New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-19
THE DEMORALIZED MAIL SERVICE.

The Democratic Campaign Textbook makes
this surprising claim as to the postal service
Expedition and accuracy have reached degree Of
progress (sic) never before attained. The standard
Of competency Of all employees is higher than ever
before, and the complaints Of the service fewer
than ever before.
Every business man knows that this is gross
ly untrue, but fortunately we can demonstrate
its falsity by evidence furnished by the Demo
cratic Administration. Senator Chace of
Rhode Island, showed the other day by the
records Of the Post Office Department that the
percentage of errors and of general inellicency
had increased greatly since the Inauguration of
Mr.. Cleveland, and especially since the number
Of removals has reached its present enormous
| figure.
The reports contain tabular statements Of
errors in the distribution and forwarding of
mails" In one column the number of in
correct slips returned" is shown in another the
number Of errors on incorrect slips returned"
and in others the number Of " missent" and
misdirected' packages Of letters, pouches and
sacks, and the number Of errors checked"
against other employees. The errors made by
postal clerks are separated from those made
by postmasters at the Presidential Offices In
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1888, under
the Administration of President Arthur errors
made by postal clerks show AZ 81 8 incorrect
slips, with 958,478 errors in 1885, the year
ending only three months after the Democratic
Administration had come into power and be-
fore there had been many removals. there were
only 396,746 incorrect Slips with 887 7O4
errors. But in 1887 there were 697 81 3 in
correct slips with ,734, 617 errors, or almost
exactly double the number Of both during the
last year Of the Republican Administration
The same showing is made with "mssentr
letters, packages, pouches and sacks. The
number was 1854 in '83, 1881 in '85.
and q ,275 in '87. Thus during the two years
from '83 to 85 the errors in this department
did not increase appreciably at all, but during
the two years from 'S5 to '97 they almost
doubled in number. If this is increased "ac-
curacy," the less the American people have of
it in connection with the distribution of the
mails the better they will like 1t. Of "mis-
directed letter packages pouches and sacks
there were 2,420 in 49, 2,558 in 80, and
1924 in 'S7. Here again is a hardly per
ceptble increase during the two years from
81 to 49, and again the errors Gre almost
doubled in number between '85 and '87. OF
errors checked against other employees the num-
Der reported in '83 was 1861 ,534, in 65 |
1,742 $40, and in 'S7 2,873,379 Here again
we see an actual falling off, and large one, in
the number of errors from 's3 to s5, while |
there is an enormous increase during the years |
from '85 to 81.
But it will be said this calculation does not
take into account the increase in business dur
ing the two years from '85 to 81. Well. let MS
take the proportion of errors to the total num-
Der Of pieces of mail matter actually handled.
We find during the year eadlng June so '85.
one error to every 4,153 pieces; during the
year ending June 30, '85, one error to every
6. pieces, showing marked decrease in the