The Evening critic., 1884-12-02

Tho ileehpots most hankered inter by the
hungry patriots who Will commence their
Innings soon after the 1th OF March next are
the posto1lce9 10 would seem that the aver.
age Democrat regards postofilce as a verlta-
BILE haven Of bliss. Information about post
oflces and the salaries attached thereto is
most eagerly sought
Every newspaper that has correspondent
here has within tho past three weeks been In
etructed to send to the home ONCE a
list OF tho postmasters In the State where the
journal is printed, tho salaries attached
thereto and tho date when the position OF tho
present incumbent expires. As result the
ONCE OF Mr.. Mari In the Postoflce Department
has been daily visited.
These statistics are read with watery mouths
by the men who, In the near future, expect to
handle Uncle Sans mails.
The salaries set opposite the postoflces OF
the higher grades look very tempting, indeed,
and are calculated to attract the eager eye OF
the man who 10 infatuated with the loaves and
fishes. Here, for instance, are 1888 Offices of
the third class. The pay OF the holders OF
them range from 81 900 TO $1,000. That looks
tempting to the man who has had nothing for
more than twenty years.
Again, there are 404 ornces OF tho second
class, paying from $4,000 10 $4,000, which
looks awful nice. The first class onlces pay
oil the way from 5000 up to $4,000 year.
The mere contemplation Of these figures is
enough to make the average patriot 60 out
and paint his county red.
The postoffices OF the fourth class pay all
the way from $50 to 5000 year and number
a7,604. These places VIII go to tho email
workers In the back counties. The big
scramble Will BIO for the second and third class
onices, which look so we'll on paper But
there are drawbacks which are serious In
their nature.
These drawbacks are especially material ID
the thlrd.class postmaster, who gets from
1000 TO 81 900 year. He has got out OF this
TO pay his oflce rent, for his fuel and light for
stationery and miscellaneous items. He gets
nothing but his salary from the Government
Then there is clerk hire to be added to these
Items. Every man who runs postofice OF the
second or third-class must have some ono u
help him and he has to pay for that help out
Of his salary.
These little things tend to diminish 81 500
or $1,TOO salary to such On extent that the oc-
cupant OF the ONCE may be said to look at his
pay through the big end OF financial tele-
scope. The occupants OF postoflices paying
between 81 900 and 81, 900 year manage TO
make for themselves and their families, II
they are blessed with the latter, all the way
from $500 to $3.50 year.
When the Democrat enters upon S1,500
postoflce and finds that 1t means only In fact
about $500, IL Is evident that large chunks OF
bitter disappointment Will BIO scattered pro-
miscuouely within the confines OF these United
States.
There 10 small allowance for clerical hire,
based upon the amount OF work done In post
oflces where tho money-order system is es-
tabiished. But these clerks cannot be en-
ness.
There is another small allowance. 1t goes
TO ofllces Of tho fourth class for distributing
the mails, but as 1t only averages about $40 a
year, II 10 not much OF M Offset against rent,
fuel and other expenses. Thus, taking II all
In all tho statesmen who get the postofIlce
plums will be disappointed in finding that the
seed OF tho plum takes up great deal OF
space.