conclusion that business cares occupy too much
OF our time. Now l say, let us have "a little re-
form in this respect; close up early and then
we can all have more time to spend at our
MONIES. Yours with respect
CITIZEN.
There are two or three misconceptions here
which chnu1l ha
that anybodyexceptt the night Waterman should
remain at the tost Office after the last mail is
distributed. All the public ask is that access
to the lock boxes be allowed till 10 as hereto
lore. This convenience involves only the ex
pense of lighting the corridor for an hour g
Inc Post Offices in Boston, New York and
o.her large cities are not closed at 7 to the ex-
~'u''oh vi pox holders. The general delivery
my 10 ''oseu at that hour. 3. Whether our
Peopio o"ShI to read their letters and pa-
pers ai'er o'clock, is question which they
must declde Tor Themselves II they prefer TO
do so, and can be accommodated without IN
convenience to any of their servants in tho
Post Office aud at the moderate expense of an
hours gas light, their preference is entitled 10
some consideration Finally, it is not denied
or disputed that Judge Davis's administration
has given very great satisfaction to our cit-
zens. Every step he has taken since he took
charge of the Post Office has been OF public
advantage. The mails are promptly distribute
eo; the street letter boxes are exceedingly con-
Vehient; there is evinccd by all his subordinates
an oDil2lng disposition which Government Off
cialS 100 frequently lack. Ii in this one mat
ter the POSTMASTER has misunderstood the wish
es and needs OF the people whom he has in
other respects served 50 well, it is their bust
ness to make their wishes known, as they are
trying to do; and it will no doubt be his pleas
ure to accede to all their reasonable demands.