Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-01-28
EDITORIAL NOTES.
Uncle Sans Mails.

cf,icizes very little, and has much
praise to give in regard to the improve
ments that have been made and sug-
gested, and the increased efficiency Of
the department. The post-office de-
psrtment is always the butt of many
complaints. There is as much salts
faction and more safety in growing at
the government that at en- individual.
People in general must have something
to "kick" about, and it is very con-
yenient to take the post-office depart
ment and its workings. The smallest
farmer in the farthest backwoods, whose
only mail consists of an occasional cir
cular, or postal card from his aunt
"daoun Saouth," thinks he must COM
plain of the slowness of the mails or
the high price of postage stamps.
The adoption of Civil Service Re-
form methods as far as it has gone is
great gain. It is becoming plain to
every one that the post.office depart
ment must be run as business affair,
and not as political deal. A merit
system Of promotions, with examina-
tions, as used in Washington aud the
larger offices, will do more than reams
Of paper to bring about realization
Of this fact.
Among the improvements and ben
efts of Mr.. anamaker's administra-
ton we notice the following. The post
Office department has become almost
self-supporting, and it is estimated that
next year there will be a small surplus
Of about twelve thousand dollars, in
stead of the deficit of six millions in
1889. And this in spite of the loss Of
the lottery business, which has dimin
ished. the receipts some over a million
rs.
In order to establish cordial relations
between the department and the smaller
Offices, postmasters from neighboring
large office, usually county seat, have
been requested to visit and inspect
neighboring offices, more for the sake
Of friendly encouragement than crit
icism. This is believed to have accom-
Dlished the end desired.
In the West the mail service has been
increased over 400 miles.
On many routes time has been saved.
Between New York and. Boston
four hours, mail from the West, day,
between Chicago and New Orleans,
five hours, and in many other places.
The law for the suppression of lot
terry matter has been most emphatically
enforced, and it is now almost impos-
sible to send any by the mails.
The Postal Aid Bill is designed to
arrange for the carrying of American
mails under the American flag. 1t is
hoped to @cure quicker and I"ore reg
ular foreign mails.
Mr.. Wanamaker's pet scheme, rural
free delivery, has been tried with good
results. When all the farmers get
their letters, papers, and magazines
regularly aud often, and are put into
communication with the outside world,
th,re will be much more inducement to
young people to stay at home on the
farm, and much healthier and happier
state of society would come about.
4 Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General has been appointed in Wash
ington, to have charge ofappointments.
This is step which viii not be appre-
eiated so much by the public at large
as by those who are sin it.
A Postal Museum has been estab-
ished at Washington, with contribu-
tons from France, Great Britain, Ger
many, Australia, and other countries.
This is for the sake of gaining better
understanding foreign postal modes and
methods. There are specimens of ma
chimes and implements, photographs,
books, and pamphlets, and models of
mail wagons, letter-boxes, etc.
Sea post-offices have been established
on ships, so that foreign mails can be
sorted before coming into port, great
saving Of time.