Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-31

REPRESENTATIVE HILL, of the Deli
ancr district. has introduced into the
House of Representatives a bill provi-
ding for the erection of buildings for
postOilices at all offices where the gross
receipts of the Office exceed $1,000 per
wear. This class of offices numbered 2,l43
on the 3Oth of June last. OF these y are
already located in government buildings.
Mr.. Hills bill proposes to appropriate
s30.OOO,OOO.
This proposition may seem chimerical
at first sight. but it will bear investiga
tion.
The department report of this winter
strongly urges Congress to provide for
the leasing OF buildings for the use of
all offices of the class named. The re
port declares: Il am strongly of the
opinion that it is the duty of the gov
ernment to furnish roomy and well-ar-
ranged Offices for the transaction of the
postal business. Such policy will in
and citizens in the communities directly
benefited will take pride in furthering
the interests of the service. Following
this is tabular statement showing the
effects of improvements made at nine
teen offices during TIE past year. The
increased annual expense at the offices
named is SS,O79-ihe increased receipts
Sl29,73O.
The reasoning of the department in
this respect is conclusive, and that Con
gress will at no distant day see that
public and private interests alike will
he furthered by a more liberal course
toward the postal service there can be
doubt That a pOstulfice handling tons
of mail monthly should be restricted to
small and maybe dark and poorly
ventilated room, AMI the hundreds of
people who daily have business with il
lncOnvenienced because of the lack OF
proper room and facilities for transact
ing the government business, while
treasury OH .ial who may not handle one
with whom not one in hundred of the
public are called upon to do business,
should be located in government
building, with every convenience pro
vided, is an anomaly the public will not
much longer put up with. No other
branch of the public service is SO close
ly allied with the people as the post
office. With it all the people have deal
ings. and all are interested in the great
est efficiency attainable, and the very
best facilities and accommodations for
The transaction of its large and growing
business.
Public and private interests, alike, we
repeat. demand better accommodations
and facilities for the pOStofliceS. The
salaries of third-class Postmasters are
meager, and they can not afford nor can
the public expect them to provide and
pay for such ROOMS as they ought TO
have, and In addition eXpend several
hundred dollars for furniture and fix
lures, wi h aD uncertain tenure of office
furniture and fixtures which are pro-
vided for the accommodation OF the
public, and The department, as well as
the Postmaster, and which will be of no
use whatever to him on going out of Of
ice, ard which he may be compelled to
dispose of at a great sacrifice.
The proposition of Mr.. HILL deserves
favorable consideration at the hands of
Congress, and we believe will be a pop
ular measure if enacted into law.
The Postoffice Department strongly
recommends that Congress shall provide
for paying the office rent at postot1iccs
of the third-class, as well as DIT first and
second class offices. At first and second
class offices not only the rent is paid
10y the government, but the boxes and
| other furniture and fixtures are furnish
ed, and fuel, light, and stationery paid
for by the government, together with a
liberal allowance for clerks. This is a
discrimination, in the eyes of the de-
partment, for which there is no sound
reason.