New-York tribune., 1897-07-04
POSTOFFICE CONSOLIDATION,
ANNOUNCED BY THE DEPART
MENT AT WASHINGTON.


Fresh interest has been lent to the discussion Of
the question Of postofce consolidation in this neigh
borhood by the publication OF q dispatch from
Washington few days ago declaring that the work
OF consolidating small outlying postoff1ces with a
large adjacent would be vigorously pushed
under the present Administration. and that First
Assistant Postmaster-General Heath had deter
mined that consolidation should be effected where
possible and feasible. One point particularly
mentioned In the dispatch the inadequacy OF the
postal service the New-Jersey coast. and 1t was
said that a commission would soon be appointed to
make an investigation and arrange a well-equip2ed
carrier service along the upper coast covering Jer-
sey City. Hoboken. Weehawken. Orange. East
Orange. Bayonne and some other places.
This suggestion recalls the fact that metro
poli,an postal district suggested years ago, in
the days Of Postmaster James and Postmaster
Pearson. which to include territory extending
about fifty miles In all directions on land from this
city as centre. Nothing came OF the suggestion
tho trne and In the present talk about consolida-
tion there has been no thought Of going outside OF
the territory OF Greater New-York year or two
ago. however, Postmaster Sullivan. OF Brooklyn.
tertained the idea OF making the whole Of Long
Island part Of the Brooklyn postal district. The
idea was abandoned for one reason because OF the
passage Of the German law preventing tho con-
solidaon Of postorices at county seats.
That law 1t is also generally recognized. stands In
the way OF uniting the posoffices OF Brooklyn and
New-York, to say nothing OF those Of Richmond and
Long Island City, each OF the last-named places
being county seat To get this obstacle out Of
the way 1t will be necessary for Congress to repeal
modify the German law. passed a rider to the
Postal Appropriation bill OF last year. and it is con-
sidered probable that before anything is done In
that direction the Brooklyn Congressman will take
pains TO have the status OF tho Brooklyn Postofce
satisfactorily established. Naturally they. IN COM
mon with the mass Of the people Of Brooklyn. would
! Is ad a me- Of New
York office although 1t may be said on the best Of
authority. that the business done at the General
Postoffce In Brooklyn is not large that trans
acted at OF the postoflce branches In this city.
At the time It is felt that the Brooklyn Office.
considered as the postoffice Of million and quar-
ter OF people should receive special consideration
and Its postmaster be something more than the
superintendent OF a station.
A New-York man we'll informed on postal mat
ters, In talking OF this subject yesterday, spoke In
this vein: 1T is my opinion that nothing will bc
done respects consolidation Of postofices in
Greater NewYork until after the appointment of
the Postmaster CT Brooklyn. How that
will be no one can tell The term OF Postmaster
Sullivan does not expire until some time In Sep
tember. and 1t is understood that he has no inten-
tion of resigning So there Is no reason for haste
in making the appointment unless the President
wishes TO get rid of the pressure brought upon him
In the interest of various candidates for the office.
'It is generally understood among postoffice men.
and believe that is the understanding In the De-
partment at Washington. that action by Congress
will be necessary before there can be any union OF
postofices here and certainly Congressional action
will be needed to make Brooklyn something moro
than station Of the New-York office. The new
Postmaster over there, whoever he may be, will
not be satisfied to be station superintendent, but
will wish to be associate postmaster or some
thing Of that kind-never mind about the title at
present.
After the vacancy that will exist In Brooklyn In
few months is filed, II Is the expectation that the
Department will appoint commission TO look into
the entire matter and make recommendations.
Probably that commission will consist Of the Post
master Of New-York the Postmaster Of Brooklyn
and some one sent on from Washington TO act with
them; and presume the commission will prepare
O report and bill for presentation TO Congress.
OF course, this is all surmise and conjecture; no
one can tell what will be done In such a matter. or
how far the commission may go in recommending
the consolidation of posoftices In the enlarged city
Il may say. however, that the general plan OF
consolidation of postofices which the Department
IS reported to favor is sound. Take the case Of
place Of considerable size which may Pc be called al
Cenreeld on one side Of It, three T , or four miles fs
away is Southfed on another Eastfeld and on
s SSw it Of tSdse be four ran M
places consolidated with the one In the larger
Of the branches when they wished information or
anything else, would communicate with the post
master In the main ONCE. ana lnc postmaster
would write TO Washington. and there would be
one letter 60 before the Department instead f OF
perhaps five Economy and efficiency would thus
be promoted. . 49,, IL,
Each of the postmasers in the smaller places
would object 10 the loss OF his dignity and title.
and whatever prestige comes from being a post
master; and the Congressman. who generally nave
the selection of fourth-class postmasters. would
de,nur at losing their patronage. AT the same time,
under the law as it stands the Postmaster,Gen
has power TO order the consolidation or ofnces,
save as limited by the German law, and 1t Will be
good policy carry out the plan announced from
Washington. But that announcement really mas no
bearing on things they exist in the Greater New
York district where consolidation will naturally
come about in the course Of time