The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-10-02
HANDLING TEE MAILS.
Personnel Of the Immense Postal Army
and Its Work.

Personnel Of the Immense Postal Army
and It's Work.
The whole country, during the entire
four years of the late Administration
and ever since the Republican restora-
ton. says the CJnmercial Gazette, has
been discussing, opposing or supporting
somebody for postmaster, and every
community and CROSSROADS in the coun-
try has had it's own particular expert
ence on this subject. Very few people
form any idea of the immensely and di-
versity of the postal system. The per-
sonnel of the postal army comprises
about 10, 900 employees of. all kinds.
OF this number; $4,000 are post
masters of the four classes
and the balance are clerks and
other persons employed or having
direct relations with the department.
Although every branch of the postal
service is interesting, that which opens
the deepest interest is the manner Of
paying this great army: of office-holders
and employees. When Benjamin Frank
lin had charge OF the mails of the colo
MES, and later of the Continental Gov
ernment, he kept his accounts in pounds,
shillings and pence. A small book af-
forded ample space for all entries and a
tin box contained all the accounts and
papers which belonged to the postal
service. Everything then depended
upon the honesty Of the postmaster.
From Franklin's time to that Of Amos
Kendall, Jackson's Postmaster-General,
about 1886, moneys for postage We're
collected and paid out by each postmaS-
ter and the surplus was was turned into
the Postoffice Department without any
system of accounts or checks upon dis
honest officials. In that year the Office
of Sixth Auditor of the Treasury was
created, and sincs thea ss@,:s- has Teen
responsible relation between, postmas-
ters and the government.
In the office of the Sixth Auditor an
account is kept with every postmaster
of the land. There are, therefore, about
10000 of these accounts. The govern
ment expects every postmaster to keep
an account of all the receipts of his
Office. He is then charged with all the
postage stamps furnished him by the
government. The number of stamps
furnished depends upon the average bus
mess of the Office. The smallest amount
furnished is So worth. Out of the reve-
nues of his office the postmaster is re-
quired to pay all the employees. At
the end Of the quarter be makes a state
ment to the Sixth Auditor. with voucu-
ers, which are examined and if found
correct the account is passed.
The entire personnel Of the post
masterships is divided into four classes.
according to the volume of business of
the Office and upon that basis the annual
compensation is scaled. The annual
pay of the first class is rated from q
minimum pay of $4,000 at offices with
receipts from $40, 900 to $4,000 and
maximum up to SIS, 600 salary.
Second classroom $4,000 to $4,000
revenue, $4,000 sllary; from $50, 900 to
$40, 900 revenue, $4,000 salary.
Third class-From $1,000 to S2.100
revenue of Office, $1,000 salary; from
$1,000 to s., 900 revenue, 81, 900 salary.
Fourth Class-This class, which con-
stitutes the great mass Of the army OF
postmasterS, receives as compensation
the whole box rents and commission on
cancelled postage dues, stamps and on
abandoned stamps, envelopes, postal
cards and newspapers and periodical
stamps, and on amounts received troha
waste paper. and newspapers and
printed matter and twine sold, at The
following rates: For the first. $50 o.
less per quarter, 100 per cent; for the
next S100 or less, 60 per cent; for the
next 5000 or less, 30 per cent, and tor
the balance 40 per cent. When the pro-
ceeds in the fourth class reach $3.50 per
quarter and continue not less than that
sum for four consecutive quarters, max
ing 81 900 year, the Office becomes
Presidential at an annual salary as
stated for third class officers. The post
masters are paid an annual salary based
on the receipts for four quarters prior
to the adjustment. In many cases
matter ola cent may make difference or
500 for or against the rating of the an
nual pay of the postmaster. In the
higher Offices difference Of 81 would
make a difference of 81 900 in compen-
sation.
The government requires all postmasters
to deposit funds daily in the United States
b-treasury if there be one in the same
city. The government assumes no re-
sponsibility for current funds, but re-
quires that national bank must be
given the preference. The fourth class
postmasters are required to deposit their
surplus funds quarterly in the sub
treasury, if convenient, or in the post
Office most accessible. In the entire list
postmasters are required to deposit
daily in sub treasures Is monthly, and
a,62S Presidential and 5S,111 fourth
class officers deposit balances in the SUI
treasury monthly.
The pay of the personnel of the Post
office Department reached the enormous
totals during the last fiscal year, OF com
pensation of postmasters, S12 900, 900;
clerks, S5,9O0,00O letter carriers, So
4OO, 600; rent OF offices, $500, 900 rail
way clerks, S., 100000, and mail mes
senger service, SS50,000, a grand total
of $50, $50, 900.
A Young Mans Blunder.