Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-22
POSTMASTER STINS0N
Returns from Postmasters' Conven-
ton at Washington.
Gives Very Interesting Report Of the Impor-
tant Questions Discussed.

| Train, yesterday, from a very irnportant
oiflclai visit to Washington in the in
/ terests of the post office service Mrs
Sunson and younger daughter remain
Cd in New York while MI Stinson ana
MS daughter Emily We're in Washing
| ION. AS our readers will remember the
Augusta postmaster was ordered n "a
pore IN Washington some time ago II
attend the national convention of nost
MASTERS ana 1t is creditable to the CITY
tiiat rs post office should have been
considered one of the most important
| represent "a at the convention.
AZ the. request of the Journal Mr.
otiiiso'I gave short resume of the
WORN accomplished at this particular
convention, as well as the aims and in
tehtions or the association. He said.
The National Association of Post
masters IS composed of the postmasters
or their representatives in the 40 first
| Grass Offices in the United States. 7
| thlnk II is said that between 50 ner
| cent. and 30 per cent. Of the entire mail
business Of the United States, large az
lt IS, IS done by these offices. Tie idea
originated with General Wanamaker
who called some Of the postmastars
from large offices into Washington. but
when he left office the matter drCpnad
out Of sight. The entire credit is now
due u Hon. f. b. Dickerson. postmas
tar at Detroit Michigan. one Of the
most enthusiastic and hustling work
ers that has ever been connected with
postal affairs. He is a man Of rare ex
ecutlFe ability and great organizing
powers. and sent out circulars which
ltlf441Nn1 f.a,r. Il.
me FIRST meeting, a year ago
Some 90 met at Detroit and formed
the association and agreed On a Ger
tam plan Of action. which was that
nothing in the line Of selfish or inter
oSted work should be done. but that
every member should agree ID assist
with his own senators ana congress
man whatever things the association
should recommend for the benefit Of
the public service
The FIRST year several things were
asked. and everything except the class
llicatl"n bill FIR post office clerks. which
regulates theirp sition and salary. went
through Congress without the slightest
trouble. Several inequalities which
nave existed heretofore had justice
done them. and ~ much good was AZ
c"mpllshed that il was desired by the
post office department that the asso-
citation should meet in Washington. this
year Accordingly the association was
called there and many matters Of i'm 4
pnrtance % the service We're given con I
Sideration. and undoubtedly the postal /,
service itself will derive benefit from /
it.
1t was highly complimentary to the |
Augusta office that | had the honor of !
presenting the first subject for discus
sion, and appeared the first on the pro
gramme after the honorable postmas- |
ter general. Charles Emory Smith, who |
Is an exceedingly fine speaker, and who !
gave very interesting outline of his |
intentions about the mail service At !
ter this the convention adjourned in a |
body and paid its respects to the |
President Of the United States. who re
ceived it al The White House.
The subject which was assigned to |
me was a suggestion for a remedy for
he great evil which has arisen all over
the United States regarding the greaN
use OF postage stamps as a means for
currency in the mails. There was no
discussion. and the matter was refer
red 70 the committee on resolutions and
was reported back and unanimously
passed. The plan is similar to the pos
tai note which has attained so great
success in foreign countries and was
lately introduced in Canada. Its great
popularity and its evident need made
its unanimous recommendation i'm
mediate. 1t received the distinction of
a special request from the association
for Congress to pass a law.
You ask what it is. 1t is simply a
postal currency which can only be used
for mail remittances which is sold for
q cent for each dollar or fraction there
Of, and is made in amounts as high as
81, The objections of banking circles
70 a real fractional currency prevents
anything but this. but I understand
that both the post Office department
and the treasury department Will assist
in making this law. IT is much SUI
perior to the old postal note and better
than a money order for small amounts.
Among the other things that were
considered was the classification of
salaries which was adopted Very much
the same as the bill Of last year; an
annual post office inspection, and many
other things relative to better local ser
vice in towns and cities.
The most important matter which
came before the convention was the
increase Of weight in the consolidation
Of third and fourth class matter. which
means that merchandise will be sent at
some uniform rate, say or II cents Il
pound. instead Of one cent an ounce,
practically the same rate as books at
whatever rate was agreed upon. This
is an important measure but was
strongly combatted by the influence Of
the express companies in the conven
ton and bids fair to bring up a strong
fight when the matter comes before
Congress. 1t was. however. reported
back favorably by the committee on
resolutions. of which / was a member,
and after a strong debate was finally
passed practically as reported. This
measure is a particularly important
one to such offices as Augusta, where
so large a mail order and medicine
mailing business is done as is carried
on here
Il was very much pleased in visiting
the department to find how strong a
hold our Congressman, Mr. BurleiGh,
has upon the various department OIL
pprc He i. 1nnlyp6 rIDnn ac onp Qf thpI