The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-22
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
POSTMASTER GENERAL BISSELL DIS.
CUSSES ITS NEEDS.

CUSSES ITS NEEDS.
State Inspectors Observation-Disclosures and
Burrows Rivals-Republican Expecta-
tions-An Interesting Chapter of Person
al and Financial History.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-(Special. 1 -
Postmaster General Bissell, in conversa-
ton with your correspondent today, called
attention to a remarkable fact in connec-
ton with the postal service. "I 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
spectlon of these offices except in cases of
specific charges or complaints being made.
We have 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 co to 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 ir-
n,gular1tleS or for improvements the serv.
ice. One cannot imagine great business
concern with 90, 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 a thing. They
would have their division superintendent,
their district inspectors and other agencies
of careful and constant supervision. They
would not permit station or local agents
to report directly to the president of the
road, as our postmasters all report to a
common center. In my judgment the gov
eminent cannot afford to continue it's pres
emit system. We should have q system of
inspection that will permit US to visit ev-
cry Office in the United States at stated in
tervals, the larger offices once q month or
once quarter, and the smaller offices as
Z often as possible.
State Inspectors Favored.
"To do this continued the postmaster
general, Il 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 a 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
a year, and such system of inspector
ship would cost the government only
$780,, 900 a year. That is bagatelle.
The cost is not worth con sidering. I ven
ture the prediction that with such sys-
tenn as this we can improve the postal serv-
ice fully 5 per cent, and that is worth
millions instead of thousands to the peo-
pie. The postal service comes nearer to
the people than any other operation of the
government. The people demand as near
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 he
mails letter, he wants to feel confident
it will go right. am urging congress tc
supply this deficiency in our organization
and am not without hope that it may bt
done within the next few months"
With Jealous Eyes.
Nowadays Congressman Reed and Bur
rows are watching each other with Jealous
eyes. They are on friendly terms, SO far as
outward appearances go, but it is an opeI
secret that they are rivals for leadership o.
the Republican, side. Though this may bt
news in the country, it is fact that IL
Washington the Republicans are counting
upon having majority in the next house
They may be counting their chickens be
fore they are Matched, but their hopes have
been raised so high that already Messrs
Reed and Burrows are scheming for th'
next speakership. Each has strong fol
lowing, and both are keen in debate an(
artful in parliamentary tactics. The speak
ership is long ways off. The present
point of interest is not so much in that al
in the maneuvering for advantage between
these two rivals as the work of the session
goes on.
Remarkable Career.
Many members of the house are inter
ested in the efforts which David X. Paig
is making to reach settlement with hi
creditors. Paige used to be congressman
from Ohio and was very popular. Afte
leaving Washington he entered into con
tracing in New York and carried Oh
large operations on the Croton aqueduct
A construction inspector attempted t.
blackmail him out of 5000, and Paige re
fused to be bled. In revenge the inspector
reported that the work on Paige's contrac
had not been properly done, and the sun
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
land, who had loaned Paige (his brother
in-law) large sums of money, repudiate'
his signature to certain notes. After al
unsuccessful effort to induce Huntington
to acknowledge his signature, Paige hat
to flee to South America to await turl
in the tide. There he has lived for severa
years and has made little money in tn
cattle exporting business. About the tim
of his flight brother, who was cashier o
bank in Ohio, was convicted OF 1rregu
larities and sent to the penitentiary, wher
he now is. The court of appeals of New