Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-26

Interesting Suggestions from
the First Assistant Post
master General

AnlANAaAIuAA aNAN ANaaNAn
Mr.. Frank Hatton, who is the sub
jet Of much controversy and no lit
tie abuse in his capacity as an active
member Of the Republican party, is
entitled now to some entries on the
credit side Of his account for pre-
seuting to the public q very acceota-
Bile report as First Assistant Post
master General. A condensed abstract
OF this was published in yesterdays
Ledger, which gave in compact form
most Of the leading points in the re>
port. 1t is well, however, TO consider
some Of them in fuller form. Re,
garding what Is . marked anomaly in
our postage rates as they exist at
present-the fact that il oostsas much
to carry letter ifom one street 10
city 10 another street In the same city
as Il does to carry letter over the four
or FIVE thousand miles from Corpus
Christi, in Southeastern Texas, to
Olympia. in WASHINGTON Territory
Mr.. Hatton thinks the time
has arrived when .he postage
on local letters, at Offices where
the carrier system is in operation, can
be reduced from two to one cent. And,
besides the great disparity Of price in
proportion to service, he gives the very
good reason that the local service in
cites now pays over ambition Of dollars
q year in postage in excess Of the cost
of the service. He adds the further
inducement that every new facility
given to the local service increases the
volume Of its business, and we py
add that while this pays the gOveIa.
ment we'll in the end in the mere mat
ter Of revenue, it also carries out one
Of the great purposes Of the Postofhoe
Department as q help and promoter Of
intercourse among the people.
Incidentally the Report comedies
two needs Of justice to the clerks in
the working postofhces and to the sub
ordinAtes in the Department. As to
the clerks he says, they, are as q rule
"underpaid," especially st the "sepa-
rating Offices, Of whicn the Philaoel-
phia Office is one Of the greatest Il
is 3 fact that these clerks are very
materially undergrad, and We NAV 70
peat here what has often been said in
these columns from competent knowl>
edge on the subject. that they are the
hardest worked anu least paid Of the
government employees; certainly this is
the case as to employees contributing
the same class OF service and mourning
similar responsibilities. 0i the other
class Of subordinAtes, those in the
Department at WASHINGTON, such as
the clerks who are the leads OF diTis-
ions, Mr.. Hatton speaks in terms Of
deserved aud just eommendltioa-at
least it is just as to many Of them,
OF these Mi. HRtton says;
Such subordinate officers, who al
ways have opinions Of their own and
freely expr-ss them without stopping
to first consider whether or not the
opinions they honestly entertain are
those q their superior officers, are the
elsss OF c1eers from whom a superior
gsts his bas; and most valuable assist
anes- lis fron such subordi1ates
that the head q any Office gets the
most cheerful acquiescence when he
assumes the responsibility Of inal de,
eision which the law places upon
him"
We are also, in this report. advised
Of the CRAFTY ing fact that the remov-
ais and suspensions Of officers
we're fewer than in the preceding
year. 1t is, indeed, doubly gratify
ing. we may say, for they we're but
comparatively few in that YER pre-
,eding. And in no previous year the
First Assistant believ-s, have there
been fewer complaint OF incompeten.
cy or dishonesty among postm. sters.
All Il .,is verv chez idl news to hear:
and = 'Dg In its proper connection
with other news we have from anoth-
er Department, it shows that the
wholesome influence Of civil service
reform is already at work. The me-
from the other Department REFER
to is to the effect, that while there
used to be an average Of twelve vacan-
cies q month from designations. re-
movals, etc., there is now but an av
erage Of two such vacancies a month.
The tenure is much more secure
among meritorious clerks; they have
less occasion to reign for fear Of be,
ing displaced, or Of having eir fairly
earned promotion denied By be bring.
ing 10 Of the proteges Of Congressman
TO push them from their stools, or TO
take the higher places 10 which they
are entitled By intelligent and faithful
service.