Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-27

BILE to strict accountability for the char
acter of their work, and the error ac-
count is always liable to be sprung upon
them.
Every postal clerk takes an oath Of
allegiance to the government and files
bond which must be entirely satisfac-
tory to the superintendent of the rail-
way mail service or to the branch of the
department in which he serves. Upon
going to work each clerk is given a num-
Der. He is never known by any other
name. There is reason for this. When
ever any question arises concerning the
work his number identifies him. 1t is
a trap which keeps him confined at all
times and places any error committed
by him upon himself and affords no
loophole for accusing a fellow clerk.
The ''stater," in placing a wrong letter
under his slip, will soon hear of his mis-
take, as the post office clerk receiving
the slip, whether in Maine, California or
anywhere else, is bound to make known
the error. The slip with "error" writ
ten upon it is returned to the postmas-
ter, who has the error made charged
to the unfortunate clerk. The full!
knowledge OF penalty for negligence or
carelessness awalxens in every clerk al
anxiety to keep clear of errors. The
unhappy day for him is when he gets
from the proper official a slip which
sets forth the errors he has made. His
feelings are indescribable, and it is safe
to say that he says thereafter things
that don't sound religious. The sack
man, too, gets his share of errors should
he sling a package in the wrong sack.
There is no loophole for escape, and the
only thing to be done is to grin and bear
the trouble.
Some time last year the recorder of
wills in this city received letter of un-
usual Importance. The envelope was adj
dressed by some one who printed in
stead of writing the name of the re-
corder in order that his handwriting
might not be discovered by any compari-
son with his other writings. Therefore
it was concluded that he must be some
person who has written much The en-
velope contained what purported to be
the last will and testament of the late
Attorney-General Holt, who had died
two years previously. 1t was dated
1873, and was witnessed by Gen. Sher-
man, Mrs. Sherman, and Gen. Grant.
All of the witnesses are dead But no
one doubted the genuineness of the will
or of the signatures of the witnesses.
Within "a hours the letter carrier
who brought the letter to the post Office
testified to the particular box from
which he took it on his daily rounds,
and to the hour when he delivered it
to the distributing clerks in the Office.
That was good work and quick work.
but our city detectives were never able
to find who mailed the letter.
Who ever thinks of giving credit TO
the railway mail clerks for their work
in carrying letters to their destina-
tions? By day and by night they are
rushing along at dangerous speed. their
lives constantly in danger, and often
times they are injured or killed There
is no pension forthcoming for their
widows or children They are q faith
full body of men, a whole army id fact,
for there are upwards of 5000 in that
branch of the service. They handle
millions of letters annually. but their
aerror'' column is very small indeed.
They throw the letters into the several
boxes as rapidly as experienced gam
blers shuttle cards.
SMITH d. FRY.
The fee that must be paid ON every