Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-16
A Most Extraordinary Circular.

Mr.. Timothy o. Howe has begun his
official career as Postmaster-General by
a most extraordinary performance. Hav-
ing been applied to for aid by a certain
military society, which contemplates
putting up a monument, the new Post
master-General notifies all his subordi-
mates throughout the country to procure
contributions of money for this purpose.
Does Mr.. Howe suppose that this is
what POstmaSterS are paid for? They
are presumed to be devoting their time
and energies to receiving, distributing
and sending out the mails, and not to
collecting funds for private enterprises.
On MIR. HOwe's principle, there is no
end to the uses to which Postmaster
General can put his subordinates. In
the case of great National calamity,
where succor must be promptly fur
niShed. it is customary to permit boxes
to be placed in the Post-Offices. us places
of public resort. for the reception of
volunt airy contributions, as matter of
accommodation to the people. But even
in such instances the Postmasters are
not turned into solicitors of aid.
In the present case the Postmaster
General has even summoned the Post
masters themselves to take part in the
work. though whether by personal as
seSsments or otherwise is left somewhat
obscure:
"The Society of the Army of the Cumber-
land appeals to you for aid to procure contri-
buttons to the fund for the erection of mon
nment at the National Capital to the memory
of James A. Garfield. The Nation is
very rich. Let art exhaust itself on inven-
ton, let money leap tt execute her designs [
have but lately assumed official relations with
your corps. This is my first communication
to you. You are numerous, widespread. infiu-
entail. You ,cu respond to the cbpsol of the
Society of the Army of the Cumberland and
your response will show, l trust, that those
who admin ster the postal service for the
United Suites are not the least patriotic nor
least capable of those who work for the Re-
public.
AS q first communication from their
chief, the Postmasters must find this an
unpromisising beginning. The enter
prise he favors is only one among many
of the same kind, and cannot even pre-
tend to be of a purely National charac-
ter. A $780, 900 monument to General
Garfield, for Cleveland, is now collect
ing funds; so is the Garfield memorial
hospital at Washington; and no doubt
some PoStmasters have already pledged
their efforts or personal subscriptions in
aid of one or the other. There is still
another Garfield monument project in
DOStOn. Wnlie utTllclu IlC1tlOIldl CudpclS
in various places are soliciting aid.
Now comes Mr.. T. .. Howe, using his
official hold upon large body of pub
lie servants, to set them at work on still
another project, that of an exclusively
military society. in which they may have
no special interest. This society is the
one that lately asked Congress for $50
condemned cannon, after public an
nouncement that condemned ordnance
had ceased to exist, and got its bill re-
ported as an appropriation of $500
worth of condemned military stores.
No doubt stores enough will be con-
demned to satisfy this circuitous and
costly way of getting at public money;
but demanding and receiving the serv-
ices of great corps of Governmentem en-
ployes to further serve its purposes is
still more remarkable.
The principle of the new Postmaster
Generals circular is one that he might
easily make use of in striking his sub
ordinates for political assessments. For
they are practically forced to do his bid
ding in a matter forming no part of their
official duties. They will hardly run
the risk of offending him. Anxious to
show the military society the extent of
his official power, he will watch the
returns, in order to see which Of his
underlings make good response to
his appeal, and which of them simply
attend to the business of the people
N. Y. sam