The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12

management Of tho Baltimore ONCE. and
the result Is that expenditures for tho
whole have decreased one-third, and
revenues have been increased IN the most
marked manner.
But these were. by no means. tho chief
benefits. The consolidation brings the
people enormously increased mail facili-
ties. All the mail heretofore distributed
by twenty-one post-ofilces is now dis
tributed by the agencies OF one post
office. OF course. as post-ofices multiply
with the necessity for making transfers
from ono 10 another, with examination OF
accounts and receipts for deliveries. time
must be greatly consumed. But much OF
this time is saved whore one distribution
OF all IS made, and there are 10 be no
transfers from Office to Office but only
deliveries under orders from one source.
The people near Baltimore are getting
up petitions and holding INDICATION meet
ings against a return TO the old system.
The following is a specimen Of the Pc
tluons being circulated and signed:
since this town was made postal
station most OF them state, the EN-
cheney OF our postal service has been IN
creased 10 such an extent under inc
new system that any attempt 10 disturb
the present status will be serious blow
10 the best interests OF the community
and a decided step backward. We. there
fore, respectfully ask that you 90 not
disturb a system which has produced
M Ia
OF n still further development. Impossible
under the old system"
The principal reason why the suburban
residents find the new system an adVan-
toreous one IL that 70 every one OF the
places Incorporated into the Baltimore
Office mail is now sent twice as specify
and twice as many times daily as under
the old regime. when these places hah
each an Independent Office served with
mail by an unsatisfactory star route or
contract method.
Those who have looked into the mat
ter and understand II feel confident that
~ the measures Postmaster-General VIII
son has set on foot are left undlstnrbed
the Post-Omce Department, instead or
being a charge on the government. as
now is would become entirely self-sus-
tanning. with the possibility OF decreasing
postage.
And the most important Of NIL blessings
would be that II would greatly lessen
the appointments senators and congress-
men would have 10 make. The agents or
the post-ofices would be selected under
The principles OF the civil-service, ana
there would be but few postmasters Tor
the senators and congressman 10 bripe
into political supporters of them by ap-
pointments TO office This, of course is
the consideration which most Influenced
in the movement 10 repeal the act. the
senators wanted their control OF patron
age" which they had unwittingly surren-
dered restored 70 them. ana Senator
German, was. OF course, the natural lead
er OF the fight for repeal. He got his repeal
ing act through the Senate almost unan-
imously, but Heaven be praised, II mas
struck snag in the House. II has gone
"a a Conference Committee. and Speaker
Reed has appointed confereres upon the
mart of the House who are opposed TO the
repeal. German may, therefore, be de-
foated vet. and every American interest
ed in good government should exercise
all his Influence 70 induce the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES to refuse TO concur in the
repeal.