The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-21

cI1sf 'oha We nave had money ord~r
system since. 1854 and during Gil this time
ofnsfs have been issgesI aid paia fos Du,
the money has { been calied "a AZ
tne osnsg end. Either the ordsrs have
peen iost or sto4vu. or the parties recesy-
Ing them have failed 10 collect them.
These sums have accumulated until they
nave now between two and three million
dollars OF such monev in the treasury de-
partnent From this fund there was re-
csnsly credited to the postosace depart
ment VI. z0. 600. and this IL now being
applied to tbs deficiency Of the current
year.
made SONS inquiries at the depart
msnt as 10 whether any improvements
were contemplated in the postal service,
sno md that IL 10 the postmaster gem
erasas suea NOT 90 attempt any experiments
n the present time. He 10 q great advo-
cate OF thorough organization and Of COM
psste development He believes
that the postal service can be
improved by investigating its
needs. strengthening its weak spots and
pes1scting its present system. He is not
a. present seriously considering any mat
tiers connected with the postal telegraph,
posta! telephone or the pneumatic tube
system for cities. evidently believing that
such experiments, neccssitatlng the ex-
rendlture OF large sums Of money, should
o isfs 70 more prosperous times.
sIssxLL AND CIVIL sERyICk
During my call had few words With
him about the service and find that he 10
thoroughly in favor Of civil service rules
and thinks that these should be enforced
as far ~ possible. He told me that these
rules had been extended to fourth-class
postmasters and that these are nov al
lowed TO remain in Office for four years
whether they are Republicans or Demo-
Gratis, unless good reasons are given for
their removal. The appointments OF post
masters are nov made almost entirely on
petition from the people, and the post
masser general cited case of o city in
shich there VAS q deiegates' convention
ca lei BY the members Of the Democratic
par OF the city, where the delegates
elected their postmaster. The different
candidates came before IL and one Of the
defeated ones moved that the nomination
OF the successful man should be made
unanimous. This was carried and the
name OF the successful nominee received
the appointment from the department
here.
WHAT HI rHrsKs or GOVERNMENT cLERx-
SHIPS.
While talking 10 the postmaster general
the other day the subject Of government
clerks came mp. and I asked him whether
he would advise young men to try to get
places under the government.
He replied that he would not. and said
that the short hours and the work seemed
to demoralize the employees. Said he:
1T seems 20 me that the hours and the
work here are injurious 10 character. The
clerks work from 8 until 4. and there Is q
tendency for them 10 become machines
They have not the incentives TO good work
that you End in other branches of busi-
ke.U
not want him In the department.
Just in this connection have protegs IN
buffalo. who wrote me the other day " ant-
Ing place in the department lie
In now letter carrier in Buffalo
and when / hrst met him he was black
| ing my boots in a barber shop. He at
tracted my attention BIZ bis knowledge Of
the geography of the United States. A
| man who was being shaved asked whether
| Detroit was tho capital of Michigan, when
| this boy broke IN and said: No, il is not I:
| IL is Lansing then asked him what was
Baton Rouge And Connecticu,7
said l. Hartford Is the capt.
tai now Was the boys reniy.
1T used TO have two capitals. Hartford aud
New Haven. but they have changed that.
| aud y has nov only Hartford I then
asked the boy where he went 20 school,
and he told me that he was going TO night
I u. L
| gave him an order on one OF the book
! stores for what books he wanted, and
took an interest la him from that time
on. Well, he got fair education,
and one day he surprised me by
| coming into my office aud telling me that
he had passed the civil service examine
ton. and Was working for Uncie Sam lie
had received sn appointment as letter car
rier, and he Is now making 5000 a year.
lie has been saving his money and invest
Ing IL. and he IL now worth a nice little
property. lie is . bright young man, and
though did not tell him so, | think he Is
far better OF in Buffalo than in a Wash
ington department."
Mr. EissKLL TALKS OF THE PRESIDENT.
At this point the conversation turned to
President Cleveland, aad the postmaster
general ehaited Interestingly OF his early
association with him. Ii Is now nearly
twenty years since the tao began their
practice IN the Law together at Buffalo. in
connection Sith Mr.. Lyman X. Bass. who
had been a member Of congress. Mr. Bass
lett the trm IN 1876. and from that time on
IL went under the name OF Cleveland *
Bisseli. In speaking of IL | said: sup
pose, Mr.. Blsssll. you let your mind ran
back nf3eeu years 10 the time when you
ard the president were nraeticing law to-
gr;her AZ Buffa.o. Had you any idea at
that time that Grover Cleveland nigh DC
president 81 the United States and yoarse. I
csatnet oflieer7'
IL can Ansser easily for myself" said
the postmaster general, "and almost as
well as 10 the president | never had any
ambition 70 engage ia politics. nor 10 hold
office. and AZ that time I vas devotlng my
self 10 the practice Of the law. Daring the
first years OF my Legal association With Mr..
Cleveland e was my idea that be might
go on the bench. aud | was st one time
very an ious 10 have hsRa accept , place
as one Of tbs judges Of the superior court,
and spoke 10 aim about IL. bat be aid
nos take te the idea. lie has an entneutiy
jndicisl mind. and have always thought
he would have made as great 8 reputation
IS chief Justice OF the supreme court OF
the United States a. he has as president
II Is the Judicial character OF his mind
thar TITS him so well for his present po-
sltion. His head - always clear As
10 great questions lie makes up his
mind AFTER considering ali sides of q gues-
tion. and he Is generally correct His ia-
dsciAl ability VAS recognized In the courts
Of Buffalo. liz ised TO Re that the courts
there ia deciding . point of law woald ask
the opinions of some Of the lawyers pres
eHt upon IL before making their ln1g msnt,
and have oftea noted that Il Grover
Cleveland was in the courtroom tie vas
The man whose advice Vas sought. This
wss 50 whsa he Sas quite young lawyer.
and he made himself noted st the bar IS 9
safe and conservative counselor"