The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-20

and important duties. His is essen
TALLY the business department There
may be conflicting theories about the
tariff and finance and the policy of
the government in dealing with the In
dians. but there is very little difference
or opinion about the administration Of
the postal system as now constituted.
There are disputes about the mission,
OF the postoff1ce department. Some
people think it should control the teIe-
graph and telephone systems Of the
country and open banks for savings,
like the British postofflce But within
his present limitations the duty of the
postmaster general is clear He must
collect and distribute the mail in the
shortest possible time. and at the least
possible cost consistent with quick. ac-
curate service. With $4,000 postmas-
ters and total working force of 12o,
600 to control, he has a pretty heavy
responsibility, however. No other man
on this continent has so extensive
business to marriages or a business
Which even approaches it in import
ance, and as theT duties of the Office
multiply with it's responsibilities. the
postmaster general is a very busy man
He is responsible for the appointment
of all postmasters whose compensation
does not exceed $1,000, and these num-
Der 66,725. He makes postal treaties
with foreign governments, a duty
which will weigh particularly on Mr.
Wilson's successor, since the interna-
tional postal union meets at Washing
ton next year. He awards and ex-
ecutes contracts involving the expendi-
ture of millions of dollars every year
Among the incidental executive duties
Of his department are the readjustment
of the salaries of postmasters (the 3d.
$50 presidential ,postmasters drew $6,-
2039OO last year); the extension or re-
Striction of the free delivery service;
the control of the money order busi-
ness, domestic and foreign amount
ing to SITE, 900, 900 a year,; the manage
ment of the dead letter office, to which
all undelivered mail is sent and the
Interpretation Of the laws and regula-
tions-aH coming within the special
control of the first assistant postmas-
ter general; the making Of
contracts; the inspection of the
work of contractors and
pOstmasters; the railway mail service
including the adjustment of the pay Of
railroads according to the amount Of
mail carried; the equipment of the serv
ice with mail bags, etc. and the regu-
lation of the interchange of mail with
foreign countries-all of which comes
within the jurisdiction of the second
assistant postmaster general; the issue
of warrants to contractors and others;
the issue of stamps and other supplies
to postmasters 4195, ,665, ,523 pieces Of
samped paper in a Year,; the register
ing Of $4,000, 900 letters; the classifica-
tion of mail for publishers; the receiv-
ing, indexing and distributing Of all
papers, and the special delivery Of ex-
ira paid letterS-coming under the con-
troll of the third assistant postmaster
generai-and the establishment dis
continuance, naming and remaining of
postofHceS 2046 We're discontinued ard
1,150 established Sfast year,; the ap-
pointment of minor Fourth class) post
masters; the receiving, approving and
filing Of $120, 100000 of bonds for post
masters, and the secret service or de-
tective branch Of the servfce-to which
the fourth assistant postmaster general
attends for his chief.G
SECRETARY OF WAR.
The secretary Of war supervises the
purchase of supplies and the expendi-
lures of the support of our little army
of 25,000. which Gen. Miles wants to
increase He supervises the work Of
improving rivers and harbors by spe-
cial direction of congress. He controls
the military academy at West Point,
and appoints cadets to fill vacancies
there when congressman neglect their
privilege. This function of the secre-
tary has been curtailed somewhat by
congress, which has forbidden the ap-
pointment to vacancy of any one not
a resident OF the district from which
the appointment should have been
made.
The secretary OF war controls the
national cemeteries, including the
beautiful Arlington estate near Wash