The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-14
RENDER TO CESAR.
Postmaster Backus Issues a Cir.
cular to Merchants.
Business of the Local Postofice Diverted to
Interior Towns 0akland's Appeal
for the Trade.

Postmaster Backus has Issued call on
the merchants and business men to do their
business through the Office in this city, His
reasons are fully set forth in the circular,
though it does not tell in what manner the
knowledge of the vast amount expended in
other cities for mail that is worked in this
city was brought about.
For some time the Oakland dalies have
been making appeals to the public to buy
their stamps and conduct their postal bust
ness in that town. As matter of fact a
great poporton of Oakland's residents are
business men whose offices and stores are
on this side of the bay.
If they buy their stamps on that side and
put them onto the mail on this side to be
worked by the employees of the San Fran
cisco Postoffice, there is, as Postmaster
Backus observes, San injustice done to the
service" as the relations OF the two offices
are no longer equitable. The circular is as
follows:
The merchants aud business men OF San Fran
cisco are unwi:tingly and thoughtessy doing
great Injustice TO tie postal service In this city
in purchasing postal supplies, stamps, stamped
envelopes, etc, from points outside Of San Fan
cisco, or in conserving to receive, as remlttances
on account OF bills, postage stamps from Interior
points, as II is well understood the only allOt
menr for clerk hire. stations, sub-satiOns, stamp
dRellci65 anu all machinery Oh poIIecl postal
service is made by the department In Washing
ton arbitrarily upon The annual receipts OF the
different posofiees. II the merchants Of San
Francisco purchase their postal supplies at other
points, and mail their letters circulars, etc., in
The San Francisco office. 1t can readily be seen
what an injustice is being done TO the service at
this point.
The Postofice Department strictly prohibits
postmaslers from soliciting patronage outside OF
The jurisdiction Of their own offices. II also dis
counenances the sending OF postage stamps
through tile mail from one point TO another for
the payment of bills, and it STRIFE ly prohibits
postmasters from doing so. While IL is ex-
tTemely desirable that every office should have
the legitimate patronage which belongs 10 II, II
certainly can expect no more than that which
would naturally belong TO the territory Ill which
the office Is located.
Large quantities OF postal supplies come Into
San Francisco annually from all points OF the ill.,
terror and many merchants In San Francisco are
purchasing supplies elsewhere, and yet sending
their mail matter TO the San Francisco Postotfice
to be worked. This has been done to such an
extent that the Postofiice Department in Wash
ingtOn has instituted an investigation TO know
the reason why the percentage OF postal receipts
In san Francisco Is fiom about TO 10 per cent
less for the current fiscal year than at any OF the
large cities 10 the country. So serious has the
matter become that the department has abso-
lulely refused to giant additional clerks aud car
Iiers, and has refused TO locate the twelve sub
stations which were approved aud recommended
BY The First Assistant Postmaster-GeneIa al
ClaiksOn when in this city last July.
10 have an efficient postal service at this point
the business men of San francisco must purchase
their supplies in the San Francisco office.
No difference whatever can be made In the
salary OF the Postmaster, as the receipts of the
office some years ago reached that point, VIII ch
in adjustment, allowed the Postmaster OF San
Franc isco The largest salary allowed under tie
law. IL does make, however, a vast diiei euce
In The allotment of all other expenses necessarily
Incurred 10 conducting the postal service OF san
francisco.
II Is very much TO be hoped that the merchants
and business men of San Francisco will consider
these facts in making future purchases and not
permit themselves to be drawn into practices,
which so seriously threaten the development and
efficiency OF our own ostal service.