Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
UNDERWRITERS.
A HARD-WORKED OFFICIAL
Ouerous Duties of First Assistant Postmas-
ter General Heath.

One of the hardest worked officials in
any Of the departments is First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath, who is really
the executive officer of the department.
At all times during office hours Mr..
Heath's room is filled with persons, who
have gone there to converse with him on
matters relating to the department, or, as
often happens, those relating to other de-
partments. He is always busy but always
finds time to settle, in short order, no mat
ter how important it may be, any question
which may be brought to his attention.
He has well earned the reputation of pos
sessing an unusual amount of executive
ability, and an extraordinary grasp of de-
tails.
The first assistant postmaster generals
office is in the southeastern corner of the
Post Office Department building, overlook
ing 7th and E streets. 1t is furnished with
the regulation chairs and sofas, and has
large desk, always piled high with papers
of every description: The desk faces
hand 1t has desk chair back of 1t, but
unless it is necessary to sign some docu-
ment or make memorandum, this Is sell
dom called into requisition
Always on His Feet.
Mr.. Heath transacts nearly all of his
business while in a standing position, talks
business while his feet, chats with
friend who has just dropped in to see how
he is getting on-in fact, disposes Of all his
guests in this manner.
'Dispossess'' is the proper term to use
in this connection, for the right bower of
the head of the Post Office Department
understands how. without giving ofense,
to dismiss the visitor when the matter mas
been settled. There is no use wasting any
further time, and this is impressed nghuy
upon the person who has called.
Mr.. Heath is always at his post by
O clock. Frequently he does not leave UNI
til 6, and it is the general rule for him to
remain until o'clock His busiest time,
when his office is filled to overtowing with
visitors, is from $50 until about l O'Clock.
Between the hours of ~ and II, many
senator's and representatives, on their way
to the Capitol, visit him in the interests of
their constituents, and for discussion of
other matters in which they wish his as
sistance Intermngled with them are peo-
pie from all over the country-men who
are wanting appointment to post offices of
the frst-class, those who have complaints
to make, or suggestions for improving the
system in their cities. Subordinates VINO
want papers signed or some question set
tied are in the throng which Mr.. Gary
assistant must meet and send away salts
fed.
Confers With His Chief.
The Postmaster Generals office is on the
same side of the hall through some doors,
and the two find it necessary to confer
frequently oulil6 tilC udy. Nhi. iiShli -
in and out like shot, and it is hard
matter to keep an eye on his movements.
If the duties of his office require only
seeing and talking to the two hundred or
two hundred and fifty persons who some
times visit him in the course of day, the
assistant postmaster general would con-
slider he had @ comparatively easy thing of
it. AS it is, his labors are just doubled by
the mail which he receives. Seventy-five
letters or more each day is fair average
of the correspor dence which he receives
These letters relate. of course. chiefly to
departmental affairs Often. however
they refer to outside appointments-beg
for Mr.. Heath's influence nj securing po-
sition somewhere. anywhere, for the
writer. In addition to a regular stenog-
rapher, II has lately required two addi-
icnal experts to transcribe the letters re-
ceived, answer them and do other work.
Mr.. Heath starts to work on his CORE
spondence at 230 o'clock. and is kept busy
signing his mall debating, etc. and con-
tinues hard at work until 8 o'clock. more
often $50. His secretary, who has held the
has at least ore-third more work in every
way than any of his predecessors during
the years he has been there.
Served the Postal Congress.
During the meeting of the postal con-
gress here the first assistant postmaster |
general was chairman of the body. which |
greatly increased his labors. When he |
would return from the sessions he would |
find his office and the hall outside packed |
with people waiting to talk with him. |
Each wished to grab him first out of the |
bag, too, and he was kept hustling.
Mr.. Heath's term of several years a |
newspaper correspondent in Washington |
has been of g, eat benefit to him in the |
place to which he was appointed. He was
familiar to great extent with the work. |
ings Of the department, and did not need |
to be introduced to the varied details.
Being a newspaper man, and good one.
the first assistant postmaster general |
knows what news Is, and takes pleasure in |
giving IL to the members of the press who |
visit him. 1t Is seldom that he fails to |
iirpsrt interesting information when one |
sees him. |
The salary which the first assistant to
the Postmaster General receives Is $4,000. |
II has been claimed, perhaps justly in some |
cases, that government officials are over
paid Mr.. Heath can certainly never come |
under this category.