The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-06
SPIES IN POSTOFFICE.

In some quarters In the east great
howl is going up over the recent action
Of the postOffice department in placing
"spies" On the track Of letter-carriers.
The argument made against such
course is that the carriers as soon as
they learn that they are being watched
by "spies" become utterly demoralized.
That objection is not good. A good
objection is that it is unfortunate that
a government employe has to be put to
the humiliation Of being watched.
That objection is good so far as senu-
ment goes, but it is not good as to
practice. The government control of
the correspondence of this country is
supreme. The postoffice department
throughout the country has reached
a high degree Of perfection and has
been sustained there by expenditures
nearly always reaching the income Of
this part Of the government If the
time should come when the income
largely exceeds the expenditures the
benefit of the difference should be
given to the people in even lower rate
Of postage and even quicker service
than they have at present The mail
carriers are paid we'll. 1t is the bus
mess of the department officials to see
that the services performed are COM
mensurate with their salaries. If a
carrier is doing nothing wrong he has
nothing TO fear.
BY way Of illustration, a man who
came in the other morning to complain
to the department authorities of the in
EQUITY of its spy system, was invited to
sit by while the mail was opened and
the reports of the secret agents for the
preceding day were read. There were
thirty-eight of these reports. and thir-
ty-five Of them were of this nature:
Carrier 7o6 is an excellent man. Does
his work PROMPTLY and in business
like manner; does not waste any time
in lettering. and is quick in his move
ments and pleasant in manner" Gar
rier S93 we have not once found guilty
of any violation of the regulations, al
though we have watched him cover
all his route at various times. He &C
complishes more than the average
amount Of work for one man." and so
on. Only three reports in the whole
of the mornings mail contained
charges against carriers.
Moreover, to every charge the ac-
defense. If he has a valid defense,
he is exonerated. Sometimes appear
ances are against man, and yet, while
he suffers nothing if innocent. the very
fact that the charges have been made
shows how careful and exact the |
secret agents are. One carrier was
reported as receiving six car tickets |
each day to pay fares with on his route; |
but" the agent added. The did not !
ride at all On his second and third 1
trips today when he was watched, /
walking all the way" As soon as this /
case come to be investigated, the car
rier showed that his first trip and his /
fourth were his heavy trips on his 1
first trip he had an assistant. and both |
men rode both ways. thus accounting |
fQE AtNA VI LIZ 81 N-CAtNc- his IL i
and last trip he made alone. but 1t was /
SO heavy that he rode both ways again. /
which disposed Of the other two. Thus /
the man made out clear case for him /
self. while his explanation itself prov
ed the truth of the agents report
The worst thing a carrier can do /
when he is reported for delinquency /
Is To lie about il. That finishes him 1
with the department and lie has 10 be
dismissed without recourse If caught /
at il. on the other hand. IL n mans
delinquencieS are OF character which
he can be trusted 10 correct. and he is
honest IN his answers. he may receive
n taste Of discipline TO keep him wide
awake fer the future and stiIl be re-
tanned on the roll. A carrier was re-
ported the other dar for drinking.
When faced with the charge, which