New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-18
an APPEAL FOR TIE PoSToFFICE.

Postmaster Van Colt could not have under
taken at the beginning of his administration
more useful work than that Of convincing the
Department at Washington Of the requirements
of the New-Yor Office. The Postmaster Gen
eral listened to his argument with sympatheuc
attention, and careful study OF the case Is 10
begin at once. Mr.. PearSon's experience IN tnls
direction was discounging. he fully compre-
hended the obstacles against which he had 10
contend, and no one who is competent TO form
or entitled to express an opinion doubts thaI
recent delinquencieS in handling the mails al
this point were due in great measure to the
narsimonious APPROXIMATIONS with which he was
compelled to do the work More than once he
reached the point at which his successor no" Is
but little or nothing came OF it Ii Demo
cratic Administration were still in power ana
a Democratic Congress was TO assemble next
winter, we should have small hope OF seeing
the New York Postofice treated as it deserves
to be treated. But the situation has happily
changed, The affairs of the Nation are in the
hands of men who believe, with their party,
that there is a wide distinction between thrift
and meanneSs, and who understand that an
adequate maintenance is always the truest econ
omy.
1t is fundamental absurdity to consider an
appropriation for the New York Postof1ice as
in any sense a local expenditure, for the simple
reason that it is doubtful il the application OF
a given sum of money to any other public pur-
pose whatsoever could directly benefit so many
people in all parts of the country. Practically
it makes no difference, under an intelligent
and honest administration Of the Office, what II
costs. 1t is entitled on pure business principles
to all the money it needs. A report OF Mr.. Van
Colts conclusions after a careful investga
is printed on another page, and supplies strong
argument in general and in detail for moro
liberal support. The New Ork office now sup
plies more than one twelfth Of the gross revenue
of the Department, and costs little more than
one-fftieth of the total expenditure, turning in
for the benefit of the rest of the country an
annual surplus exceeding 100000. Por
years past the increase in expenditure for
clerk hire has averaged only per cent year,
while the weight OF mail matter dispatched has
increased o per cent year. These two state
ments constitute the gist Of the argument for
a more liberal allowance at this great centre OF
postal business.
Special regard should be paid TO Mr.. Van
Colts suggestion that increased expenditure by
no means implies Of necessity smaller net
revenue, inasmuch as greater facilities might
reasonably be expected to bring to the Posto1hce
large amount of patronage which is now
bestowed elsewhere. II tho mail service were
as rapid as any other everybody would prefer
it, and If the difference were as slight as it
could readily be made by the shlful use Of
money, a great volume of correspondence which
is now done by private carriers and even by
telegraph would be intrustcd to the PostOffce-
especially of social correspondence, which is
seldom exacting as to minutes, but only as TO
hours. A person, for instance, detained by
| business or called out Of town or otherwise
| forced to break an engagement or custom
now informs his family or friends OF the fact
by telegraph or messenger simply because he
| fears that the delivery of letter might take
| two or three times as long as it would take
under perfectly feasible postal system.