The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-11

this number eighty were for drunken
ness. This vice at one time made sad
havoc among the rank and file of en-
ployes; but there is at present an eff
Gent PoStoffice temperance society, and
there have been some remarkable refor-
nations, while sentiment in favor of
temperance has diffused itself through
all departments of the office.
While others have advocated it in
theory, Postmaster James has eXempli-
fed civil service in practice. Promo
tons and salaries are now based partly
on length of service, partly on care
full system of testing the correctness of
work done, partly on conduct and part
ly on periodical REORGANIZATION. This
examination is not test of the clerk
knowledge of the names of the extinct
volcanoes in the moon, but the trial of
his experiences in his work. For in
stance, the clerks who are distributing
matter in the mailing department were
recently required to place correctly
1920 cards, containing the names of
the Postoffices in Ohio, in a series of
lpigeon-holes labeled with the names
of the counties in that State. One
man succeeded in making the distribu-
ton in two hours and twenty minutes,
with only thirteen errors. The best
man at the New York table was yet
more remarkable. He put the whole
2,S40 cards bearing the names of the
Postoffices in this State in their proper
counties in 105 minutes with but single
error. Awhile ago, there was compe-
tition for the vacant chief clerkship at
table, and the lowest man of all, by
sheer excellence, took the place.
Nearly all the higher officers of the
New York Postoffice have come up
from the ranks. Even Mr.. Pearson, the
Assistant Postmaster, rose from clerk
ship in the Office and passed through
the various grades in the railway postal
service (of which he was one of the
originators) before attaining his pres
ent position; Mr.. Gaylord, general SUI
perintendent of the city delivery, began
as a 5000 clerk; Mr.. Forester, super
intendent of the registry department,
began as 5000 clerk in the distribu-
ton department; also Mr.. Wareing, the
assistant general superintendent of the
mailing department, told me frankly
that he came in as a porter. Mr.. Yeo-
man, the superintendent of the same
department, began as a stamper, on a
salary of $500 year, and so on through
the list. All but one of the nineteen
superintendent of branches entered as
clerks. In short, here is civil service
of the most approved kind in success
full operation in the best conducted of
all Government institutions.
The clerks are quite satisfied to go
down if they are beaten down. Under
the old system, man in the Postoffice
had but little chance for promotion ex-
cept by the intrigue of some political
clique. In giving men chance to be
something, and perpetual stimulus to
their ambition, Mr.. James has undoubt-
eddy wrought a marvellous improvement
ia the service. But he has done better
than that: for by opening a door of
| hope to a man one makes him man.
Men no longer expect removal on the
caprice of ward committee. The Of
flee offers them a career, and they have
every stimulus to faithfulness and eX-
celience. 1t is found that the least eff
Gent clerks in the Office are generally
those backed by the most efficient
names, while the poor fellows who have
no hope but in winning the favor of
their superiors by fidelity and excel
lence are altogether the most valuable.
-Edward EggteSton, IN Scri6ner for
| Man,