The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
LUGAL M1IANUEs
General Administra ion of
the Rock Island Post
Office.
Postmaster Beardsley Essays
to answer one of the
Charges,
While the Argus has a Pile
Of Cartridges in Reserve.
Death of one Of Our Oldest.
Pioneers.
Brilliant Wedding and other
Gems of Local News.
A PRETTY SMALL HOLE.


| To the Editor of the Argus
/ Iwonder whether Postmaster Beardsley
| thinks that his roundabout reply in the
| Union of this morning TO my structures
| upon the general looseness of our postoffice
management is complete. or win be ac-
cepted as satisfactory by the business men
| of Rock Island? IF so, he must be unde-
ceived, at once, but in order to show how
abjectly he is begging the question permit
me to trespass, somewhat. upon your space
| once more in order to reproduce for the
purpose of comment. word for word, his
rejoinder to my statement of facts in the
ARGUS of Yesterday. Read what he says:
OUR MAIL DELIVERY.
In our old postoffice times, that is to say,
previous to the remodeling of the postoffice,
box owner, and particularly q business
man, would generally find that his individ-
ual or firm mail included the mail of
other persons. This was an infliction on
the box owner, and an imposition upon the
postoff1ce, as moments reflection Will
convince any man, and particularly one
who pays for box. There is an excep-
ton however, in the case of transient WIS.,
itors, who happen to be mans guests
No one can, or would, object TO, the mail
being addressed to the box at their cost
That is simple matter Of hospitable cour-
tesy. Since our posteffice was remodeled,
at heavy expense. and provided with ample
lock-box accommodation at reduced
rates, the postofice department
has instructed Postmaster Beardsley to
rigidly enforce the law restricting the use
of each box to one family, one firm or one
corporation, or by courtesy to friends stop
ping temporarily with the box owner. IN
brief, two persons not of the same family
or in business partnership, may not use
the same box, and mail for persons who
are not box-owners must be called for at
the general delivery window. just as if
there were no boxes. The postof1ce de-
partment holds that there are no boxes,
except for those in whose name they are
paid.
Tt will be observed that the Rock Island
Postmaster makes no reply to, Tor apology
for.) the most severe OF the charges
brought, to wit: that the Rock Island post
Office has for the past year, at
all events, been run upon a
most unbusiness-like principle. Every
business man in this city has proof enough
at hand to convict the Beardsley admins
tration of repeated acts of the grossest
carelessness and the most outrageous
negligence. Furthermore the complaints
have hecn made by as many republican
as democratic business men. As might be
expected the Unsoaa, which was never
known to lead in reform movement and
which is a negative newspaper in every
respect would never dare open its bill in
opposition to injustice or in favor of the
correction of grave abuses, especially
where such a truly good republican as
Mr.. Beardsley has bread and butter inter
ests Therefore it remains for the ARGUS
to be the champion of the people, of
both or all political parties, who
desire show of Improvement in
the general management of
our postoffice affairs As general thing
if any establishment of any nature in this
broad land has run itself the Rock Island
postoff1ce is that one and strangers in this
city have commented upon that fact. But
enough of this; everybody knows the basis
on winch the pOSbOfuCe uds Deeu COuuuCbcu
of late-every man for himself and the old
Nick for all.
Now, Mr.. Editor, let me look for
at the Union reproduction. OBJ
serve that Mr.. Beardsley simply makes
reply to one of my charges. Does Mr.
Postmaster Beardsley dare maintain for q
that his instructions from the de-
partment would exclude frem firms box |
the mail of that firms clerks, bookkeepers.
ETC., when .such mail is especially
directed in the care of that firm |
or box2 II Mr. Beardsley does
say so he prevaricates most unblnshingly,
and be knows it. Frank Hatton, late III 4
the Burlington Haaaksye, happens 70, b |
the first assistant postmaster general, and |
when man of his excellent sense sanc-
tons such an absurdity as is minated BY |
Mr.. Beardsley in the Union, an earthquake
win swallow us all. If the firm of Jones
= Smith has ]. B. Curtis for clerk or book