The herald., 1896-08-01
THE MAIL SERVICE
How the Efforts OF the Postmaster Are ninlm-
lied at Washington

For quite a long time citizens of Los
Angeles. and the mercantile element
more particularly, have protested
against what they were pleased to term
the very inefficient service at the post
office. The staff of clerks and letter
carriers was VIGOROUSLY unable to cope
with the work with which they were
burdened. The authorities at Washing,
ton failed to understand. or appreciate
the needs and absolute necessities of
constantly increasing community, and
the city suffered in consequence.
To some extent relief has been granted
recently, after the most urgent and per-
sistent solicitations of General Mathews.
who has lost no opportunity to enforce
upon the Washington officials the ur
gent needs of his department here. At
the present time, however, there are
about 5000 families living within the
corporate limits who are entitled to
free delivery, but who fail to enjoy it
for the reason that the clerical force al
the postoffice is unable to successfully
cope with the accommodations of work
and also that the present staff of car
riers is not, like the man of song and
story, fitted with steam legs, that they
can traverse the entire city in a phe-
nomenally short space of time
The postmaster continues his plant
I've cry 10 w dSHlHSlOll, Dul-Td leT OuO-
iy, too-his efforts for an improved and
more efficient service are being mini
mized, when not altogether nullified,
by the action of number of people, in
GLIDING not a few merchants, who are
apparently determined to follow their
selfish instincts rather than consider the
public good They do this in several
ways. A number of merchants have
been found who purchase the stamps
used by them in their business at out
side stations rather than al the city
postoffice, and for just one reason. The
poStmaSters of the outside stations re-
ceive salaries that are graded according
to the business done by them and the
revenue received at the Office of which
they have Charge. As matter of per-
sonal feeling the merchants thus give
help to the rural postmaster, to ma,H a
showing ana get his pay raised. They
forget, however, that while the post
master of Los Angeles earns no increase
of salary, however largely the revenue
of his office may increase such rapid and
continuous increase is one of the strong
est arguments that can be presented
at Washington for the increase of the
postoffice staff.
Then again there are merchants who
receive postage stamps from rural dis
tricts in payment for goods, one case
occurring the other day where a pay
ment was made with $13 worth of
stamps. In several instances even post
masters have come into the city and sold
stamps. This last act is a distinct vio-
| lation of the law and so far as the mer-
chants are concerned, stamps are not
| legal tender.
To such an extent has this lax system
| of dealing in stamps been carried that
| the proper authorities have been com
| PEELED to take cognizance of It, Postal
| Inspector M. H. Flint has been investi-
! eating the matter, and finds in cases
| not few the direct and willful viola
| ton of the law. One rural postmas ter
sold $3.50 worth of stamps in this city
| and II one little office can do this. what
| might be expected If all the postoffices
in the county were manipulated on the
/ same scale.
Meantime merchants who cooperate
in this kind of business are not back
ward In registering kick" when there