The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-07

SCHOOL NEWS. NO0Q worker, tribune, naiiTOau
Guide. Rough Notes, Organizer, New Record,
Scissors, Fanciers' Gazette, Indiana Law Maya
zine, Missionary Tidings, Crown of Glory, Truth
Defender, Herald of Truth.
Indiana stands sixth in the number of post
offices in the whole country, there being 1865
Offices in the State. Ninety three of these are
presidential offices, and 305 handle money orders.
There are now 50,649 postoffices in the United
States.
THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICE.
The following named persons have held the
Office of postmaster here, the years of their ap-
pointment being indicated: Samuel Henderson,
1922; John Cain, 1881; Joseph Moore, 1S4l; John
Cain, 1841; Livingston Dunlap, 1S45; Alex w.
Russell, 1s49; James Russell, 1851; Wm. W..
Wick, 1853; John NJ. Talbot, 1857; A. H. Con
ner, 1861; d. G.. Rose, 1866; w. r. Holloway,
1869; J. A. Wildman, 1881. Joseph Moore was
removed by President Tyler, about one month
after his appointment by President Harrison,
and John Cain reappointed. Alex. Russell died
before his term expired, and his son James was
appointed in his place.
From May l, 1881, to January /, 1885, the
working force of the Office has been increased as
follows: Five additional carriers and three sub
stitute carriers, three clerks to city distributing
case, one at dispatchine table, one in money
order department., one in registry department.,
one inquiry clerk and one weigher of second
class Matchmaking a total increase of sixteen.
DurluS tnlS JlIno changes nave OCCURRED Ia Inc
Office as follows: Sixteen employees have resigned
some of them to enter other departments of
the service; a majority, however, to engage in
other business; three were dismissed from the
service, and three have died. The working
force of the Office is now composed of 70 persons.
distributed as follows: So carriers, 6 substitute
carriers, z dispatching clerks, 5 mailing clerks,
5 city distributing clerks, 6 registry clerks, B
money-order clerks, 3 cancelers. 2 general de-
livery clerks, l stamp clerk, l weigher, l messen-
O I fn n11fu n1r 4 e-~ 4 ~ ri
l superintendent of carriers, and l assistant
postmaster. OF this number 10 carriers and 13
clerks were soldiers in the United States army.
Two OF the employees were also in the war with
Mexico.
THE DETAILS OF THE SYSTEM.
The carrier service was first introduced into
certain Eastern cities July /, 1868, and was met
at first by much opposition. There are now 154
free-delivery Offices in the United States, and
$3.50 carriers. The system was established in
indianapolis July !, 1863, with sixteen carriers.
We now have thirty five. Carriers are appointed
from the list of substitutes, and these latter gen.
orally serve one or two years, or sometimes even
longer, before receiving a regular route. During
this time they take the places Of any carriers
who may be sick or absent from any other cause,
and the pay of such carrier goes during his alb
sence to the substitute. The salaries of carriers
at first-class Offices are divided by law into three
grades. IDeV must HrSG serve one year at SUUU,
then a year at $500, after which, if found worthy,
they may be advanced to 81, 600 per year.
The Postmaster-g general makes an annual ap-
preparation for the salaries of the clerks of the
Office, and this sum is apportioned by the post
master among the clerks according to the labor
and responsibility of their several positions.
This distribution is submitted to the Postmas-
ter-eeneral for his approval, and may be changed
by him at any time.
The money order department is entirely sep
npof q ond N h nprond thu no11n nov
ment of the Office. The postal-note business is
also transacted in this department.. This is q
cheap way of transmitting sums less than five
dollars; but these notes are payable to bearer,
and the department. will not renew lost notes,
nor assume any of the risk.
The expense of the money-order department.
is paid by an annual appropriation, which is
based on the business transacted.
The compensation of postmasters at frst-class
Offices is a salary fixed by law, and there are no
fees. perquisites or percentages of any kind.
By close observation, Mr.. Wildman says he is
convinced that 80 per cent. Of the complaints
about lost or delayed mail are caused by mis-
takes of the writer's in giving wrong address, or
failing to stamp. etc. During the last year there
were 300 letters mailed here without being
stamped, and mistakes of other kinds were
numerous.
C~IvILSERvICE RULES.
AS the civil service law is attracting consider
able attention, it will be of interest to give the
most important points in the law and regulations,
and also a brief history of the workings of the
law as applied to the Indianapolis postoffce:
TIL act of Congress approved Jan. 16, 1889,
provides for open com petitive examinations for
testing the fitness of applicants for the public
service, and for the appointment by the Presi-
dent of three Commissioners, whose duty it
shall be to aid the President in preparing suita-
BILE rules for carrying the act into effect, and who
shall, under direction of the President, have gen.
eral control of all examin atoms. TIL rules under
which these are to be made are very exacting.
They provide that the general examinations
shall be on the subjects of photography, pen
manship and copying. arithmetic, Fundamental
rules, fractions and percentage, interest, dis
count and elements of book keeping and ac-
counts, elements of the English language, letter
writing and proper construction of sentences,
elements of the geography, history and govern
ment of the United States. No person shall be
entitled to a certificate of appointment whose
grading on such an examination is less than 65
per cent. Every applicant must state his name,
residence, citizenship, age, place of birth, health,
right OF preference by reason of military or
naval service, employment, previous appoint
ment In the pnblic service and education. He
must present certificates of good moral charac-
ter and must be between the ages of sixteen and
thirty-fve. Every man appointed shall De on
probation for six months. The ciyil-service
law took effect last July and since then
forty-eight applicants for Washington
Cl0FhSulpS nave D6on examined mere
and doubtless others in Washington and else
where who have been credited TO Indiana. Their
papers will all go directly to the Commission at
Washington ana it is impossible, therefore, to
give the number who attained the required per
cent. or the number who have received APP
pointments at Washington. Three of the clerks
in the indianapolis postofice are appointed to
act rs a local board of examiners. They work
under the direction of the Commission and chief
examiner, and serve without pay. This Office is
the only one in the State that is under the civil
service law-there being no other that employs
as many as fifty clerks. There have been three
examinations held here, and forty applicants
have been examined for positions in this Office.
Twenty nine of these attained the required Go
per cent and had their names placed on the
eligible list. Of this number eleven have been
appointed as clerks or carriers, and they have all
thus far given entire satisfaction; and all those
who have passed the required six months proba-
ton have been permanently appointed.
There is nothing in the law to prevent a post
~ 1-A- Ak-.- ILL