The herald., 1895-09-03
Continuous Line of Arrivals for
Twenty-four Hours
SECRETARY WILSON SPEAKS
He Praises the Men for Their Efficiency
in the Service
Grand Parade in Review-Postmaster General
and Other High officials Attend.
narine Band Present
Asaoci.tsd Press special Wire.

Associated Press special Wire.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2.-For the
past twenty-fo hours there has been an
almost continuous line OF letter carriers
arriving in this city. They came from
all parts of the country to take part in
the parade which was held in this city
this afternoon, and the annual conve n
tion, which opens here tomorrow. 1t is
estim ated that there were 5000 men in
line this afternoon. Postmaster-General
Wilson reached the city at moon, under
the escort of Postmaster Narheld of Bal
timvre and the letter carriers of that
city. The Marine band. which headed
the big parade, was a particular feature
of the DAYS exercises. The parade was
formed at 3 o'clock, but 1t was nearly 4
O'Clock when the line OF marc hers reached
the reviewing stand at the American
league. Among those on the platform
were Postmaster General wilson. Post
master Carr of Philadelphia Ex-Governor
Pattison, Postmaster Dayton of New
York and Washington Hesing of Chicago.
After the parade lunches were served
to the carriers in Industrial hall, during
the course of which the marine band
PLAYED varied programme.
In the evening banquet, given Dy tne
Letter Carriers National association, was
be;d at the Hotel Bellevue. Following
the banquet Ia public reception was held
at the Academy of Music.
Postmaster General Wilson said:
ICE ntleman of the National Associa-
tion of Letter Carriers 1T is pleasure
to me to meet the representatives of 50
many of my fellow workers in the public
service. The postofice department of
the United States is today the largest
business machine in the world. ahd is
engaged in the daily and strenuous duty
of keeping pace with and outstripping
wherever possible the bounding growth
of our country, and its quick adoption OF
all the forces of modern progress, whether
material or social.
1.-The story of its growth is to us a
story of marve!s, and il foretold to the
men who founded our government would
have been a study of miracles passing hu-
man belief"
Referring to the recent inspection of
the carrier system in number OF post
offices OF the country, Mr.. Wilson contin-
ued:
$50 much has been said about it by
those who do not understand its meaning
or care to represent correctly its spirit or
its methods. that it is not to be wondered
at if misunderstanding has spread among
YOUR associations. Let me begin, there
fore, by saying there is no capable and
successful employer in private or public
who does not from time to time inspect
minutely the amount and quality of the
work which is done fer him, and no faith
fuI employer has any just ground of COM
plant against such inspection.
sWnen l took charge of the depart
ment some months ago l found it already
engaged in somewhat systematic exam
ination of carriers, the only way that
seemed possible for such an examination
through the eyes OF its confidential
agents.s l have naturally heard much of
that examination, particularly from sem
sational accounts in newspapers In local
tiles where no examination was really 60
ing on but .have found nothing on in
quiry to convince me that it has not been
fairly done and l am sure that it has al
ready been fruitful of good result. I
need not say to you that you are of all
men most concerned in satisfying the
public that your work is we'll and eco
nomically done. Large as is the appro-
priation, it is not enough to extend the
benefits OF that service to all the towns
authorized to receive it under the law.
EVERY unnecessary and untrustworthy
carrier depriveS a necessary and trust
worthy carrier of public employment.
"But let me say to you that If the de-
partment recognizes its duty to the peo-
pie to secure the largest benefits from this
immense sum, it is equally alert to the
fact that it has duty to you to exercise
every safeguard to make its expenditures
fair, Just and reasonable. and to that end
to select discreet and trustworthy inspec-
tors, thoroughly warned against over zeal
or injustice In their work.
What concerns any letter carrier,
faithful to his duty, if the eyes of his
department on any particular day shall
INSPECT his method of doing duty? OF
the postoffices examined, the services of
thirty-six men have been reported as free
from criticisms. OF total examination
involving the work of $500 carriers, only
fiftv-three cases have been found of such
personal delinquency as to require separa-
tion from the service and that in every
instance has been done, after full op-
portunity for. hearing as to delinquen-
cles reported. This is good showing.
To find only fifty-three unworthy to wear
the uniform is a proof of high discipline
on which you may well congratulate te
yourselves, and yet fifty-three are enough
to cast suspicion on many hundreds. |
believe that | can say that for all chief
officials in the postoffice department., |
know l can for myself. that while we
shall try TO keep the standard of duty and
character as high as possible, and to that
end shall not hesitate to use the author
ity and the responsibility which is ours
We desire to look upon you and ON the
other employees of the service, not as
some OF the parts of the machine of our
gigantic postal sytem, but as our fellow
workers and comrades in great pu pliu
service and IN what one of my recent
predecessors called a fascinating branch
of the servicen
Among other important subjects which
will engage the attention of the conven-
tion will be the tenure of o!nsioe bill, the
salary bill, the pension bill and the
equalization OF horse ana carriage hire.
There Will also be spirited fight for
the convention of 1896, between the Buf-
falo and the Grand Rapids delegations.
DR.. Price's} Baking Powder is iustlv