New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.

"TIE EVENING POST" AND THE PosToFFICE'
To the Editor Of Thc Tribune
sir; Tic methods pursued BIZ The Evening Post
towards Postmaster Van Colt and the New York Posi-
Office sEch any honest and fair minded Journal
ought to be ashamed to adopt and such as The POST
would be swift to condemn If practised by any o. the
rest of the newspapers Of the earth which from US
serene altitude it surveys with becoming scorn or
cautious federation.
ii is easy task to frame plausible Indictment
against any large postofice by merely selecting ana
publishing occasional instances OF mlstreatmeht OF Wa
matter due to the negligence of individuals among its
numerous employees and charging them 10 the IN
capacity Of the postmaster and the task is made sun
easier every complaint of such irrgarty is assumed
be without aordng the accused an opportunity
for defence or explanation; but surely It Is rather
petty business few DAYS since The POST published
a communication from merchant charging that his
European mail had been detained in the New YORK
rOSto1ice for three DAYS. and this statement " TIC
Po,t' made the basis Of an editorial onslaught upon
Postmaster Van Colt The fact was-and was pub
lshcd hat the DELAY caused by the clerks in the
Glasgow postofce, having dispatched New-ior letters
in a mall bag directed to ottawa, Canada-but no word
Of retracton or apology has since appeared In "The
POST Again 1t charged that package mailed In
Washington hal failed to reach its editor through
negligence in the New York Postofcc; but ii atcfwsrt
appeared that the package not mailed. which fac'
graclOusly allowed 10 appear in a secluded corner
Il "Thc POST Local Jotting.7 Fair ana con
scicntous editors Gf the violent assumption that toer9
are any outside the walls Of The Evening POST
binding may BE- pcrnlttc in the habit OF ackno"
cdcing Of this Kind in more copspicuQuN fashion
only those on'courings known to THE POST a'
Journalists hahally take back in agate false charges
which they have preferred in loaded BREWER
Pablo officers and their public acts and deficiencies
are legitimate subjects Of criticism and an inefficient
postal service cannot be attached too severely nor TOO
OF ~ with view % its reformation: but Inc Posi-
well knows that the apparent shortcomings OF the Post
Office are frequently otherwise due TO causes be
yord II, control. and that the failure OF mall
matter 70 reach It's destination In dIc time Is not by any
conclusive evidence that il has been Improperly
DELAYED b. the Pcstoihcc. It knows that mail sains
do not aNa's arrive on schedule time; that letter.
and new papers often lc-1bly or incorrectly al
dressed. that corc> pCudcnts and messengers some
time, buuder lie % the dates and hours OF post
Ing ard that when the fault IS manifeSly due
10 official neglect iucOmpetercy somewhere 10 IS not
fair reasonable q charge H. without previous IN
vcstigation, upon any particular p0stoice or post
master: but knowing this. II has continued and
probably VIII continue, in order 10 CRAFTY it, personal
-rudgc or 10 serve its partisan ends T. publish Post
master Van Colt responsible for ever! delay or
iTcm1rity in connection with mail matter aGdre sed
whether Mr. Van colt his SubOrdnatcs b" I'm fault
ignored ~ The Evening POST when from the awful
D" KIT Of IFS iuIgmcn'-~eat it listens - accu'ato
against Republican Official FAll; PLAY.
%o,v- York, MAY > loo.