The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-26

may be transmitted through our mails
from publishers into the hands OF sub
scribers free oi all cost"
Tho average daily expenses Of the de-
pAEtmsBt are S23l, 100 The postmaster
general believes in civil service in the
postotlice department. At the close OF
the fiscal year there were 29,6l4 en-
ployos in tho classified service an in
crease OF 1920 over 1893 With those
added by recent extension orders there
will be total OF 32,66l.
Mr.. Bisseli saws, il the civil service
system produced such good results in
the clerical force OF the department, 1t
is reasonable to inquire whether some
thing ike it could not be applied with
advantage TO the lower grades OF post
masters.
,"For more than one generation the
American people have been trained 10
regard the postnttice as inseparable from
the varying fortunes Of the two great
political parties, and in some instances,
even, as legitimately following the vicis.
situdes Of mere functions within party.
This lallacy is 10 be dep!ored. The in
telligence OF our people has long out
grown the notion that any ono poiit-
ical party enjoys q monopoly OF admin
istratiye talent
"The local postofiice is closely con-
nected with the everyday life OF the
people who patronize it; and nothing Is
further from the principles ot homo
rule and majority rule than TO force q
change whatever. Yet this is what hap
pens, and is bound to happen as long As
the postoflices remain in the public
mind, and hence in tho practice OF tho
government associated with politics.
THE postal service must either be
taken out Of the political field alto
gether, and surrounded with the same
conditions which conduct to the
health Of q private business, or be
divided for administrative purposes, into
two sections, the ono political and the
other non-political, each under sepa-
rate head, so that the executive author
ity on the non-politiCal side shal i not
be erequired to give any Of his thoughts to
the improvement Of the postal system. "
Mr.. Bissell refers to tho bill now
pending in Congress to relieve the post.
master general OF tho responsibility OF
postotfice appointments. Commenting
upon this bill the postmaster general
says:
"Whether such plan is or is not tho
best that can be devised, it rs at least
the formulation OF plan which is on.
titled to the most earnest, careful and
immediate confederation, and may be-
como foundation upon which to build.
What is earnestly desired, and what
daily appears more OF necessity, ia
legislation OF some kind which will in
sure an improvement upon present
methods. And trust that Congress,
using the bill which is now before it as
basis, or substituting ono which It Is
satisfied is better, will lose as little time
as possible in coming to the relief OF the
department"
Mr.. Bissell closes his report with a
request that new building be provided
for the postofice department. The bus
iness 10 now conducted in the whole or
parts OF eight different buildings in
Washington, OF which but one is owned
by the government, and that silly suit.
ed for the uses to which it is applied" "
He says intereat on the cost OF an ade-
ouate building would be less than the
amount Of rent paid.