Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1889-12-07
WANAMAKERS REPORT. THE CIVIL SERVICE.
INK HEAD OF THE PosTOFFICE DE-
PARTMENT.

He Notes the Growth of the Service in
Hundred Yegrs Bueiness Principles
Should BE Everywhere Employed to In
crease Efiic ency and Lessen Expense.
The Postmaster Generals report has
been given out Tor publication. 1t opens
as follows:
"To THE PRESIDENT: The first Post
master General submitted his report to
President Washington 100 years ago. Its
exact date was Dec. 8, 1889. l mention
this as of interest in this centennial age.
have the honor to state that to the POST
master General of the United States is
committed the management of the largest
business concern in the world, consisting
of a central establishment, with almost
80, 900 branches and employing over 49,
600 people. It's agents embrace e-half
OF the civil list. it maintains COM
munication between the near and
the remote places of the
country with frequency, CELEBRITY and
security. The number and value of Its
messages are such that the ina gination
can scarcely form a conception of them.
The capital in use in carrying on this vast
business was last year 81 to each man,
woman and child in the United States;
never bItlcoSt NAlO Dbobdl oCl ' lC0 10 NV u
money making enterprise. 1t is not in
tended to be. It's mistake to expect it
to be self sustaining until it is fully per-
fected. The postotfice is the visible form
of the federal government to every COM
munlty and to every citizen. It's hand is
the only one that touches the local life,
the social interests and business concerns
of every neighborhood. 1t brings the
| tp Hn,,r in the land
and makes it the ready and faithful
servitor of every interest of
commerce and society. The
poop e, from whom alone this all
pervading agency springs into action, and
by whose encouragement alone it can sup
ply their jealous needs, simply want the
system administered with such efficiency
and economy that it shall offer them more
and more accommodations and tax them
less and less. The only method | can sug-
gest by which all their desires may be
gratifed is not merely to talk about the
application OF business principles to the
department. 1t is really to apply them.
1t is not to work in poor quarters it is
not to transport mails afoot when they
should go in railroad trains it is not to
tolerate disloyal or listless employees If
better ones can be had; it is not finally
to keep unwillingly abreast of the times
it is always to lead the times.
"Ancient regulations and time honored
customs require the Postmaster General tC
make numberiess signatures each day tC
vouchers, journals and papers that coulc
us we'll fall into ether hands. He mus
receive delegations of the people who have
claims of all sorts to present, must make
., - ,,t
establish offices and hear suggestions
The Senators and members of the House
must represent their constituents at the
Postottice department and have the Post
master Generals best attention consider
ing the $500 presidential cases. Com
plants of rregularity at the various post
offices and demands for enlarged service
come to the ear of the Postmaster General
The various department heads must refe
many subjects and be in frequent consul
tation on the daily work of the office
There is but little time to originate plans
to st dy the means OF developing the sys-
tenn, or to improve the service. The Iost
master General is continually in the deel
drudgery of each days recurring duties
and with but little opportunity to atten,
. to anything beyond the routine work. -
Mr.. 1anamaKer says his chief recon
mendatiou is the creation Of the o ice o
d fourth assistant postmaster general II
| says what is needed first is a fourth assist
ant postmaster general TO be in direc
charge of the great division of the railwa
mail, the foreign mail. the money orde
: office, the registry and supplies divisions
and the dead letter office. Congress
should create this new place and the be-
4 educated postal man in the service at tn
S Postofiice Department, or in any of til
: 50. 900 postofces should be found and mad
general manager
Mr. Wanamaker wants a new depar
l ment building and new building fC
e work in the city postoHice lie dlscuss'
the telegraph question at length, and say
, 81 respectfully ask that such egislatic
u be enacted as is necessary to empower I'll
: postmaster general to enter into contra
4 with responsible parties for term not o.
ceedng five years on conditions favorab
: to the government for the purpose of e
Il tabishng a limited post and Telegram
4 SERVICE"
! The report favors pensions or retir
ment allowances for old employees Of Il
} department.. On the question of SundI
Z, mails it says: "This subject shall contint
I TO receive my thoughtful considerable
and | snail make use of all proper mea
s. tending toward the minimizing of pos
Is office work upon Sunday, because | b
# lieve that the government should, as f
as possible, make no requirements viii
will prohibit its employees from enjoying
l. day Of rest j"
Y One cent postage, the report says, is
n easy possibility Of the near future al
must come as a matter of course.
The Postmaster General states that .
y, increase in the number of postollices sin
n 1880 is 10, 900, and that during the sal
period the length Of the routes has
d creased ~, 100 miles, the gross reven
ID So, S5, 81 | and that the number Of STAN
n issued for the last year was ,0s5, $50, NJ
The total expenditure TO foreign stea
ships during the last fiscal year was 500
Ut 5s2.51, the amount pad TO Americ
II steamships $109, S24. II. The aggreg'
r amount Of the money orders issued in
United States for payment in Europe Jars
We y exceed the aggregate amount of mon
/ orders issued in those countries for pa
meut here The amount issued for pa
u ment in the United Kingdom was -, ! !
s- $50. and the amount issued there
,e payment here was only $3.50, O61.
letters and arguments ana articles in
'o newspapers presented at the departm,
or ar. .g,I.uca of interest there Is a grOWi