St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-17
Gist Of the Proceedings of the Third and
Fourth-OlaSs POstmasters in Ses-
sion at Chicago.
They Point With Pride to Our Postal sys
tenn and Ask for Redress Of
Grievances.
A Resolution Regarding the Mailing
of Letters on Trains Through
Personal Spite.
postmaster General Villas Remem-
bered With a Congratulatory
Telegram--Other Matters.
Po.rmasrer. in Cnuncn-

ton this forenoon, the reports of commit
tees were called for. The committee ON
mailing letters reported the following:
whereas, Great loss is incurred upon most
masters situated upon railroads by mailing
letters upon trains, therefore be il
Resolved, That we recommend to congress
that all postal clerks be supplied with cards,
and that they shall enter thereon the number
OF letters, cards and papers and their denom-
ination, and return this card TO the postofHce
az the mailing point, and the postmaster
shall take credit in his cancellation for the
| same.
The report was unanimously adopted.
The committee on the improvement of the
regiSry system responded that it was un-
able 10 make any suggestions for an i'm
provement in the present system. After
considerable wrangling the report was laid
on the table. The committee appointed to
report on the subject of the special de-
| livery system submitted a report, recon-
mendmg that the special delivery system
be extended to all towns and cities of 4, 900
population. After a long discussion the
| report was adopted. The committee on
poStmasterS' bonds submitted a resolution
! that corporations be taken as surety on
postmasters' bonds. Adopted. The chair
man was instructed to forward the follow
ing eongratulatOry telegram:
Hon. William +. Villas, postmaster general
Washington. ID. C.; The postmasters' nationa
convention. now in session in this city, begs
10 tender you its sincere congratulations and
hearty well wishes for a prosperous admins
tration. BY order of the convention.
HENRY CRABBS. Chairman.
OUTSIDE OF THEIR PROVINCE.
The committee on postal savings banks
and postal telegraph reported that il did
not consider it within the province of the
convention TO consider the question of
legislation on these subjects, and recon-
mended that the subject be allowed to re-
main with the wisdom of congress, and
the recommendations of the postOffice de-
partment. Some of the delegates desired
TO plunge into the topic, but the report waa
summarily adopted without debate. Tha
committee on box rents submitted resolu-
ton, which was adopted. declaring that
whereas. Under the postal laws OF 1879, In
order 10 induce poStmasters TO construct and
maintain suitable boxes for the acdommodas
ton OF the public, postmasters were entitled
10 receive the rents arising from such boxes,
(the act of March 3, 1858, makes the rent of
these boxes payable to the United States gov,
ernment); that the action OF the government
In receiving the rents for property which IL
does not own was certainly unjust.
Resolved, That the government shall pur-
chase and own all pOstofice boxes necessary
Tor the convenience of the patrons of the va
rtous offices OF the fourth class, doing busi-
ness OF over $500 per annum, and all boxes
used in third-class offices, and receive ali re-
enues therefrom; and where suitable boxes
are already provided. that the government be
requested to purchase said boxes.
The committee on the organization OF O
pOstmasters' mutual benefit association re-
! ported, and the committee said 1t would
undertake the preliminary work Of forming
society TO insure the lives of its members,
provided a sufficient number. as a guar
antee Of good faith, advanced the sum OF 50
as a preliminary assessment.
THEY POINT WITH PRIDE.
On reassembling at o'clock the COM
mittee on resolutions made the following
report:
We, the representatives of the postmasters
of the United States of the third and fourth
classes, in national convention assembled,
| hereby resolve:
First-That we we point with pride to the
postal system OF the United States as bulls
up and extended by successive administers
tiOns Of the national government until 10
stands to-day a marvel of simplicity, economy
and efficiency, transacting the most COM
plicated and laborious business OF the public
with such facility, convenience and dispatch
as 10 command the respect and confidence Of
the nation.
secoad-That in the presidents recom-
incubation TO congress relative 70 postal az"
fairs we recognize Mr.. Cleveland's admInis-
has preceded IL. In Postmaster General
Villas and in Assistant Postmaster General
Stevenson we recognize honest and consist
emily earnest champions OF every valuable
Improvement in the postal service and In tho
condition OF It's employees. That we realize
the relative positions which the third and
fourth-class postmasters sustain to the pub
lie. and that we earnestly recommend that
each individual postmaster constantly study
the public convenience and in every way
In
the service more efficient and OF greater use
fulness TO the public.
Third-The operation Of the present postal
regulations, fixing the salaries and allowances
or third and fourth-class postmasters, has
been found by practical experience TO work
great hardship to the incumbents of those
onices, the reasonable demands OF the public
as TO convenienceS In the handling or mail
making the administration OF the offices very
expensive In proportion to the salaries
allowed. These expenses, having to be
berne entirely by the postmasters out Of
their slender salaries, and in all cases con-
sumo the larger portion of 1t, and in most
| cases more than three-quarrers Of 1t, leaving
them as return for their entire time devoted
| 10 the postal service OF the public. in posi-
tions of great responsibility and constant
labor and watchfulness, a compensation
which is entirely inadequate and out of pro-
| portion 70 the labor and responsibility In
volved.
Fourth-That we recognize in the POST
masters National association, as ordered to
be formed By this convention, the official
representative of the third and fourth class
postmasters of tine United States. To them
we delegate the duty of preparing memorial
| to congress, specifying in particular the tr-
regularities in the present postal law as effect
/ ing salaries and cOmpersations, authorizing
| them 10 prepare and have submitted to CEN
gress suitable legislation looking TO relief:
! that TO our senators and representatives In
/ congress we commend these, our repres enta-
I tives, respectfully asking for them patient
/ hearing aud an equitable consideration of the
/ claims which they may present, having the
/ utmost confidence that the representatives
/ of the people in congress viii afford TO the
postal servants Of the people sufficient means
/ to fairly meet the reasonable requirements OF
the people In regard TO the proper admins
tratiOn OF their Offices.
The resolutions were heartily applauded
and adopted without question. The COM
mittee on money orders recommended that
''the letter of advice" be abolished as cum
bersome. and that the name OF the payee
and remitter be written in the face OF the
order and copy entered on q stub after the
style of the present postal note. The COM
mittee also recommended the fees charged
on Issuing money orders be reduced and
graded as follows: So to $40, cents; $40
to Sis, 10 cents; SIS to $50. Is cents; $50
to $50. 90 cents; $50 to S75, IS cents; SIS
to S1e0, so cents. 1t was resolved to ap-
point an advisory committee OF i've to
work in conjunction with the National COM
mittee. J. Ii. Patterson was made mem-
Der Of the National committee. The con-
vention then adjourned.
Sister Ruphronia OF the order Of st. Francis,
] couuitteS suicide yesterday morning at st.
/ Louis by throwing herself from tourth-story