The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-05-03
OF MISSOURI,
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
PosToFFICB INSPECTOR JOHNSTON
TELLS OF THE HANDLING OF MIS-
SOURI, MAIL AND THE COST OF
THE SERVICE.

bouTitn WHO nus TiseH W uIBn Euhh III
the postal service. He is newspaper
man by profession and has been always a
leading spirit in the Missouri Press
Association. He was formerly clerk in
the department Of state at Jefferson City
but upon Mr.. Cleveland assuming office
he was appointed to an important posi-
tion in the railway mail service. When
Mr. Cleveland was the second time elected
president he made Mr.. Johnston in
spector in charge OF several states with
headquarters at st. Louis. This position,
like the others he has held, Mr.. Johnston
has filled with distinguished ability and
faithfulness. He understands postal
matters thoroughly and no one is more
competent to write OF them.
Written Specially for This Paper.
Postmaster General Bissell, in his
first annual report, says; ''The
postotfice department. is, in its essen
tial features, vast business institu-
ton. 1t has comparatively little to
do with sentiment or with govern
mental policy, but much to do with
the practical affairs of life."
1t is essentially of and for the
people and every man, woman and
child in this broad land comes in
direct and almost daily contact with
the representatives. and agents of
the department and feel that they
have a personal interest at stake in
its management, as they do with
respect to no other department of
the government. In by far the
greater number of counties, the
post masters are the only represent
atives of the national government
the people ever meet, and to a much
greater extent than is generally
appreciated the success of national
administration is measured in many
localities by the efficiency of the mail
service given.
The postal service has been likened
to an intricate but perfectly working
piece of mechanism, 80 nicely are its
many parts adjusted, and the com
parison is by no means a bad one.
So deliberately is its work outlined,
If every man does his duty as re-
quired by regulations, not a single
piece of mail matter can stray from
its designated channel without the
party in error being called to account
- fos II. =
While this is true as to the hand
ing of mailf the business system,
including that of accounting, has
been reduced to the simplest posi-
BILE system, and any man of ordinary
intelligence and education can take
charge of any set of postofiice books
and after an hours explanation KEEP
the accounts without n break.
The Washington Post last yeal
detailed two reporters, for whom
permits TO enter mail cars and post.
offices had been ,cured, to watcf
the course of le er mailed at the
White House, addressed to gentle
man in New York. 1t took two col
umns in which to give the details o
its journey from the time it wal
handed the collector by the presi
dents messenger until the lettel
carrier delivered it to the proper
party. Yet it had been handled
with no more care than had thous
ands of letters dispatched over thu
same route the same day.
In general way but little can b.
said of the postal service in Missour
which is not equally applicable Il
every other state, as the service i
organized on a national basis, ant
state lines figure in its scheme onl.
as indicating the special portion o
the country in which given offic
or post route is located. They cut n
figure in the handling Of the mails
rating of postofilces or the classified
tion, work or pay of the officers.
1t might be interesting to tn
layman, however, to know somethin
as to the extent of the operations G
the department. in this state. Every
one knows that letter with prope
postage paid and properly addresse
is almost certain to reach its desti
nation without unnecessary delay
but few have ever stopped to con
slider how extensive an organizatio
was necessary to perform this ser
vice even In single state.
In Missouri, as a basis for tn
service, there are 1855 postoffice'
OF this number 1875 are called presi
dental offices, the remaining 2,bS
being known as offices of the fourt
class. The presidential offices al
those in which the salary of tn
postmaster is thousand dollars
more the compensation being base
on the gross receipts, and appoint
ments thereto are made by IL
president, with the advice and col
sent of the senate.
Three of the presidential offlc
are of the first class, st. I.oui
Kansas City and st. Joseph, IL
salaries of postmasters being respe,
lively $4,000, $4,000 and $s,6o'
sixteen are second class, payiI
salaries ranging from $4,000
$4,000, and the remaining 107 a
third class and pay salaries rangil
from Al -O(O To n 900 per annum.