Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29

Post Office Department and place the
power of selection with the people, where 1t
more properly belongs"
A New Department Building.
The report says: Attention has been
called by several of my predecessors to
the necessity of a new and more commo-
dious building for the Post Office Depart
ment. The necessity is a growing one,
and already so urgent that feel in duty
bound to again call attention to it in the
hope that favorable legislation will ensue.
The transactions of the department are at
present conducted in seven different build
ings, only one of which is owned by the
government, and that one Is not only in
adequate but lily contrived for the needs
of the department. II is cut up into
numerous small rooms, none too well ven
tilaA or lighted. l would recommend the
construction of a modern, fire-proof office
building so located and constructed as to
secure plenty of light and air, and with
such distribution of space as would admit
of bringing the clerks of each division to-
gether In large rooms. Such plan would
afford division chiefs better oversight of
the work assigned them, and by relieving
the clerks from the frequent interruptions
TO which they are now subjected would
greatly facilitate the work of the depart
ment 1t would be unnecessary to select
an expensive parcel of land for the loca-
ton of such structure, since it's con-
tiguity to other department buildings would
De matter or lnd1nereNce.
The present Post Office Department build
ing might perhaps be profitably assigned
for the use of some portion of the In
terror Department.
The government is now paying nearly
$30UO per annum in rentals. which would
be saved if building adequate to the needs
of the Post Office Department was con-
structed.
The Bush Building.
1.-THE Busch building on Z street between
9TH and sth streets northwest is occupied
by more than go clerks Of the sixth audi
tors Office. From its being overloaded with
files and heavy iron file cases, the building
was regarded as in an unsafe condition,
and caused much apprehension to the en-
ployes occupying it. Early in June last
the supervising architect of the treasury
was requested to investigate and report
Upon the condition of the building. Upon
making his report he recommended that all
the floors of the building should be support
ed by posts and girders from the basement
to the upper floors.
Il Immediately notified the lessons, the
Anheuser-Busch Company of st. Louis, Mo-.
as to the necessity Of the changes in the
building recommended by the supervising
architect, but did not succeed in having
the work done, the lessons contending that
the building was sufficiently strong for the
purposes of an Office building, but that IL
had been unduly overloaded with files, and
they declined to remodel the building as
suggested. On the 18th of June the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury submitted a sup
Elemental report from the supervising
chitect who suggested that If the work of
Strengthening the Busch building was not
commenced Immediately that as a measure
of precaution all of the heavy files and
cases not arranged against the walls be
Immediately removed from the building.
Having no room in any of the buildings
occupied by the department in which to re-
move and store the accumula ted files in the
building hair So of no
necessity of their immediate removal, / as
sumed the responsibility, after consultation
with the honorable the Secretary of the
Treasury, to contract for the occupancy of
part of the basement of the Union build
ing on q street, subject to the approval of
Congress. at rental of $1,000 per annum.
Into this building 1 caused to be removed
several hundred tons OF stuff from the
Busch building, and also a part of the &C
cumulated files in the building Sth
street, known as the annex, occupied by
the money-order office OF this department.
Immediately upon the removal of the files
from the Busch building l requested anoth-
er inspection by the supervising architect
OF the treasury, Mr.. ORourke. He pro-
nounced the building safe after 1t was I'M
loaded. but renewed his recommendation
for the Strengthening of all of the floors
To prepare for the loads of paper which
naturally accumulate in the office of the
sixth auditor. 1 again called upon the An
heuser-Busch Company of St. Louis to
make the repairs suggested, but they have
declined TO do this work, and at present the
matter remains in allegiance 1 do not re-
gard the Busch building nor the annex
building on Sth street as well suited for the
uses of the department and either of them
may be rendered unsafe by being over
loaded with a steady accumulation of pa
perS which are necessary for the files Of
the offices located in them. i especially
call attention to the Busch building, as
there was just apprehension as to its safe
ty, which may be renewed by the steady
incrpa n floors
walls of the building"
Poor Organization.
II think" said MIR. Bissell, that any
business man assuming charge of the Post
Office Department feels the weakness of its
organization at one point, and that is in
the relation of the heads Of the department
to its postmasters and other local officers
There are nearly 10000 persons now en-
ployed by the government in its postal
service. and only in the railway mail serv-
ice is there any real attempt at organiza-
ton. As general proposition, 1t may be
said that this great army is organized in
companies, without regiments or brigades,
so that the company captain makes his re-
port to the general commanding officer; or,
in railroad management, IL would be like
organizing a company with a president
! and four vice presidents, but without sup
erntendentS, either general or local, the
| station agents making their reports d.
rectly to the one or the other of the gen.
eral officers
This is a strange anomaly, and is with
out parallel in any business institution that
L have any knowledge of. Indeed, inspec-
tons of the service and reports thereon
are rarely made or rendered unless upon
complaint being lodged. This deficiency
in the organization and lack of immediate
supervision and control of the postal serv-
ice has been keenly felt. as / find on read
ing the reports of several of my predeces-
sors. Postmaster General Wanamaker
adopted a county visitation scheme with
good results. as he reports. He also recon-
mended the appointment of local officers
to be in charge of certain geographical d.