The morning call., 1890-07-03
WHAT BACKUS WANTS
Important Reforms Needed in the
POst0fflce.
Assistant Pestmaster-Gsneral Clarksou Favors
Them-A Service Crippled by Democratic
Ideas Of Economy.


Said Postmaster Backus to a reporter last
night:
~ have been In close conference with First
Assistant Postmaster. General Clarkson to- day,
and have laid before him what thought were
some OF the needs Of The San Francisco Postof
fee. The General told me to make report to
the department Of the things thought this Office
needed and lie would make the report OF his trip
conform 10 it as far as he could, and then be
would work heartily and energetically 10 secure
TO San Francisco and this Coast the postal re-
forms that it SO sadly needs.
"He expressed himself as being amazed al the
inadeQuacy OF our service and at our submitting
to il so patiently and so long. No Eastern city
would, In his Judgment have stood 1t. The cltl-
zens Of any Of them would have besieged Wash
ingIon With angry delegations until Il better ser
vice was obtained.
"What Will ask for? Well In the first place,
want forty new carriers and twenty new clerks.
l want 10 establish four new stations and five
new sub stations; want TO put a station In
South San Francisco, for IT is shame that with
all The population of that place IL has not
single station. l want to establish twenty five
new stamp stations throughout the city. want
~ establish The Eastern system of collecting and
delivering parcels, and want general increase
In all the other departments.
NOW is THE TIME.
II want these things and am going 10 ask for
them with all the voice can raise. Now Is the
time to establish needed reforms In the San
Francisco Postal Service. The Department at
Washington Is inclined TO grant us improve
ments We will never have better chance, and
so far as l can do II. the opportunity will be
improved TO the utmost.
Il would like TO have every man.
woman or child IN San francisco, who
bas any grievance against the postal service, or
who has any suggestions to make about I'M
prOvements, 10 send his ideas 10 me in 4 letter.
/ viii read them all; we will have the notions of
scores OF crdnks, but we VIII receive the ideas OF
some bright men. want the people to let ME
know what fault they have TO find, Instead OF
sitting down and grumbing l Will investigate
every complaint.
lone OF the improvements talked about be-
tween The General and me was one which VIII be
OF great advantage TO newspapers and their
readers We propose 10 swear In as a regular
postal clerk OF the clerks in each daily news
paper office In the city. These clerks will assert
lie mail for their particular Offices, weigh II, and
send II direct to the mali trains instead OF having
1t go through the Postofiice here. BY this sys-
tenn which Is now In vogue in the East, the
papers can be taken from the press at the very
last moment, ana still be put aboard the mail
trains IN time.
FALSE DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY.
Another Improvement we talked about Is the
one already published in THE CALL-that of
building iron structure on the east side OF the
present building. We must have more space. and
at once. We cannot wait for i've or more years
until our new building Is completed. This build
ing will cost SIS, 900, and bill providing for an
appropriation To that amount Will be pushed be-
fore Congress, and receive General Clarks0n'S
cordial support.
"Do you know that not single new station
has been established in San Francisco for the
past seven years, notwithstanding that the bust
ness OF the Pos Office here has doubled In the
last four years? This has not been the fault OF
ex-POstmaster Bryan, but Is due 10 the false
economy OF The last Administration.
"On the morning OF the Fourth OF July General
Clarkson and are going 10 celebrate The day by
calling Into my office the heads of all the depart
ments and asking their advice as to needed re-
forms In each of their divisions. The General
says that lie is willing to fre his Fourth OF July
flre-craeker in that way. and so, indeed am i.
With the help of our citizens we viii endeavor 10
provide the ely with the postal facilities thai its
imDOltance reQuires"