National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-15
TIE POST OFFICE.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND PER
SONAI. GOSSIP.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND PEh-
SONAL GOSSIP.
To the Editor Of the National Republican,:
SIR: 1t is well known that Postmaster General
Jewell has been working industriously and vigor-
eusly to master the important details and su-
preme demands of his Department. And in this
hecomprehends the magnitude Of its vast inter-
ests and the widespread ramihcations embodied
in it, which not only reach across the continent,
but around the civilized Werld.
He comes into 1t finding a deficiency Of some
eight or ten millions year, which has to be pro-
Vidsd for, outside Of the Department, In the ap-
preparation bills Of Congress. As thorough busi-
ness man, accustomed 70 make the ends meet with
tury Of large and successful business mSnipuia-
lions, he is appalled, at the showing, and at once
sets his mind to work to forge plans and contriVe
means whereby this deficit can be avoided, and
at the same time protect the general interests Of
the Department from incidental harm. This,
certainly, is q grand object, and most worthy
The present advantages and facilities Of the
mail service are distinctive and widespread. If
all these can be continued without increased eX-
pense and at the same time, reduce the running
expenses down to the actual receipts, or near
thereto, 1t will be an accomplishment for which
no honor will be too high, and for which no ap-
plause will be more Justly due.
But 1t must Eet be imagined that an object
like this, even, can be obtained without opposi-
ton, honorable and praiseWOrthy as 1t may seem,
for there are always too many side issues and
personal self-interests in the way Of reforms like
or later finding some Of them across the path Of
whoever undertakes the work. And so 1t Is, i'm
agine, General Jewell will md 1t not altogether
smooth weather in the consummation Of the job
he has undertaken. Nevertheless, apprehend
he will not be appalled, at this, as, if under
stand him rightly, he is not made Of the kind Of
stuff which stops at distractions or hesitates
when given work is laid out to be done. He
may not secure 1t all at once; but, nothing
daunted, he will push on, and on, until the thing
As yet, he has done nothing to Justly provoke
any really consequential GpPostioni stl II Is inn
to get along and make such routine changes and
economic reductions as he may deem essential to
the contamination of the general result, without
exciting some personal hostility and individual
spite on account Of the incidental friction caused
thereby.
And So If there are no real substantial causes
Of complaint small and Insignificant ones will be
found; and even petty miscellaneous and mis-
representations, founded upon disconnected cir
eumstances, will be resorted to to found hypothe-
sis upon which some assumed dereliction can be
based.
Such has been the case already, and even Re-
publican newspapers like the Daily Chronicle
have permitted some Of these unfounded dia-
tribes to enter its columns without stopping to
ascertain their truth. OF course, they are Of no
great account, and being without any truthful
foundation, soon fall Of their own weight For in
stance, it has been said when the Postmaster
General first came on here to take his place he
chartered a special train at Government eX-
pense, and recently it has been said that he pro-
posed in Cabinet meeting to extend the daily
hours Of labor in the Departments to O'Clock p.
m. Neither Of which are true, and have no Just
foundation to rest upon, while the fact is he paid
for this special train, as he does all other
fares, out Of his own pocket. trihing matter
perhaps, but it has been taken up and published.
Let the denial follow. Whatever individual, or
even corporation interests may be interered with,
there is one thing sure-the people have in Gen
eral Jewell a firm, Yigilant, unresting friend,
who works early and late to ferret out Depart
mental evils and protect the common interests Of
the country at large And so intent is he in doing
this he does not leave the office until O'Clock in
the evening each day in the week, Sundays ex-
cepted, where he is constantly and industriously
engaged in the performance Of official duty.
Stick pin there, If you please. The right maR
in the right place NJ. L. II.