The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-12
CULPABLE NEGLECT.
Deplorab1e Condition Of
Affairs in the Local
Postoffice.
LETTERS HE'LL FOUR DAYS
Then Found Beneath a Pile Of
Other Mail Matter-Immediate
Change Needed.
LETTERS HELD FOUR DAYS


Postmaster Dickinson's method of con
Quoting the General Postoifice has often been
made the subject for much complaint and
frequent mention has been made in the
columns of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS of cases
where mail matter was kept at the Post
office longer than necessary.
Another case of gross negligence on the
part of the employees at the Postoffice was
brought to light on Tuesday when Mr.. ID.
Voss, the well known proprietor of the hall
on Rose avenue, Greenville, which bears his
name, visited the Postoffice to ascertain why
one hundred and fifty-five letters which he
had mailed at noon on Friday to Jersey City
and Bayonne friends had not been de-
ivered up to Tuesday afternoon. The
letters in question, contained invita-
tions to an opening reception which he held
at his hall. Mr.. VoSS came into possession
of the hall but a few months ago, and as
soon as much needed repairs were made he
promised his friends he would give them a
good time. The event took place on Monday
evening, and, owing to the neglect of the
Postoffice employees, it was a failure. As
Mr.. Voss had arranged an excellent musical
programme and O fine collation. at consider
able expense, he considers himself a loser by
over a hundred dollars on account of there
being no one present to enjoy these things.
He has consulted with his lawyer, Judge
Henry Puster, and if he can recover any
damages from the Government he viii inn
mediateIy begin a suit. In a few DAYS he will
notify Postmaster General Bissell of the mat
ter and make things warm for Mr.. Dickin-
son and his incompetent clerks.
THE LETTERS WERE MAILED FRIDAY.
Mr.. Voss mailed the letters at Branch
Station G, Ocean avenue, at half-past
twelve O'Clock Friday afternoon. AT two
o'clock Carrier Sherman called at the station
and took them to the main postoffice. The
letters were all addressed to G~reenville and
Bayonne people and Mr.. Voss expected that
by Saturday night at least they would
reach their destinations. On Monday night
when not one of his friends put in an APP
pearance at the reception he was at a loss to
know what was the matter. He made an
investigation and found that the letters had
not been delivered. When he called
at the Postoffice Tuesday he found
that the Postmaster had gone to
Trenton to attend the opening of the
Legislature and to lay lines for the State
COMPREHENSIVE. This practically left the
pleased, and judging from Mr.. Voss' case
they did so. Mr.. Voss visited the Assistant
Postmaster and asked that official to explain
why his letters were delayed for so long a
time.
81 don't know anything at all about it,"
was the curt reply of the Assistant Post
master. $50 and ask the delivery clerks.'
After thanking the assistant for being al
lowed to inhale the sacred atmosphere which
is always in the Postoffice, Mr.. Voss visited
| the delivery room and asked the chief clerk,
who was in charge, what was done with his
letters.
HAD NOT E
"Where were they addressed to?' asked
the clerk.
Jersey City and Bayonne,' replied Mr..
| Voss.
The clerk then hastily scanned over a
bundle of letters lying on the counter and
said to Mr.. Voss: 1.-THE Bayonne letters
nave been sent to the postotfice in that
city"
Mr.. voss then inquired about the Jersey
City letters, and the clerk went back to the
ounte and began to search for them.
T~hirty-nine of the letters were found buried
beneath a pile of other mail matter. They
had been there four days. When Mr.. Voss
asked why the letters were not delivered,
the clerk said that he did not have enough
help and could not handle all the mail mat
ter that was received in his department.
Mr.. Voss doubted the clerks word in regard
to the Bayonne letters, and he decided to in
vestigate the matter still further. On
Tuesday evening he went to Bayonne and
visited Postmaster BOermann. The Post
master, after a thorough investigation, de-
| clared that Mr.. Voss' letters never reached
his postoffice.
This satisfied Mr.. Voss that someone in
the Jersey City postoffice was neglecting
his work, and he resolved to report the
matter to the authorities at Washington.
On Wednesday morning one of the letters
was delivered in the Greenville section.
Mr.. Voss when interviewed by a reporter
- nrrz TnDCrU ETrz MnNrrc Lost rani, rroc
highly indignant at the manner in which his
mail had been neglected. ''The negligence
of these people at the postofice," said he,
twill cause me a loss of many hundred dol
lars. For weeks l have been speaking of the
reception to my friends and customers and
assured them that they would be invited.
Now that they failed to get the invitations
they believe that | sighted them, and con-
sequently | will not only lose customers, but
friends as well. But Mr.. Dickinson hasn't
heard the last of me yet. My case has been
placed in the hands of Judge Puster."