The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
POST OFFICES CAN'T UNITE.
A Law THAT DELAYS THEIR CoNsOL-
IDATI0N IN THE GREITER 1
1t Provides That No Post once Located at n
County Seat shall 10 Made n Part of
Another once. and tho city or Brooklyn
IL the County seat OF Kings County.

Another once, and tho city or Brooklyn
WASHINGTON, Aug. oO.-An important dis
covcry has been made by the Post Onlco de-
partment officials, who have been for some time
engaged In the preliminary work of arranging a
plan for the consolidation of the Post Offices in
the future Greater New York district. BY rea-
son OF this now development it is more than
probable that nothing further can be done
in tho consolidation scheme without author
ity from Congress. When Senator Lodge
introduced in tho Fifty-fourth Congress-
his bill for the consolidation of the Post Offices
adjacent to the largo cities, making them in eff
feet branches OF the main office, he found a de-
termined antagonist in Senator German. To
save tho Postmaster at Elliott City, Nd. in
whom he was especially interested, Mr.. German
had an amendment added to the bill. providing
that no Post Office located at n county scat
shall be made q part OF another office. Brook
lyn, being the county scat of Kings county, be-
comes subject to this provision of law.
Because Of this law and because the depart
ment has been informed that there is much OPP
position to the contemplated consolidation Of
the Brooklyn and New York offices by residents
Of Brooklyn and their representatives in Con.
gress, tho Government officials have dc d,d
not to press the plan, but to allow the people Of
Greater New York to take the initiative. To
act successfully. the Government officials say,
they must have the cooperation of the citizens
and the assistance of the delegates in Congress-.
The consolidation of tho Post Offices included
within the bounds OF Greater New York will be by
far the largest undertaking of the kind in the his.
tory otthe department. In considering the prof.
ect the officials hero have been quietly gather.
ing information regarding the various offices
, in the district embraced in the proposed Greater
New York until they have the matter in such q
shape now that, II rushed. the details could be ar.
ranged within thirty days,or possibly a fortnight.
George w. Beavers. formerly a New York in.
spector. now head OF the division of salaries and
allowances OF the Post Office Department. was
engaged IN the work of consolidating the Offices
about Brooklyn with the main office. which was
effected some time ago. and he lie thoroughly
master.Goncral Heath is very much interested
In the new project. and has given 1t considerable
A commission was sent to New York recently
to investigate the workings Of the office OF Su-
perlntendent OF. Mails, and while there they cur
sorily examined the consolidation scheme. Tho
report OF the committee, which contains many
recommendations Of important changes. is now
General Heath and Second Assistant Shallon-
berger. and will be submitted. to Postmaster
General Gary on his return to the city.
The consolidation embraces q scheme OF great
magnitude. 1t means that all Of the Offices
within the territory OF Greater New York win
l NC OIl5h anu olioi 10 III lutlE
even ssesnty lne os,ee sfs in u Kings 'as ns'S o%ssns. and 81
ofices become stations OF the New York
Post Office. each Postmaster. under the law.
that he win have a position under the civil ser.
vice and be in line for promotion up TO any posi-
ton in the Greater New York Post Office. He
might DO transferred TO any other office. SO
that there Il expected to be no opposition from
Consolidation would mem. however, tho aholi-
tion Of the position Of Postm sster OF Brooklyn.
q the New YORK Office; "' But ss'1 the duties q stnss9 OF
Postmaster Of New York would be too great for
Greater New York. and would lose Nothing in
salary. The department believes that in con,
solidating the two great offices. counting the
services Of the employees. II would make a con.
siderable saving; As for the residents Of the
greatly benefited. as the consolidation OF the
small offices with the large one would mean the
partment cannot extend the free delivery system
to a fourth-class Post Office, but 1t can make any
STATEN a t Ssr pntro srst of fb an sm 5h1Ss: of, l m,H Won ID
secure benefits they could never hope for under
the present system.
The scheme OF consolidation does not contem'
plato the destruction OF the identity Of any
place. Brooklyn would still be Brooklyn, OF
rather Brooklyn station; Flatbush would not
become station Y or Y. but would be Flatbush
station, and SO on; In add ion to these. locsl
stations. The change would only mean the closer
relationship bet ecn the various off es now scat
tered over the territory of Greater New York
and affect merely the internal economy. They
would have a head. with which they all would
he connected by telephone, and a vast volume OF
business now transacted with the department
at Washington could be turned into the ofic a
New York. II would also mean the erection Of
a Post Office building, the department official
say. In New York adequate to it's needs. 1t t.
hoped at tho department that when the proiccH
Is put forward In proper shape there will be M
opposition to 1t, and that the consolidation car
go into effect promptly when the Greater New