The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-30
A nn.lnp.. ntnn,. Ru,lne.. Talk


Postmaster General Wanamaker's an
nual report is unlike anything Of the
kind put out by any Of his predecessors
There are no fine phrases in 1t. The
Postmaster General writes as though be
were talking to his associates in busi'
ness, outlining with an air Of authority
new plan for making the business more
productive.
The report Is business from the start.
Instead Of congratulating the country on
the proud achievements Of the Postotllce
Department, he plunges into the thing
that Is on his mind, and that Is the
fundamental weakness Of his depart
ment. He shows why this weakness
exists and how it is to be remedied. He
recommends as though he had no
thoughtof the rejection Of recommends
tions so obviously good.
He complains that the Postmaster
General and the First Assistant are over.
loaded with details when they ought 10
have an opportunity TO think out and ex-
ecute plans to promote the efficiency Of
the service. Besides looking to 2,6O0
Presidential Offices, the Postmaster Gen.
eral must receive all sorts Of delegations
on all sorts Of business, and particularly
his ear must be open to Senators and
Representatives in Congress. He must
consider complaints OF every descrip.
ton, keeping him Continually in the
deep drudgery Of each days recurring
duties, and with but little opportunity
to attend to anything beyond routine
work."
The First Assistant Postmaster Gem
eral must do much Of the same character,
besides looking after $1,000 postoffices
and all the details involved in them.
The other Assistants are hampered in
the same way. Postmaster General
WanamAker would create the office Of
Fourth Assistant PostotIlce General, To
take immediate charge Of the railway
mail, the foreign mail, tho money.order
Office, the registry and supply divisions,
aud tho dead.letter office, and he thinks
this officer would always have hIS hands
full.
This is not all he recommends. lie
would create another and still more i'm.
portant office, to DO filled by tho highest
grade man, appointed for ten years at d
salary Of $4,000 year. This officer
would DO "thO man Of details Of tho Do.
par1mCnt, inspiring the whole service
with ptomptnOss and zeal.' Hlo would
have nothing TO do with politics or par.
ties. Tho place should DO SO secure and
90 desirable that II would DO tho ambl.
ton Of every man in tho service 10 Nh
himself to filllt. The Postmaster Gen.
oral gives some idea Of the work ho llOs
cut out for this "man Of details.
10 thIs Con.tuilstot General Secretary Would
he iViefEpdbil Of the plan. Of improvements AZ
iSfniincd Upon, and hlS business capacity Ana
authority would bring about fpiOtmS al ONE,
without Tho usual delay sometimes NJ month
6SiSiinF under the present cumbersome AMI an,
ii1uatCl m6ihOdS. lie would Rive tlRht on N
ihb city Oi Denver more than Two deliveries
dAyi h6 would have given Chicago more ilih
GnSlnUii has nearly doubled IN ala years Win
niit additional help, would have proper ifeSi.
menI, he would zoe that the postal bhhlneaS N
indi6hapOila and other places like II, which hSi
inCteNt "a eighty PET cent IN ten yeAtl were moi
OBLIGED 10 struggle along with no Increase 81
Oiefka hV would givc 4 great city more than
fiiie nlacO To buy postage tAmpai hO would "A.
efease tho fCgla(fy offices and tlATp AgehllIt ia
lid, aud more II netled, IN the lAtE glliei, II
sronie In lane towns had 10 walk a mile u bur
SSikinp no would zee what could 10 done about
Al and would DO II quick, llg would give u
Nav YOFk tll,, on demand, one lhQusahd
SiSmn NlonOlesi liOalOn iOut hundred, AID
philRdOIhhlA i've hundred and every pihtf
niaSN ufOpOt plant. lie would do these thing
" mattel az course, aud no would Rot mOnVJ
bask iCf ihe Department. because u always o.
SSSft, ~ accident almost that these small H.