St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-12
Shall the Mail Be Distributed
Six OF Seven Days a
Week =?
Postmaster General Wana-
maker Threatens to Give
the Matter Attention.
Commissioner Lyman Talks
at Length on Civil Serv-
ice Reform.
Secretary Proctor Preparing
to Give the War Depart
ment a Shaking Up.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE question
of Sunday work in the government
postal service is seriously engaging the
attention of postofhce officials. The
question is not new to the department.
Fifty years ago it was considered. and
since that time various rulings and Or
ders relating to Sunday work by gov
ernment postal employees have been
made. These orders have been as diff
ferent as they have been numerous, no
two of them being alike. With the
growth of the postal service Sunday
work has increased. and how to avoid
working Sundays. and at the same time
supply the demands Of the public, is a
problem which to-day seems to be no
nearer solution than it was years ago,
or at any time since the question first
attracted the attention of postoffice Off
cials. There seems to be direct con-
fict between the religious and business
elements OF the country in urging a set
tlement of this question. The former,
have demanded through petitions,
letters and appeals that Sunday
work in the postal service
should be reduced to minimum,
while the business element have con-
stantly urged in creased postal facilities
regardless of whether the Work was
performed on Sundays or week days.
This question of Sunday work was
prominently brought to the postotfice
officials during the administration of
President Cleveland, ard when Mr..
Villas was postmaster general. Congress
had passed law providing that letters
having a special delivery stamp On
them should be
IMMEDIATELY DELIVERED
on their receipt at any postotfice in the
United States where the free delivery
system was in operation. This was
construed by Mr.. Villas to mean that
this class of letters should be delivered
seven days in the week (on Sundays as
well as on week days., and he issued In
structions to that effect. Then there
Immediately arose clamor from re-
ligious bodies throughout the country
against the desecration of the Sabbath,
and petitions and memorials piled into
the postoffice department by the
thousand, asking that the instructions
be revoked. On'the other hand, the bus
mess men of the country heartily sup
ported the innovation. The sentiment
against Sunday work was so strong, so
respectable and so earnest that Presi-
dent Cleveland took the matter under
consideration, and the instructions of
Mr.. Villas were withdrawn and post
masters left to their discretion in carry
ing out the special delivery law on Sun
days. 1t remains In that condition to-
day. In some cities this class OF letters
are not delivered at all on Sunday; in
others only during few hours of the
day, and in no two cities are the de-
liveries made at the same hour. This
whole question of Sunday work, special
letter delivery, window letter delivery,
railway postal car work. star route and
steamboat routes will be taken up and
considered by Postmaster General
Wanamaker in all its different phases
on his return from his vacation. Post
Office officials look forward to its settle
ment with interest, but, because of the
conflicting interests involved, hardly
expect solution of the question that
will be satisfactory to the religious ele-
ment. the business element, and the
government itself.