St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-29

mands and expects. largely because It has be-
come accustomed to, the very highest degree
OF speed, promptness and accuracy in the pos
tai service. The one delayed letter creates
loud lamentation, while the nine hundred and
ninety-nine which go straight through all
right are accepted as matter of course
lhese sometimes unreasonable exactions OF
the public stimulate you to a constantly In
creasing efficiency. On the other side the de-
partment authorities are steadily pushing you
IN the same direction. 1t gives me great pleas
ure TO state that the present postal adminis-
tration has been especially jealous in stimu-
lating this increased efficiency. I bear i'm
partial testimony. for l am not In affiliation
with those officials on questions of national
politics. / presume mistakes have been made,
but | am sure that in all branches of the
system under my observation and especially
In that Of free delivery, there Is a more intel
ligent oversight and a nearer approach to
uniformity Of method, than has ever prevailed
exaction and so have 1. But 1t is in the in
terest or better service and Is still within the
limits of justice and fair play.
me postal service, marvelously rapid and
correct as 1t is, is still susceptible of improve
ment In many directions obvious to all who
are charged with its administration. If the
good people OF the country will only restrain
tneir lmpauence for reduction in letter post
age rev years, correct the abuses ofSfree and
second-class matter and let the increased rev.
enues be devoted to substantial betterments
tney Will see wonderful advance. We are
interested on this occasion only in suggested
improvements to that branch of the service
with which you connected. I will refer to
Few of these that have forced themselves on
my attention.
There should be plan of inspection where
oy uniformity in methods of delivery, col
iectlon' scheduies, etc, could be secured
among offices of similar class. AS it is each
of1ce has developed on a system lack of
systems all it's own; economical methods well
tested in one Office are entirely unknown to
others and much time in the aggregate is
wasted by lack Of such diffusion of informa-
zion as would certainly be put in force, If
the postoffce department were business cor
poration instead of piece of governmental
machinery. This oversight would cost a little
money, but 1T would be wisely expended and
returned many fold.
The plan of "house to house" collection of
mail should be energetically encouraged, and
as rapidly as possible pushed into universal
adoption. A few more carriers would be re-
quired, but the increase of revenues secured
py the enormous added convenience to private
Families would soon more than recoup the
added expenditure.
Every street car which runs by or near the
pcstoff1ce should have letter box attached into
which carriers in remote sections can deposit
their collections at frequent intervals, and all
the people drop such letters. especially local
letters, as require early dispatch. These
taken out at the Office and promptly handled
there would greatly expedite transmission be-
Sides keeping constant stream of letters
flowing all day to the mailing table, instead
OF the CONGESTION which now prevails at GER
tain hours. This system, Joined with that of
house collections, would enable business firms
OF Ianllles IN all parts or the city to maintain
rapid correspondence with people in all other
parts, besides. in many cases, getting their
letters to other cities forwarded many hours
In advance of present possibilities.
am heartily in favor Of the proposed letter
carriers pension. The fund from which this
pension will be paid is to be first created by
monthly deductions from your own pay. Hence
1t will cost the government nothing but the
expense Of keeping the accounts. If you are
united In demanding it there certainly ought
to be no outside objection. 1t would really
benefit the service at your expense, since car
riers who are disabled by age or infirmity
from doing full duty would be retired and re-
placed by young, vigorous men, capable Of
much better work.
l can see vast possibilities for future i'm
provement in your work by the use Of the
bicycle. In this city, with a rough topography
and splendid electric street car service it's
utilities are less pronounced. But even here
it will win its way. Keep your eye the
bicycle as one of the instruments Of your COM
ing advancement.
You have personal interest. and you should
have special pride in anything which works