The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-15
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
POSTMASTER GENERAL BISSELL DIS.
CuSSES ITS NEEDS.
state Inspectors RecomInended-Reed anu
Burrows Rivals-Republican Expecta-
tions-An Interesting Chapter of Person
al and Financial History.

tiOns-An Interesting Chapter of Person
al and Financial History.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-[Special.] =
Postmaster General Bissell, in converse
ton with your correspondent today, called
attention to remarkable fact in connec-
ton with the postal service. 81 have been
amazed to discover said the postmaster
general, "that we have the greatest postal
system in the world, comprising $4,000
postoffices, with no provision made for in
spection of these offices except in cases of
specific charges or complaints being made.
We have a staff of postoffice inspectors, it
is true, but they are kept constantly busy
looking up mail depredations, robberies,
frauds on the people or the service, and
such matters. They have absolutely no
time left for general inspection of post
offices. If they GO to a postoffice, it is be-
cause some irregularity has called them
there There is no such thing as a regular
| inspection for the purpose of preventing If
n,gularlties or for improvementOf the serv
! ice. One cannot imagine great business
concern with 69, 900 branch offices which
| would pe.mit this vast system to run on
practically without supervision, No rail
road, insurance or other large concern
would think of doing such thirg. They
would have their division superintendent,
their district inspectors and other agencies
of careful and constant supervision. Ihey
would not permit station or local agents
to report directly to the president of the
road, as our postmasters all report to
common center. In my judgment the gov
eminent cannot afford to continue its pres
emit system We should have system of
inspection that will permit us to visit ev-
cry office in the United States at stated in
tervals, the larger offices once 81 month or
once quarter, and the smaller offices as
often as possible.
State Inspectors Favored.
"To do this.' continued the postmaster
general, II recommend the division of the
country by states and the appointment of
an inspector in each state. This official
we can appoint right out of the service.
There will be no politics whatever in it.
The inspector will be an expert postal man
one who has worked his way up through
the ranks. He will know every branch of
the service. If he goes to a postoffice and
notes any bad methods, he has the author
ity and the knowledge with which to cor
rect them. If there are any old mailbags
lying around, he orders them sent to the
proper place. At the present time we have
enough mailbags lying in the postoffices
to run the whole machine, but they are not
sent in because it is no ones business to
!. attend to them. If new postmaster has
been appointed, the inspector installs him
in office, shows him how to do things,
gives him pointers on the best methods,
how to avoid mistakes, etc. We can get
first class men for this work for $4,000
year, and such system of inspector
ship would cost the government only
$780, 900 a year. That is a bagatelle.
The cost is not worth considering. Iven-
ture the prediction that with such sys-
tenn as this we can improve the postal serv-
ice fully per cent, and that is worth
millions instead of thousands to the peo-
/ pie. The postal service comes nearer tc
the people than any other operation OF the
government. The people demand as neal
perfection in the operations of this system
as skill, ingenuity, care and money will
provide They have the right to demand
it, When man has business to transact
with his postoffice, he wants to be sure the
best methods are employed there. If ht
mails letter, lie wants to feel confident
it will go right. I am urging congress tt
, supply this deficiency in our organization
and am not without hope that it may b.
, done within the next few months
With Jealous Eyes.
Nowadays congressman Reed and Bur
rows are watching each other with jealou!
eyes. They are on friendly terms, so far al
outward appearances go, but it is an ope1
, secret that they are rivals for leadership o
the Republican side. Though this may b.
news in the country, it is a fact that il
Washington the Republicans are counting
|. upon having majority in the next house
, They may be counting their chickens be
3 fore they are Matched, but their hopes hav
: been raised so high that already Messrs
Reed and Burrows are scheming for tn
next speakership. Each has a strong fol
lowing, and both are keen in debate ant
3 artful in parliamentary tactics. The speak
r ership is long ways off. The presen
1 point of interest is not so much in that a
q in the maneuvering for advantage between
, these two rivals as the work of the session
/ goes on.
A Remarkable Career.
Many members of the house are inter
ested in the efforts which David K. Paig
is making to reach settlement with hi
g creditors. Paige used to be a congressman
from Ohio and was very popular. Ate
. leaving Washington he entered into con
y tracing in New York and carried o.
f large operations on the Croton aqueduct
8 A construction inspector attempted t
blackmail him out of 5000, and Paige re
fused to be bled. In revenge the inspecto
reported that the work on Paige's contrac
d had not been properly done, and the sur
q of $500, 900 was tied up in the courts. Thi
= reverse nearly bankrupted the contractor
= Other troubles came upon him at the sam
. time. Millionaire Huntington OF Cleve
s land, who had loaned Paige (his brother
= in-law) large sums of money, repudiate
his signature to certain notes. After a
unsuccessful effort to induce Huntingto
to acknowledge his signature, Paige ha
}. to flee to South America to await tur
t in the tide. There he has lived for severa
v wears and has made little money in tn
a cattle exporting business. About the tim
!. of his fight brother, who was cashier {
bank in Ohio, was convicted of irregr
larities and sent to the penitentiary, wher
he now is The court of appeals of NeN
York is about to render decision which
it is believed, will be in Paige's favor an
> award him Judgment for about 81 ,1O0, OOl
u This will enable him to settle with
creditors and still be well to do mar
His friends here are hopeful he will 500
be on his feet again and able to return t
4 -GA Ia<N 11L