New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-21
SIR ARTHUR BLACKWOOD.
THE SECRETARY AND LATE PERMANENT
HEAD OF THE BRITISH POSTOFFICE.
London. october !

Much that is good might be said about
Sir Arthur Blackwood as an individual. but
it is mainly a Postofice chief ahat he has,
or can have any interest for us in America.
He was known in his younger days as Beauty
Blackwood" and long retained the good looks
to which he owed that sobriquet. He retained
also an expression OF satisfaction with his looks
and himself. He married Duchess. expert
enced religion, became a kind Of religious
fanatic preached and prayed in public and
was altogether a rather curious figure both in
public and in private life. His full style and
title was Sir Stevenson Arthur Blackwood. X.
c. B.. and he died last week. stu Secretary
to the Postoffice. 1t has passed into
political trusm that this English king.
dom is governed by permanent clerks It
may we'll seem odd to the foreigner that In
a country where titles go for so much real
power should. to so great an extent, be con-
centrated in the hands OF men whose official
designation is Of the humbest. The Chief
Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant OF Ireland
may be quoted as an example. though ne ID
political and not permanent. The Secretary to
the Postoffice has far less influence over the
course of public affairs than the Secretary
of the Foreign Office, for instance. or OF the
Colonial Office, or Of the Board OF Trade.
But he none the less rules great Depart
ment, and the fortunes Of an army of officials
depend upon him-not that he can dismiss
them save for cause, nor would he-and the
service and convenience Of the public In the
vital matter Of communication are In his hands.
Sir Arthur Blackwood held this great posi-
ton for thirteen years. His presence at the
Postoffice marked another peculiarly OF
English public life. He first entered the De-
partment as an agent Of the Treasury. We
are told In an official or semi-official way that
the Treasury wanted. in consequence OF difh-
cultes between itself and the Postoffice, In
connection with the purchase OF the telegraphs.
to have a high official in the Postofice ap-
pointed by and directly accountable to the
Treasury.
kind OF superior spy, 1t might SEEM but It
was not quite that. The Treasury rules over
the PostofTice as 1t does over every other De-
partment The Postofce has great stan OF
men trained all their lives in Postoffice busi-
ness. You might think they would know best
how to manage 1t. and how to spend the money
they earn. Not at ALL The Postofice has to
hand its earnings to the Treasury, and
be content to get back so much of them as
the Treasury clerks think proper to allow.
Whether It be question OF money or OF ef'
icient service. the Treasury settles 1t. The
erection OF new Postoffices, the running OF spe-
cial train for the mails. the rates OF postage
and Of teegraphing, the pay and salaries OF
Postoflce servants--these and a thousand other
matters are submitted to the Treasury clerk
and determined by him. he Is not an expert.
not familiar with the course Of Postof1ce busi-
ness and the Postofice people are, or ought
to be- No matter. The money-clerk decides
whether any money can be spent or not.
Nowhere else in the world. imagine. does such
Ia oV,A -
thought a wise system. and is permanently
established.
But the Treasury wanted not merely to con-
troll the PostotTice from the outside. but to have
a man of their own inside; and Mr.. Black
wood was the man they chose. Six years later
he became Secretary Of the Postoffice in sue.
cession to Sir John Tilley. deceased: white.
haired old gentleman with a long white beard
whom used TO meet at Anthony Trollope's ana
thought the incarnation Of the spirit of routine.
so he was. but his successor proved before long
that he could give him points as an obstructive
Under both these men the motto was that the
public existed for the Postoffice. not the Post
office for the public. Sir Arthur. as he became
in 1887. was Of able He
could hardly have reached the head Of his
Department. continued there unless he
were capable Of doing Departmental business.
he mad not, however, very nlgn rank OF ni8n
repute as an official among the celebrities Of
the official world. He lacked initiative. lacked
elasticity, lacked broad views. and hated
reforms
The last years Of his life were spent in a con.
test with Mr.. Henniker Heaton and other Post
Office reformers who represented the public
while Blackwood and the men about him stood
up for things as they were, fought des-
perately to perpetuate abuses. and were con-
WINGED that things as they were in the Post.
Office were all for the best 1t was. to their
minds. in all respects the best Of all actual and
possible Postofices. Under his influence the most
useful improvements In the service were
grudgingly conceded and withheld as long as
possible. The most indefensible anomalies were
maintained till they could be maintained no
longer suppose 1t might be said. with gen.
eral truth. that nothing was ever granted to
reason convenience. The only way to move
the Postoffice was through Parliament or
through the Press
Once I asked an Inspector who came to see
me about some Postofice blunder. whether let.
ters to the newspapers on Departmental mis-
takes had any effect on the Department
"Oh. yes" he answered, they loathe to see
their mistakes In print" So do most men,
whether In or out OF public Office. Mr.. Hen
mixer Heaton made the Postmaster-Generals
life burden to him In the House OF COMMONS.
He asked questions till even so meek an Official
as Sir James Ferguson turned and tried to
crush his tormentor. but could not Slowly the
barriers gave way: slowly but surely under this
unrcaxng pressure, aided as 1t was by the
press
The hundreds Of complaining letters which
the officials 'Ioathed' made an impression at
last on the editorial mind THE Times which
In great matters is worth all the other papers
together began TO thunder against the DEPART
ment. and to thunder against the Department
was as everybody knew, to thunder against
Sir Arthur Blackwood That great man had
to submit to be told that st. Martins lie Grand
was fast becoming. if II had not already be-
come. the most reactionary and torpid POST