Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

spector. II is expected that in the course Of q
few days the new Office will be formally estab.
lished by the assignment of duties and an Office
room viii be assigned in the department build.
ing.
MAJ. IArHBoNI's CAREER.
MAJ. Rathbone first entered the service Of the
government a. q secret service agent Of the
Treasury Department in 1876, which position,
after having been promoted from time to time,
heresigned on July 1, 1888. He was, during the
last seven years of this period, in charge Of the
Cincinnati district, embracing several states.
Soon afterward he was appointed to the po-
pension bureau. Here he had under his d.
rection in the field 531 special examiners. He
organized in this service the system of super
vising districts, twenty in number, with an ex-
amlner In charge Of each district, who had i'm
mediate control of the field force. In the first
year OF his administration the amount of work
per man per year was increased nearly 40 per
cent, which was accomplished with decrease
In cost OF 331s per cent. With this enyiable
record, In May, 1885, upon the advent Of the
democratic administration, he resigned his po-
sition and returned TO Hamilton, Ohio, his
home. where he engaged actively in private
business and did much TO improve the town.
erecting a fine business block, in which he
afterward helped to organize and locate the
Miami Valley National Bank, of which he be-
came vice president He was identified with
all the business enterprises of the town, in
which he still takes great interest and pride
In 1887 Maj. Rathbone was elected state sen.
ator in the second senatorial district of Ohio.
which is usually democratic by from 2 1000 to
$500, carrying the district by 800 majority, the
largest ever polled By republican since its
organization.
On April 20, 1889, Maj. Rathbone was appointed
chief post office inspector, which place he has
Just vacated to accept his new honor. He soon
mastered the important and multifarious duties
OF this responsible position. A thorough re-
organization Of the service first claimed his
attention, and a number of much-needed
changes and notifications in the territorial
scope OF the several inspectors divisions were
introduced. Each Of the ten divisions in which
the country was divided was placed in charge
OF an experienced inspector. The chief inspec-
toI. with his corps Of division inspectors, are
recognized by the department as body Of men
occupying the first rank am ong postal officials.
Controlling anG directing the entire service
through these ten assistants. Major Rathbone
reduced the routiLe work of hie department to
system b! which maximum amount of work
is daily performed with a minimum of force
and expense. As proper discipline rigidly en-
forced is the foundation of an eff
cient army SC individual responsibility,
impartially exected, is the keynote Of Major
RatEhohe's success as an executive officer. He
expects to be held rigidly responsible for the
work of bis bureau. and in like manner, exacts
individual responsibility for the work assigned
to all sutordinates. One o. the chief causes of
his success in the exercise of executive func-
tions is that his methods are impersonal. He
slngularly free from Partially in his relations
with the personnel of the service. He has Sc
cured the confidence of the Postmaster General
and the other department officials to remark.
able degree. and he has accomplished this simply
by close attention to business and his skillful
handling and control Of the important bureau
committed to his hands.
Personally. Major Rathbone has an admirable
physique and an enviable mental balance. Dis
Greet and tactful, he is good listener, decides
quickly and acts without hesitation. One of
his most prominent characteristics il the pos.
session of splendid Judgment He is q man Of