Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-06
Movement on Foot Against the Pitts
burg Postofice Management
FIGURES AND STATISTICS GIVEN,
Which Are Promptly Met and. Answered BY
Those Most Interested
THE VIEWS OF ASSISTANT EDWARDS

the pay rolls are lnnated, ana wnere tney
claim many persons are employed for po-
litical effect. The Pittsburg Postoffice, it
is asserted by them, is Senator Quay's
home Office, and that men and
women from distant parts of
the State are employed there.
Last year was the heaviest year in the
history of the Pittsburg Postofice. The
growth Of outside towns seems to have
helped swell the receipts rather. than reduce
them. The expenses, it is claimed by these
reformers, however, jumped from 80 per
cent to AZ per cent Allowance Clerk Scott
is given as authority for the statement that
the clerks pay roll has been increased from
s4S, 900 in 1884 to s11S, 900 in 1891. One Of
those interested said: ''The percentage of
expense under Postmaster McCleary. in
1884, was 35 per cent of the gross receipts,
against 42 per cent in 1891. The Pittsburg
Postoffice had IS carriers in 1884 at a cost of
"a, 900, while in 1891 the carriers had in
creased in number to 1873, and the cost had
increased to nearly $4,000. The net in
crease in business last year was 1000.
The clerks got S14, 900 and the carriers S2O,-
600, so the Government only got $40, 900 or
about % per cent of the increase.
The Claim That Is Made.
"This would indicate that the increased
help given to the office had almost swallowed
up the increased earnings. In 1890 the per-
centage of cost was 80 per cent of the gross
receipts, while in 1891 it not only cost SO
per cent, but took 34-44 of the new business
The receipts of the Cleveland, O., postoffice
are $50, 900 less than Pittsburg, but she paid
the Government s14, 600 more last year than
Pittsburg, and her expenses are
only 81 per cent of the gross re-
ceipts. The clerk hire in Cleveland
is trihe over one-half of that
of the Pfttsburg Office. The receipts of the
Buffalo, n. Y, Office are S62, 900 less than
Pittsburg, and its clerks pay roll nearly
one-half less, and yet it paid last year to
the Government s., 800 more than the Pitts
burg Office. Bufalo's percentage of cost to
gross receipts is Sc per cent. Cleveland
and Buffalo are cited, as they are nearest
Pittsburg in volume of business and popula-
tion.
''The population of Pittsburg," the gen.
tleman continued, SIS 5000. The gross
receipts of the Pittsburg Postofice are
sJ6S, S56 The clerk hire was $113, 900. The
amount paid carriers was $114, ,420. The
amount paid the Government was
s32s, 425. The population of Buffalo
is 254, 600. The gross receipts of the Buffalo
office were S517, 200. The clerk hire amount
ed to $685. 900. The amount paid carriers
was S113,000 The amount paid the General
Government was 1929, ,954. The population
of Cleveland is 26l,O00. The gross receipts
of the Cleveland Postoffice were $519, 900.
Their clerk hire was S65, 600 They paid to
carriers s104, ,654, and the General Govern
ment received sS43, ,0O0."s'
Claims OF the Investigators.
MI. Scott refused to discuss the difference
in the amounts paid for clerk hire in offices
of about the same gross receipts, income and
The reformers claim that
they will continue their inquiry and inves-
tigation until they get some definite infor-
nation on the subject. 1t is expected that
Postmaster Mexican will be home from the
seashore within ten days.
Assistant Postmaster Edwards when
shown the above yesterday said: "As to the
charge that the postofice is used as an
asylum for Quayites from out Of the city,
we have not one man in our Office who was
appointed at the personal request of Senator
Quay. It is true that two, and only two, of
The appointments made under Postmaster
Mexican are not residents of the county,
but they were appointed BY the civil ser
vice rule and they all stood tns required ex-
animation and were regularly appointed.
This is the fault, if there be any fault, of
he civil service law and not Postmaster
Mexican.
Expenditures for Increased Facilities,
''There have been years in the past when
he percentage of expense was slightly
lnder the past year, but at that time the |
business portion of the city did not have
'ix deliveries day, nor was there distribu-
ing clerks to meet the Eastern morning |
nail at Altoona to have it ready for imme- |
liate delivery to our financial institutions |
n time for Clearing House purposes,
hereby saving many dollars to our people. |
1--WE have more star routes than the |
Cleveland and Buffalo offices, and handle
Is much mail from which the Office derives |
10 benefit as both combined of the same |
lass of mail. OF course, it costs money to
10 the work, but if the public demand in
erior service they can have it for less cost
o the Government.
''Chicago is the only city west of the
mountains that gives as many deliveries a
lay as the Pittsburg Office, or exceeds it in
errice.
''The so-called reformers call attention to
wo cities of the country which, on account I
# location, ETC., it is unfair to compare with
his city. Take, for instance, the leading
tiles and large towns of PENNSYLVANIA,
which show the following percentage Of
Expense to gross receipts: Philadelphia,
2 per cent; Scranton, 50 per cent; Read
ng, 40 per cent; Pottsville, IS per cent;
,orry, Ga per cent: Allegheny, 81 per cent;
Altoonase 30 per cent; Allentown, 80 per
ent; Easton, 67 per cent; Erie, Al per cent;
ohnstown, 56 per cent; Wilkesbarre, 81
er cent; Williamsport, Al per cent; Lam
aster, A per cent; Pittsburg, AZ per cent
Proud of the Record.
'eIt is not necessary to confne ourselves
o this State, but the following report from
eading cities Of the country shows that the
Office has made record Of which
should be proud: Cincinnati, Al per cent;
Boston, 43 per cent; Baltimore, Nd. 81 per
ent; New Orleans, AZ per cent; Washing
on, 76 per cent; San Francisco, 4S per
ent.
"While in 1884 the percentage of expense
o gross receipts was So per cent, under
McCleary, the administration of
Ir. Larkin found it necessary, under the
nost economical measures, to increase it to
8 per cent, and this was at a time when the
1hole city did not have the advantage Of
rec delivery aud the balance of the city less
eliveries than they now receive.
"Had the se1f-styled reformcr, who drew
is conclusion from the Auditors report,
nwlttingly taken the line above Buffalo he
'ould have shown from his calculations
hat Brooklyn's gross receipts was $751;
Is 60, its net revenue, SCI, 426 SO, and its
er cent expense to gross receipts, u per
ent.
And that Pittsburg, with more than
200 00f) Ices OroSs receipts erceeded