New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-23
NEEDS OF THE POSTOFFlCE.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSION MAKES IT'S RE-
PORT.
HOW EFFICIENCY IN THE uTY's POSTAL
SERVICE CAN BEST BE sBcURED-A LONG
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS - ADDlt
T1oNAL CLERKS AND CARRIERS
CHANGES IN THE BUILDING
BRANCH oFFUCEs.

TlONAL CLERKS AND
CHANGES IN THE BUILDING
BRANCH oFFuCEs.
Washington. July o2.-The report of the commission
appointed by Postmaster General Wanamakcr TO ex-
anime the New-York Postoice in all its branches has
been made public It Is voluminous, covering with
great fulness and detail the ground travesed by the
commission in its three weeks of investigation OF the
main postofice and seventeen branch posioflices
The commission, while recommending liberal increases
in the number of clerks and carriers and larger &C
commodaons generally for the Office and the service.
in order 10 meet the demands occasoned by the great
and rapid growth Of the city in business and popula
ton still recommends much less than was constantly
and urgently demanded by the late Postmaster Pear
SON and has been asked by the present POSTMASTER
Won Cot+ Their recommendations postmasters
were for some 100 additional clerks at an incrcased
cost of a73.OOO for them and for additional com
pensaon to the present force and for JIG ADDITIONAL
carriers The commission recommends Id addluonal
clorl,s and ten additional carriers, at an increased
cost ~ Ss7 OOO-an increase which, 1t says Is fuiy
justified by the constantly increasing receipts Oh the
nostoN1ce itself which showed increase of ST.
100000 during the last three fiscal years, and OF
s536ooo for the last fiscal year
The commissi also make important recommends
tIons as TO the necessity of greatly improving the
posto0ce Building by way of increasing its capacity,
convenience and comfort. which would involve a
further additional expense of Sl13OOO to decide upon
the details of which the PostmasterGeneral ana inc
Secretary of the Treasury will meet In conference IN
New York this week 1t also suggests some thoroush
improvements TO the practical operation OIL he
postal service in the city. The principal features Oh
the report arc in detail as follows;
The nublic building occupied for the postofice and
other purposes al NewYor city is pronounced TO be
wholly Inadequate for the purpose to be poorly lighted
and lady ventilated, causing Increased MORTALITY
among the employees. The building requires TWO new
passenger elevators the reconstruction OF two others,
and two new freight elevators The moncy-order 10
partmcnt requires Increased accommodations In the
,rav Of space and it is recommended that the north
side of the second floor be given for Its occupancy.
The present area of the first floor is less than the same
floor in the Philadelphia pOstonlce and not moro
than that at the Chicago, Cincinnati and Boston post
Offices where the business Is much less In volume
than that of the NewYork postoiice
Tho whole south end OF the Office should be recon-
strlctcd awnings erected upon the north side. which
arrangement will require the consent of the city
authorities and the purchase by the United States OF
the sidewalk on the south side of Mail-st. IL Is
earnestly recommended that the other tenants OF the
building be provided with quarters elsewhere. The
windows for communication with the public are small
and nconvenient. The floors Of the corridors are
worn out and dcfled with dirt. Eventually an entire
new building should be provided. and the opinion Is
expressed that IT should be further uptown.
4 large basementroom. now vacant. in the north
end OF the building should be utilized as stOragero0m
for ma-bags and pouches. The south end of the
basement could then be used for an extension OF
mailing cases and tables greatly the comfort of the
clerks and the expedition Of the work
Additional branch Offices for receipt of mail. sale
of stamps issue of money orders, registry Of letters,
etc. are recommended, the precise locations TO be
hereafter determined. One of them should be cs
tabshed near Union Square, another In the vicinity
of Madison square, which latter should be made a
station for the delivery Of mail by letter-carrier
All the branch offices in New-York arc now H.
Illuminated by gaslIght and poorly ventilated dur
ing the months II is suggested that those
be supplied with electric light.
The representations frequently made by the late
Postmaster Pearson regarding the inadequacy OK the
clerical force, the report says, proved TO be well
founded. and the efficiency and morale OF the en-
ployes had been substantially weakened by the growth
of the practice Of employing too youthful clerks at
insufficient salaries. Frequently what would be an
adequate salary for would be divided when
he left the service between two new appolntees, who
because Of their youth and neXpehence were willing
to accept the lesser compensation For these reasons
and because of the constant growth Of the service
il IS recommended that 1913 additional clerks be
allowed al increased cost Of $4,000, and that ten
additional letter carriers be employed; also that
general reorganization OF the clerical force be made
Under the new classification act, approved March
2 1859, an increase Of SlO,64O in salaries will be
required.
The system of annual examinations to determine
which clerk shall have the higher salary, which sys-
tenn has been in vogue at the New-lOrk p0stotlcc
is declared to be injurious in its results, harsh in its
operations and at variance with the spirit Of tho
Civil Service law. Salaries fixed by roster should
not be subject u frequent alterations.
Reference is made to the tendency in the New York
pOsoilce 10 employ boys a. junior clerks, most Of
whom are required to perform arduous night service.
There are POI employ ed under twenty years Of age,
and 100 under eighteen years of age, and the usual
salary paid is but $50 year. Mature men should
be engaged for these duties and the minimum salary
as fixed by the classification act, VIII be 5000 per
annun. which Will probably Induce olde? persons 10
seek this employment
The commission recommends the increase OF the
number OF agencies for the sale OF postage stamps,
not less 800 probably to 500, locatcl in paris OF
the city 10 be determined hereafter
IT Is recommended that the Manhattan Elevated
Railway Company be asked to consider proposition
to construct track into Mal-sl., that mail matter
can be dispatched from and brought into the Office
over such track. This would result also In more
rapid transit between the general Office and many Of
It's branches
1t is recommended also that the postmaster be
authorized 10 engage a suitable number OF horses aud
wagons in order TO the pracilcabliy OF making
collections especially from Canast. 10 the Harlem
River from street etter-bOXeS, in lieu Of the present
collections 10y carriers who walk and that wagons
be employed likewise for the delivery Of registered
packages as well bulky packages, at points south
Of Forty-second-st For offices like this Congress
should be asked to provide by legislation for the en-
ployment of "a special class Of carriers, 10 be called col
lectors who shall receive lower salaries than tho
present etcfcarrcrs since their duties VIII be much
simpler and who IN conjunction with the OF carts
and wagons, could perform the service Of collecting
int he NntlT of
efficiency and thu, relieve Tie regular carriers whose
time could he better employed In more responsible
work.
plans arc submitted the extension Of the registry
division and AN entirely different subdivision Of the
space as also for the fixtures. wire cages and other
Enclosures designed for economy Of labor and for
added security in that responsibility for safe handling
of registered matter Will be confined 10 the minimum
number Of employees at each stage of the work. Wire
L.el aL.n for lLa nEnl.cIL.n OF The