New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
NETWORK CITYs WRETCHED ro'
OFFICE FACILITIES.

,.o,,,,on,rrovs AND SERVICE COULD BE M
PROVED If SUFFICIENT APPROPRIATIONS
WERE SECURED THE NEED OF
NEW MISUNDERSTANDING TUBES
WHAT HE HAS DONE TO M
PROVE THE SERVICE
The fact that New-York the leading city OF 'he
Western world l. without proper postal iacll'es
is due almost entirely to the western ana o'"'"
ern Congressman who consistently oppose almost
every plan for improvement OF the service h''''
No one who thinks about the subject VIII ueny
that this city should he the model for the Whole
country in the postal service. If in nothing eiSe,
lis government has not been what an unpreJ"u'oeu
person would call shining example. nut no" ,'a'
a new light has sprung up for the righteous II
is TO be hoped that not many years VIII eiapSe
before the citizens OF New-York Will point WIN
pride" TO their municipal government
As reform seems to be the order OF the DAY III
New-York State II would be IA good time Tor Ion
gress to reform and give TO the city pos,a'
facilities which would astonish the rest OF the
country with their projections. In the hrst p ace.
that miserable mud-turtle affair which is called
the Postofflce and which offends every one VINO
has an eye for beauty in architecture ought 10 De
torn down and n building put up which wouih ne IL
credit to the METROPOLIS OF the country. IL tha'
proposition strikes the Western and Southern con-
grcssmen dumb, and If they will not hear or H.
then Jet them at least consent to provide other
quarters for the United States Courts court ana
other Federal officers and devote the entire build
Ing 10 the needs OF the Postofiice. For years
the space available has been altogether too small
and II is about time that something was done 10
relieve the greatly overcrowded condition of the
building. ::
The General Postoffice should also be connected
with the sub-stations by pneumatic tubes. The
Postmaster Is making efforts to have this done.
bu, the cost will be great that the congressman
who look aghast at suggestion OF appropriations
for New-York will probably faint at the idea IL
would probably improve the delivery service ~ per
cent. and would be a great improvement. POST
master Dayton Is hard worker and has made
many Improvements in the postal service here, but
his power is limited.
When the enormous business done at the New
York Postofiice Is taken into consideration II
certainly seems inexcusable that this city should
have 10 put up with the present ridicuousy mad
equate arrangements
WHAT MR. DAYTON SAYS ABOUT IT
Whom Postmaster Dayton was asked II the
crowded condition OF the building did not hamper
the work Of the clerks and delay distribution OF
malls and whether tho United States Courts
sho,,.d not bc In a separate building. he said:
This building is il-adapted to the convenient
managcrrent OF the Postoiiice. The clerks are
crowded but Notwithstanding the difhculty OF
doing work ana nanlllNG the WhllN 'h'i' - w
DELAY In their distribution. The building was never
scientifically planned for postoiice work. and was
not constructed with a view to the constantly in
cr.a-ing mail service AZ this city.
"lf n. right location could BE- found and a proper
building built. the management now necessitst'd
could DO greatly changed and Improved As an
instance. will tell You that The Inquiry Depart
mcrf occupies some rooms on the second moor ana
has other rooms on the NTH foor The same CON
,llfIor is true 81 the Money order Department.
congress has appropriated $4,000 for the I'M
urov.uont 81 the building. and tho contracts VIII
shortly Doe let for neN plumbing. ventilation anu
elevators The Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds o. the present Congress has reported
r,-olution which has not been acted upon for the
taroiutrn.nt ~ a committee to investigate The
.,rlltion OF IN. Federal buildings in this city
and 20 suggest improvements II such com
miticc were appointed | am sure very radicaf
recommendations would follow IA to the Post
office custom House and other Federal buildings
but whether Congress would do Justice to the
country by following said recommendations Is a
problem not easily answered
~ 10 the United States Courts and court Of
ncors. think they should be In a building by
themselves or IN a building so arranged that they
should not be annoyed. rs they frequently are
by the constant pressure Tor more room FOR the
Postoifcc
A. TO the probability OF pneumatic tubes being
placed Ia use FOR the mail service. Postmaster
DAYTON said. N there were system Of pneumatic
tubes adapted To- carrying mail pouches 1t would
/ b. a ready solution In the matter OF rapid ana
certain deliveries OF the mails OF this city. New
York should be the model OF the postal system
for the country particularly the work done here
is the basis OF the postal work OF the Union.
especially In its relations 10 foreign countries 1t
is the largest Office the world FOR registry busi-
ness and the volume Of it's transactions Is so vast
"a TO attract universal attention.
t,,.l.,p reach the
deyelopmcnt OF a model unless the recommends
ton of Postmas ter-Cencral Bissell I'm his report
/ for 1893 be- adopted by Congress. namely; That the
ten largest postofices OF the country be placed
I'm a class by themselves and an allowance IN
lunp plnced Il the disposal OF the Postmaster for
the management OF his office. subject. OF course to
/ the supervision Of the Postofhce Department.
+ A. the case now stands. the Postmaster of New
York is under bonds for So0r). is responsible for
In. handling OF SlO000.Oo1 year. Is the official
head Of over 700 employees is the target for public
! criticism is obliged to give his duties his whole
/ time and attention. and yet cannot make an APP
/ pontmcnt or removal. impose a fine or penalty.
/ Increase or reduce "A salary or make an cxpendi-
ture without express approval OF the department at
/ Washington. This is the law.
! "Ny superior officers have treated me and this
office with every consideration, and my wonder Is
that Congress In it's wisdom. does not see the
benefits that would arise not only to the New
York Office but to tn department at Washington
n the recommendation OF Postmaster General
/ HssclI TO which have referred were put upon the
J statute books OF the United States.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SERVICE
Postmaster Dayton on January completed his
I first eighteen months OF office and during that
/ time a marked Improvement has been made In the
uostal service and In the condition OF the Genera
/ postoficc and the substations. Increased facilities
for collecting. asserting and transmitting the mai
! have been provided. Special attention has beer
J piyen to the comforts and wants OF the clerks and
: carriers. and more sanitary and comfortable
quarters have been provided for them through hi.
,uorts Mr. Dayton has aimed to have eight
bour schedule adopted FOR the clerks. although