New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-19
RAILwAY MAIL OFFICERS IN COUNCIL.


DISCUSSING PUBLIC INTERESTS AT LAKE MAHoPAC.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.l
LAKE MAHoPAC, July 1S.-ThOSe wary and
elusive railroad managers who fortnighty convene in
NewYork to make the latest combination freiGhts
another advance IN passenger rates. who stay at hotels
without registering their Names meet in out-Ofth way
places and resort 10 other devices tn battle the reporters
rarely have made n successful attempt to avoid
publicity than did the Railway Mail superintendent Of
the United States who concluded here yesterday three
days conference with only solitary reporter In attend
ance at the closing hours Of the session. "Helo" said
superintendent Jameson. as TRIBUNE reporter STUN
bed into the council-roOm at Thompsou's, whore the
confer nee IN session; 81 thought we left you
behind We just CONCENTRATING ourselves that sc
getting through three days session without being
found out by You evspaper folks"
There seated in the Observation-Disclosures
Theodore n. Vail; Thomas b. Cheney. superintendent
for the New England States L. C. Jackson. superin-
tendent for NevYork, Pennsylvania, Ncw-Jcrs'y and
Delaware NJ " Bailey, Superintendent for the District
of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia aud West Virginia ;
John Jameson, AsslstantSupernterde at large L.
NJ Terr, Superintendent for all OF the Southern States
East of the Mississippi River and South of Virginia and
Tennessee; C. j. French, representing Ohi, Indiana,
Kentucky and Tennessee; James J.. White, Superin-
tcndcnt for the Northwestern States; W. L. Hunt
Superintendent for the States South of Iowa and West Of
the Mississippi River aud n. b. Thompson Of Toledo
superintendent OF the ana
in all ten who suDernend $4,000 miles OF railway
mail service AMI control the work OF 5000 men. AZ
body of representing about the best fruits Of COED
Civil Service the gathering interesting and instruc
tive. Not mau among them ever achieved eminent
success in politics, aad there was not one VINO did not
owe his position to knowledge Of his business AT
least eight Of the ten began in the lowest grade OF
the postal service aud worked up. Politics were not
once mentioned during the meeting.
he VI OF urV vat
sions entirely informal, final ac,0u being taken IN
only few of the matters discussed An entire revision
If the regulations e0yeinn- emp"ye ther hetIoi' 1i
work and moral conduct was one vi me most dhculI
questions under consideration lbcidonta " thls
subject ntroauced the topic OF CvI service
Reform. Win one or two cXecp.ou, inc DIV.
sion SupcrinicDdeuts had att4Iucd urr present
positions by promotion from .ne Ranks, h H
entered tue service ~ ciik yeas age 40 siIi, :!
ten Of Civil service, entirely beyond tho confOi oil Tue
politicians, unanimously rrouuli0tnacd >uporn-
endent vii said tuat the bdne % political influence vas
not felt 80 much The bad appointments 10 inc sr-
wee, as III Tue reenIion OF men "itcr ncy Isa oegu
found uhht Tor tAeil POSITIONS IN t"o Oh th.cc lh
stances the Postal Service mad suffered Geil'rtId-
lion because this Sruaior or tnat COnSres 'inan
had used hs Official influence 10 prevent inc discharge OF
incompetent men. Almost any mdh ~ average mIciu-
WORK reform needed one that would prevent
he exercise OF ANY outside pre,su'e 20 sep "3.tcss
ia the service. Removals FOR cause otet thh ON
cld ucdpacity had not been M 10 iOr several years
In fact business of such character at frequent
changes coJ,d not b. mate A. least t"o years we're
required to enable pOsa-car cctk Ia attain even "a"
cradle de.re oil efficiency, and mucI longer ume 10 b.
"A
Tue order ccTAs uu tie cOmpu aied mali Goutcs
could tell, WItIOus nIS!ants hCsaton ,ic situation
of II 5000 pUsi-Oices Ih.s ElOfc tHdh
tLs average nut the OF CLERKS tne
Lea difficult severe, and long eApef icncc
was absolutely necessary.
Matters OF detail connected with the se.Yice-such as
the subject Of through pouches and cXch1n-es tests OF
ACCURACY in traisnISs0n plals of keeping T,cogd,-of
only indirect interest To the Dc Occac large por
ton Among other Suggestions IL be car
red ou IA tue uture the ado ltoA o. uniforms for
all employees III Railway MIll Service. A hcgiA-
uiua VIII be tns direction in "A lew
ueaks nv lac mail "a
ordered Ia apper III UNIFORM Inc adop'ioh
of covered mail wagons wi locks In New-lork BJS on
Phiadc aud baltimore reported by the DiSlsiou
Surrlnendon;s Ia he working weii, and sinllaTwasOns
" M De in Louisville ST. Louis and Chicago al
ter OCTOBER /. Among Tie matters agreed upon ~ he
presented to the Congress Was "A rtcoa-
lueudatioll Tor an increase the service la ger
appG pratios Tor tae fast mail service ana add0ha
.on The trunk lines, III Ordcr tndt the Gov
eminent n.gt OF the facilities for Trans
pUrttiOu, aud consolidate the Mal service 80 AZ 10 have
fewer aud be1tcr routes. -
The Conference adj purncd to meet In Washington dur
ne week IN December