River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-05
THE POSTAL SERVICE.


wanamaker--A Plea for the Establish
ment of Postal TeIegrsph-An ArpIi-
cation of business Principles "a Its
Work Would he Of Great Advantage to
the Department.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-Postmaster-
General Wanamaker has submitted his
first report 10 President Harrison.
Among other expressions are these:
''rhe post-ofiice is the visible form Of the
Federal Government TO every community and TO
every citizen. The people want the system ad-
ministered with such efficiency and economy
that il shall offer them more and more accom-
modations ana tax them less and less. The
only method can suggest by which all their
desires may be gratiiied Is not merely 10 talk
about the application OF principles To the de-
partment; IL is really to apply them II is not
To work In poor quarters; il is not TO transport
mails afoot when they should go in railroad
trains; ii is not to tolerate disloyal iistess
employees II better ones can be had; IL Is rot,
finally, 10 keep unwittingly abreast Of the
times. 1t is always To lead the times
What is needed first is Fourth Assistant
Postmaster Genel al. TO be in direct charge OF
the great divisions OF the railway mail, the
foreign mail, the money order Office,
the registry and supplies division, and
lift out OF the ofiice OF the First As
sistant Postmaster General all duties ex-
cept those OF studying men for appoint
ment, establishing Offices changing sites, ex
aiming reports OF inspectors. and taking care
of the bond division. Create new place and
find the best-educated postal man in the
service at the POst-office Department
in any OF the 5000 post Offices and
make him the general manager No great
business establishment can succeed that
changes its principal officer once in fifteen
months. There ought 10 be perfectly edu.
cd plarUpn with
management whose controlling mind and firm
grasp should remain while others come and go.
'.The pOst-ofiees throughout the country and
the department without meaning il, are in
uufriendy attitude because the pOstmasters are
generally wanting something which the depart.
Inent does not seem ready or able 10 grant.
There is but little TO encourage, hardly any
thing TO stimulate. postmaster to do his best
work. new life and spirit must be Infused.
by dividing the country into postal districts
and placing supervisor over each believe il
can be done"
The report next reviews the cositro-
versy with the Western Union Company
relative to rate on Government business,
and the Postmaster-General expresses
disappointment that the discussion did
not lead TO postal-telegraph scheme.
The statistics of the English Govern
ment system, he says, show that 30 per
cent. of the messages are family and
social, and not from business sources.
The report continues:
THE great propriety and advantage Of
united service can not be questioned from a
point Of convenience and economy to the
people There is no reason whatever
why the night messages Of the tele-
graph companies should not be delivered
as postal matter by the first morning
delivery OF the carriers. This is proper post
office business and would add TO the profits OF
the department. a contract should be made
with the telegraph lines now in operation or
that may be hereafter built, under advertise
ment and public bid at the most favorable
rate that can be obtained, in the same man
ner as the POSt-Office Department
contracts with railroad companies for the car
rying OF letters and postal cards, connecting
the wires with free delivery and other desig-
mated post offices, and receiving messages 10 be
delivered in each instance al the next carrier
delivery after their receipt in the city 70 which
they sent.
Il respectfully ask that such legislation be
enacted as is necessary 10 empower the Post
masters General 10 enter into contract with
sponsibIe parties for term not exceeding five
years. conditions favorable TO the Govern
ment. for the purpose of establishing limited
post and telegraph service"
Touching civil service the report says;
''The postal department has an individuality
Of its own. The ordinary good clerk Of the
Government might suit perfectly well in any
other Of the civil places, but for post office
work he must almost learn trade. There
ought to be kind of apprenticeship, with pro-
motions throughout the ranks from the lowest
to highest place"
The report recommends that larger
discretion be given for making con-
tracts for carrying foreign mails with
American registered vessels; and says
the minimizing of Sunday work will lie
q subject of careful attention. Ii
is recommended that all places
with population OF not less
than 5000, or where the post
office has shown gross revenue of 81
900 for the previous fiscal year, shall
have the benefit of the frce-delivery
system. The early consideration of the
question of establishing postal savings
banks at 10, 600 OF the fourth-class offices.
where such facilities are needed, Is sug-
gested.
The Postmaster-Gencrals says that one
cent postage is an easy possibility of the
near future and will come as a matter
of course, but is not practicable while
the present deficiency exists. The same
objection applies to the idea of estab-
fishing parcels post for delivering
packages, etc, al the pOst-offices OF small
places not reached by the express com.
panies.