The New York herald., 1877-07-07
Civil Service Reform and the
Federal Officials.
UNEASY POLITICAL MANAGERS.
An Explanation from Postmaster
General Key.
The COUNTRY PNqNASTERS PERQUSlqEa
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, July Q, 1917.
THE PaEsrpKNr's ORDER TO The OFFICE
HOLDING POLITICAL MANAGERs-ACTIoN OF
THE WISCONSIN observation-disclosures
GENERAL KEYS LETTER.
good deal OF consolation has been taken by the
once holding element from the letter OF Postmaster
General Key to Boss Kcyes of Wisconsin, which
was given to tho public through the press to-day In
tho Postmaster Generals opinion there will he no
BARN In tho action OF Boss Keyes and his fellow
postmasters who members Of the Wisconsin Re-
publican Executive Committee in calling ana organ
izing the forthcoming State Convention, provided they
20 no further In the business OF the Convention and
ABSTAIN from controlling or directing II. In short no
thinks that in doing this preliminary work and
nothing moro they viii not counter 10 the spirit
or purpose OF the Presidents order.
1t might have been fancied that tho query OF Boss
Koyes was made with Wow to puzzle and annoy the
President especially the put by Keyos was alto
geher Hypothetical 1t would have been very easy for
tho four postmasters resign by ono allowing tho
rest OF the committee AL the vacancy in each in
stane, until the new committee was regularly aud
fully constituted; but Keyes supposed the worst
possible case and desired get the ruling OF the ad
min,strstion upon il He rendered hts resignation Of
Tho Post Once as did all tho others and with show
Of good feeling.
The Postmaster General says to- night that II Is a
mistake the part OF the Office holding politicians to
lner that the concession, whatever II may be
Called in the case OF Boss kcyes and the other Wis
consin posmastcrs is sign Of letting up or back
ing down the part of the President In the enforce
Of his order. On tho contrary, the Postmaster
General says that tho Precedent only does not in
tend to yield. but Is determined to keep his ad
mtnisrntion planted upon the order. The Office
hnl.t kuovw cus.h
they choosing the alternative OF retaining polltl
cal Office they arc sending in their designations to
the government, and the designations are coming IN
pretty FAST The letter Boss Keycs was not written
after any consultation or interview with the President
II expresses the opinion OF tho Postmaster General only
and has not been Endorsed or repudiaed by The Pres
dent What the latter looks for is not technical but
substantial compliance with his order, and was in
the spirit Of this conception the Presidents ideas
that tho Postmaster General wrote as he did.
Mr. Key says no wrote . similar letter week
ago postmaster in Pennsylvania VINO inquired
whether he could attend convention with the meet
ing Of which his official capacity expired The answer
was SUBSTANTIALLY the that which Boss Keyes
Yecsived.
TaE ILLEGITIMATE SALE OF POSTAGE STAMPS
REPORT OF POSTMASTER JAMES, OF NEW YORK.
Many complaints have been lodged with the Post
Occ authorities by Postmasters OF large cities on the
aecnc OF their sales OF postage stamps. stamped en-
vclopes and postal cards. and the corresponding In
crease OF labor aud mails. This state OF Affairs
arises from the law OF Congress oompsnsating
postmasters Of minor Offices with large per
centasc their sales OF stamps, &c,
which they manage to Increase by every conceivable
manner Tho practice of flooding the large cities with
these stamps has become SO glarIng that the Post
master General rs bound TO take some decisive step in
tho matter. Tho latest complaint in this respect
emanates IRON Postmaster James, OF New York, from
whom the department. received the following commun-
cation, which contains many interesting statistical
facts
July i. 1877
Hor. d. NJ KEY, Postmast,r General, Washing
ton, ID. c. -
SIR beg to call your attention TO the decrease in
the sales OF postnge stamps, stamped envelopes ana
postal cards this oice, from the close OF the first
quarter 1873 tho close Of the second quarter OF the
present year, shown by the following statemcns:-
Sules tor quarter ending