Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-23
TWO HARD WORKING OFFICIALS.
Postmaster General Wanamaker and
First Assistant Clarkson.
BOTH OF THEM MANAGE TO MAKE BIG Gas B1LLf
FOR THE DEPARTMENT By CONTINUING THKrr
LABoRs IN THE EvENISa-MR. wANAMAKIR An
EARLY RISER.

| FOR THE DEPARTMENT By CONTINUING THEIR
| LABoRs IN THE EvENIya-MR. wANAMAKIR AN
| EARLY RISER.
More gas is consumed in the Post Office de-
partment at present than ever before. This
statement has no reference to the expenditure
of eloquence and persuasion by Congressman
and others who visit the department to talk
about post Office. That remains about the
same from one administration to another. But
the gas that flows into the building through
pipes laid by the gas company is being con-
sumed at a great rate through the burners in
the chandeliers that light the rooms occupied
| by Postmaster General wanamaker and Gen.
GARRISON, the first assistant Postmaster General.
Both Of these officials have the reputation of
being hard workers. Mr.. wanamaker is said
| to perform the labor of at least two men. He
attends to all the work of the Office in general
and besides gives his attention to details which
MS predecessors seldom knew anything about.
BEGINS EARLY AND LEAVES OFF LATE.
He comes to the department at o'clock
promptly each morning. and since he has been
Postmaster General good many of the officials
have shortened their morning maps and try to
get there at that time, too. At first Mr.. Wanna
maker began to come to the department as
early as z o'clock and 7:30. But he found it
rather difficult to attend to business by himself
and so he yielded q half hour or 30 to the Gus
toms of the city. He gets to work at 8. how
ever, and when visitors begin to come he has
cut quite large slice out of the bust
ness of the day. Then he has his
correspondence to attend to. This is immense
In Itself. He answers every letter. If a man
makes complaint about a postmaster or a let
ter carrier MIR. Wanamaker writes a reply. The
ordinary work attached to making post Office
appointments is increased from the fact that
after an appointment is made Mr.. Wanamaker
listens to complaints and answers letters on the
subject, In spite of the fact that the matter is
officially settled.
PRIVATE WIRE TO PHILADELPHIA.
In addition to all these matters, there is q
private telegraph wire running into the Post
master Generals room. The operator at the
other end is seated in Mr.. Wanamaker's great
establishment in Philadelphia So that while
In Washington the master hand guides and
directs the business in the Quaker city 1t is not
surprising therefore that Mr.. Wanamaker's
business hours are long. He not only reaches
the department at o'clock, but he remains
there until after o'clock. Long after the
clerks have left the department for the day,
the lights In Mr.. Wanamaker's rooms are burn
in ing and the head of the department is hard at
THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.
From the windows of the adjoining rooms
the lights may be seen shining nearly every
night until after o'clock. They are the rooms
occupied by Gen. Clarkson, the first assistant.
He Is said to be the most rapid dictator of let
tiers In the department. He has fast stenog-
rapher, and when he sits down to his cores
pc .dence the fingers of the stenographer fairly
ny. His usual rate is said to be about one hun
dred words minute. Gen. Clarkson don't get
to the department. very early, but he makes up
the time at night