The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-08
New York a National Post.ofice. :ss-.

The postal appropriations for New York
and Chicago at least, and preferably FOR
eight other large cities, should be made
direct and be expended by the postmaster
OF each city, under such regulations Tor
responsibility, etc, as the department
may ind necessary. The argument IoI
this change Is unanswerable. Taking
New York as an example, as II Is, OF
all the cities-though Of course by far
the most important-the postal business
here is national and international rather
than local For instance, the mail mat
ter sent out from here, either collected
in New York or received from OUTSIDE
is separated I'm the New York pOst-Oince
for ll76 different points in the United
States. besides the mails for steamers
10 Europe. the West Indies. Mexico, ana
Central and South America Now TINS
enormous national and international
business has 10 be handled in New York
under regulations and by methods de-
termined by the department at Washing
ton applying 10 other post-ofces. Sew
York is treated as one OF large 'lds5
Of similar Offices, whereas II IS an OF
fee wholly distinct in its requirements
from any other. Very properly the De-
partment keeps detailed contIOl OF tlt
Offices as body, ana regulates tlrll
transactions. which IL can 30 because
those of each are like those OF the others
But those of New York are absolutely
unlike those Of others, ana cannot pva-
sibly be well directed from Washing
ton. over ninety thousand letters were
written. 10 and by the Salary ana Allow
ance Division Of the iost-oinee pep"i -
ment last year the larger NUMBER as
to matters OF trivial detail, such as
broOms, Irvine. muciliSe, etc. lhtse
could and should be attended 10 IN the
larger offices. and the saving OF time
labor and friction would be very great,
aud so. ultimately, would be the saving
of money. II Is safe to say that specinc
appropriations would m a reasonable
time give net surplus instead OF de-
hcency I'm postal revenues.
The principle urged by Mr.. Dayton
that power should go with responsibility,
Is a perfectly sound one I'm public as
I'm private business, and essential 10 ef-
ncency. Take "A single instance. Last
Christmas day, when the men were en-
titled 10 a certain leave OF absence, two
steamers brought I'm 10000 pieces OF
mail matter. 10 be distributed 10 an
parts Of the Continent. Had the post
master controlled his own expenditures,
As in any private business, he would
have put on sufficient extra force lrom
that always available and done the work
promptly and easily. As IL was the
work had to be done by tho regular en-
pioycs IN overtime, without cent or
extra pay-a most unjust and hunsiins
way Of doing II. The other and better
way would be FOR the benefit OF the
whole country "a letter from an IN
coming steamer AT New York says
Mr. Bissell. i'm his direct and business
like way. delayed an hour az That point
may fail OF reaching the through train
that would bring II 10 the Minnesota
grain-buyer or Texas cotton mefchah1
a dav IN advance OF the usual course.
A like delay might result IN failure 10
catch with the collected mail the quickest
ship sailing for foreign ports; 1t VIII
be seen, therefore. that the whole coun-
try Is interested In securing the pest
possible service al this point No fea-
sonable person can deny this, and u in
to be hoped that Congress VIII ACT
promptly and favorably on Mr. bissells
recommendations.-H weekly.