Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-17
ae1istellameuns &eading.
For the Yorkvillc Enquirer.
CARELESS POSTMASTERS.

There is time in the affairs Of men, IN
which prudence itself ceases to be virtue
We allude to cases in which officials neg
lect their duties, and trample with deliberate
disregard upon the rights and conveniences OF
the people, and the laws they are sworn to re-
spect in the discharge of their official duties
Mistakes and carelessness are too often over
looked and forgiven by generous public
simply because such and such an officer or
postmaster is good clever fellow. This for
giveness is not due in all cases. 1t is not
right that officials should be indulged in their
neglect by persons who are in possession OF
facts sufficient to bring about correction OF
the matter-if properly attended to.
We are constantly hearing complaints from
parties who consider themselves injured by
our neglect, and as general thing, we get
the abuse due others for not having done their
duty. Some people are 80 uncompromising as
to think that postmaster should be held per-
sonally responsible for all matter directed to
his office, whether he ever received it or not.
Now, we have an extremely poor spirit for all
this unnecessary abuse, and still poorer way
of helping ourselves.
1t is generally admitted that postmasters
are good, easy, good-for-nothing set Of fel-
lows. This, we admit is too often the case.
It is too often the case that postmasters suffer
incompetent parties to have access to the mails
while they are opening and closing the same.
They have too many assistants about mail
time. When the mail is opened, all hands 60
to work, tossing and perusing the matter, and
in few minutes the papers and letters are
scattered all over the house, and the fact is,
the postmaster is totally ignorant of the num-
ber of letters he receives, or to whom they
were directed. In this disorganized state of
affairs, when he makes up. his mail, a.number
of papers or letters are left out, and the post
master at the office to which they are directed
must take the blame for their not coming.
When he clears himself of any neglect on his
part, then the poor editor and his ''crowd'
catch a good raking, and the solemn pledge is
made, that "as soon as my time is out [ ,uont
take the paper any longer, for he aO0n't send 1t
untlit is a week old, and then I don't want 1t"
All this trouble and dissatisfaction can be
avoided by special attention to the following
sections of law regulating post office matters:
"Sec 81. Mails must not be opened or
made up by the postmaster or his assistants
within the reach of persons not authorized to
handle them. The postmaster will, therefore,
while discharging these duties, if room be
appropriated to the use of his Office, exclude
from it all persons except his assistants regu-
larly employed and sworn
sSec. 81. 1t is impracticable to detail in one
chapter all the duties devolving upon post
masters. A thorough knowledge Of such duties
can only be obtained by careful reading Of
every chapter of these regulations. Ignorance
of the laao and regulations cannot be accepted as
on excuse for their vioIatio,s."
1t would be we'll for postmasters to remem-
Der that they are personally responsible for
the manner in which their offices are conduct
ed, and that any neglect of their assistants
will call for correction at their hands. We
hope to hear no more taulting of postmasters
and that the people will keep them on their
guard, and see that they discharge their du-
ties, and report all delinquency and neglect.
JAS. L. STRAIN, P. NJ,
Eta Jane, S, G..