Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-23

Mn. EDIToR Permit me through you,
columns to say word to the patrons Of
our small country post Offices, as | I'M
derstand the arrangement. There are
Offices in Buchanan county Of which the
salary is less than $12 per annum; and
yet they are expected to discharge the
functions Of full gro,cn, and we'll paid
Office, viz: They are expected to furnish
a room, with lights and fuel, and other
accommodations for the community in
which they are located, and then place
of safety for the mail Of each and every
one, and also to be in attendance to
change the mail every time that it ar
rives, and promptly, too. They are also
expected to be on hand to deliver mail
at all hours Of the day and all days Of
the week, Sunday not excepted, and
this, by the way, is not required either
by the statutes of God or man. 1t is
also expected that they are posted in all
that Miss Gossip or Madam Rumor are
engaged in, and able to give satisfacto-
ry answer for all their doings. The post
master also serves as convenient me-
dunn for the conveyance of all sorts of
packages and messages from one party
to another, and, Of course, is expected
to do it all scillimglv and gratuitously.
Some persons apparently think it one
OF his duties to direct all their letters,
and others expect him to lick their
stamps. These are only some of the du-
ties they are expected to perform, all
for less than $12 per annum.
Our Government has kindly establish
ed post Offices as means of disseminat-
ing knowledge and information to all
parts OF the country, and not because
the Government needs their assistance,
for in many instances they are not self
sustaining, but are kept in existence by
the fostering care Of the Government.
1t is reasonable to suppose that in the
establishment Of these Offices in our
county, they would receive some assist
ance, at least, from the community
which they are intended to benefit. The
Government generously gives to post
masters, as part of their salary, GER
tain percentage Of all the stamps sold at
their Offices, and also percentage Of all
the unpaid postage they may collect,
and makes provisions for their retaining
all the boo rent they can get. These are
the many ways that postmasters of
small country Offices receive their pay
at the present time.
In different sections of the country
the price of boxes differ very much. In
some parts of the west it is not unusual
to charge and receive more for one quar-
ter than is asked here for one year. But
here, alas! for the box rent. You just
ask one of your patrons, Mr.. Postmaster,
to take box in your Office and pay you
one cent week for the use Of it, and
if he don't have fit of paralysis and
epilepsy or nightmare, or something
else, perhaps only an attack of hydro
phobia, then am mistaken, that is all.
Il will admit that | would like to have
a box, it would be much more conven-
lent for me. could then see when
there was mail for me without asking,
but it would cost something, and as |
believe in rctrenchment and reform,
won't do it. The p. NJ. may get his sal
airy where he can, or do without it. III
take no box and pay him any such
price. He's got to give me my mail
when I ask for it, and that is all | care
for 1t appears, then, that being the
servant of the public, he is expected to
discharge his duties with fidelity, wheth-
er he receives remunerative compen-
sation or not. Such, Mr.. Editor, are
some of the running gears of our pres
ent post Office system. =. NJ.