New-York tribune., 1888-04-14
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
POSTAL MIsMANAGEsIENT.
PRoMscuoUs sUB-LETTISG of CONTRACTS ONE
CAUSE OF ISEFFICIENCY.

CAUSE OF INEFFICIENCY.
To the Editor OF the Tribune.
Sir: There is something wrong. Whose fault IS ltf
What shall be done 10 remedy IT. That the mall SER
vice IS defective and out OF gear not rotten to tho
core, IS generally admitted. Universal complaints
bear testimony that there city. town. village
hamlet in the whole country but what feels. and is
OF less hampered by the loose, and ] might say
criminal neglect pracsed by those in authority. The
thousands Of towns. villages. etc. having post Offices
not reached by rail- served with their mail matter
many times day. week. the may be,
from the nearest railroad station general post Office,
by persons who contract for specified sum- not with
the Post ONCE Department. but with OF the pro-
fessona man contractors. who have, through bribery
other manipulation Of persons employed In the Post
once Department, been secretly Informed Of AS, BIS
or Cs bid for delivery of mail this or that place,
thus enabling Mr. p NJ c. to undebid and secure the
route which he does only to subet It, perhaps to some
worthless follow. for at least good deal less than
what tho Government has to pay the P NJ. c. There
small settlement IN Virginia. about three miles from
tho Alexandra post Office, whore the former contractor
for this scrvIce-carrying the mails six a week
both ways-recelved $3.50 year. He had a oarryau,
horse and himself and tho price was certainly not
high fgure-seventy nine cents day for horse
and drvcr-but for two three years class Of mon
bid for this. we'll routes all the country, At
prices no could live at and give 1t his personal
attention, unless at starvation rates.
The difficulty grows out Of the fact that the Post
nasterGenera, under the law. authorized to permit
sublettng, law that ought to be repealed the con-
being required TO do 1t himself else lot tho
next lowest bidder perform tho service. II this was
the case we should have better service and BY re-
sponsiDe parties 1t is stated that this subettng Is
going In every State Of the Union and that at the
last letting 259 contracts had been made with one con-
tractor who of course does not expect TO perform the
service but VIII around and contract with any per
son who Will pay him bonus. and Of course the ser
vice is getting poorer poorer all the There
are in the city OF Washington regular offices opened
by these professional contractors whose employ ment
Is TO watch the Post Office Department and find out
the probable bids Of years past. and the old macar-
riers have either to sell out their outfit and abandon
the case We should have better service and by re-
General his assistant to brag Of the savings made;
but the Government is not that cannot AFFORD
to pay fair price tor transporting the mails by tho
Star Route" service. which under the recent SSsteh'
IS disCrGccfu.
Of the inferior character OF the mall service IN me
west VIII amend the law and take away from tho Post
mascr-General the authority to permit the sub-letng
Of contracts. and require the contractor TO fulfil his
contract or let 1t to the next lowest bidder they VIII
Under this @Cheap john Administration the great
anxiety seems to be 10 have everything done cheap,
without much regard to the quality Of the article fur
Washington April 7, 1888.
TROUBLES OF A SOLDIERS WIDOW.
DIED FROM THE EFFECTS OF WOUNDS BE-
CFIvED IN THE WAR
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The day which President Lincoln issued his
FIRST call for volunteers for the late war. band OF
young IN this city began recruiting for the first
cavalry regiment formed This regiment was thon
called the Lincoln Cavalry, but afterward received
its State designation the First NewYork Cavalry.
Among those young men was Ezra II. Bailey, who
went to the field as captain OF the regiment He
served galantly throughout the entire war, and at Its
close was Major Of the regiment. Hundreds OF
his old comrades vouch for his bravery and daring
In many gallant fight, well as for his answering
devotion his country and his duty. While In the
service he met with serious injury to one CT his
legs which, while troubling him much, he would not
permit to interfere with his duty. Continued ex-
posure, however, aggravated his injury and shortly
after the close OF the he prostrated with
blood poisoning dropsy and a combination of ailments
which, the physicians declared, resulted from his IN
ures and the lack Of attention to them while In tho
field. He had settled after the In North Carolina,
where he doing prosperous business. when he
was stricken with the troubles named, and for three
years he did not leave his bed. All the savings of
life consumed during this protracted Illness and
on his partial recovery he returned to New,York
broken in health and spirit, hoping TO find the
of earning enough to support himself and family
But what chance had man broken In health In tho
whlrl of competition, where many young and able
men needy as he He struggled bravely and
uncomplaini ely for time but fna y his old troubles
returned and he went to the Ilahncman Hospital
where he died some months ago. To-day I have re-
ceiyed letter from his widow, now In North Car
olna, in which she says that her husband during his
life was in the receipt OF pen sion amounting 10 the
magnificent of 50 a month"; and she asks my
assistance and that any other members of the old
First NewYork, in having this ptful continued
to her. She says:
4" II you can DO 50 I shall be under such grateful
obligation, for ! left with three small children
and without dime when my husband di d. lie was
an Invalid of and on, for nine years before he died.
and II took all my money 10 support him and the
v retched health and hope you can send nic some
encoura- -en.ent about my pen ION. My husband a.
good solder aid II Is dinly had that his wife
and children have had any stance from the
Government, and may never get even this mite"
Like her brave husband he does net ask pecunlary
assistance. but submit the case all who may feel
as do, that this poor widow OF soldier, whose only
offence was that fe as injured in the service CT his
country, IS entitled to substantial recognition.
hout any suggestion from her and without her
knowledge state the case and beg TO say that should
any feel like contributing to tighten her lot. |
Will see that any sums dOna'ed reach her promptly.
will add further that Major Bailey a temperate
an, and his misfortunes were not brought about BY
any fault OF his One correct is his habits II
would be difficult to find
CLIFFORD THOMSON,
formerly Major U. s. V. c.. Editor a. The SpectatorH
No. 16 Dey-st., April Z, 1888.
AN INVOLVEMENT BRIDGE DRAW.
tn ne n Trfb