Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-14
Postmasters of the Country in An
nual Session Here.
WELCOMED BY POSTMASTER GENERAL
Discussion of Methods for Bet
terment of the Service.
PROGRAM OF USINESS

The National Association OF Postmasters
began a four days session. in convention
assembled, at the Arlington Hotel this
a fternoon at 2 O. clock The convention will
meet at 10 o'clock am. and in the after
noon tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. re-
spectively, to listen to papers on postal af-
fairs by prominent officials of the service.
The association is composed of postmas-
tiers of the offices of the first class. The
numbers 40 out Of q total Of
1859 first-class postmasters. 1t was organ
lied one year ago by F. B. Dickerson. post
master of Detroit Mich, and has received
the sanction and active encouragement of
the Post Office Department.
The aim Of the association is to bring to-
gether the heads of the first-class offices at
least once each year to confer upon mat
tiers relating to the postal service and i'm
of mail delivery facilities. At
this meeting an effort Will be made to fix
Washington as the permanent meeting
place of the association and to have the
sessions held in January, while Congress
is here, SO that Legislation recommended by
the conventions may be urged by the post
masters The officers of the association are
F. B. Dickerson, president; w. E. Springer
of Detroit. secretary; w. q. Hull. vice pres
ident, and Gen. Thomas G. Lawler, treas
urer.
Among the members present are o. P.
Shaffer of Youngstown. Ohio; w. w. Smyth
of Atlanta, Ga; c. c. Dewstar of Cleve-
land. Ohio; G. l.. SWEET Of Portland; Ne;
George A. Ballard of Fall River, Mass;
Ossian D. Knox Of Manchester. N. H; F.
b. Dickerson of Detroit; Asaph Buck Of
L. Hays of Newark, N. j; E. B. Roenell
of GAINESVILLE, Ohio. w. r. Hull of Peoria,
H.: w II. Devine of Atlantic City, n, j.;
S. B. Lovejoy of Minneapolis and w. A.
Hutchinson of Oak Park, Ill.
Principal Topic.
One of the principal topics for considera-
ton will be a proposed change in the eight
hour law for carriers. The proposition is
to have Congress designate forty-eight
hours per week as the working time for
carriers, and leave the subdivision of this
time to the discretion of the individual
postmasters
Another subject will be the consolidation
of third and fourth-class mail matter. At
the present time the postage for third-class
matter ia l cent for two ounces and for
fourth-class matter ! cent for four ounces.
The association will probably decide upon
one rate of postage that will entail no loss
upon the government if adopted, and will
recommend that the plan be urged upon
Congress by the department.
Recommendations Will also be considered
for change in the present system or CIV
ing contracts for the transportation OF mail
thence to substatiOns.
Postmaster Generals Welcome.
The welcoming address was by Postmas-
ter General Charles Emory Smith. Mr..
Smith said:
II am glad to meet large a body Of the
representative postmasters of the country.
l give you a cordial welcome to the capital.
The fact that you have chosen this city
as the place for your convention may be &C
cepted as evidence that you meet with no
hostile designs toward the department On
the other hand, I may say that, in coming
within the shadow OF the department. you
do not come into the 'enemys country.
The department is your friend, and l think
I may take it for granted that you are the
friend of the department
ct is 1t seems to me, fortunate and
suspicious circumstance that you have Sc
lected the national capital as your meeting
place. 1t permits of free interchange OF
views between yourselves and the officials
of the central administration of the great
service In which we are all engaged. here
are the headquarters; you are commanders
of great camps or divisions in the field, and
your presence here offers the occasion. not
FOR a council of war, but for council! OF
peace. for a comparison of notes and Tor q
conference of progress. If you came To-
gether with any thought of proposing
| measures which might not harmonize witt
| the policy Of the department. or OF looking
| to ends which were not feasible or 1u
| dicous your assembling would be regarded
| with a different feeling from that VIII
which it Is now greeted and welcomed. l.
| Is because you do not come with any sci
| Ash purpose because you seek only the
| best interests of the postal service and th'
| people. because you aim at the same Oh
| tects which the department itself cherishes
| that l am greatly gratified at your pres
| ence You have the practical admnistra
| ton of the postal service largely In you
| hands. and the counsels which come as tn
| ripe fruit Of your actual experience ana oil
rect contact with the daily problems IN TN
| handling Of the mails will be of the creates
| value The department wants the bench
| of the knowledge you have acquired. Yo1
| want the advantage of comparison o
| your various methods. You are here +
| discuss the practical questions which arts
| in the management Of the public trust com
| mitted to your hands and to consider tn
means of further improving the service. II
| that work you have the sympathy OF tn
department., and l am sure that the de
partment will have the aid of your best eff
| forts.
Greatest Business Undertaking.
| you represent q service which stand
for the greatest business undertaking i
| the world. This age is witnessing colosSa
] business enterprises; 1t sees enormous CAP
| italizations for the application of materia
! forces; 1t develops gigantic railroad an
financial organizations; but, vast as the
are the postal service of the United state
is the greatest business establishment q
this any other country. 1t embrace
more than half Of all the civil establish
ment of the government; 1t counts on 1t
roll more than 100000 men. While its eS
penditures as recently as 1880 were abou
S36,GW,OO year. and, its receipts abou
33,WDOo0, we shall this year spend abou
$lo5,o0,OO0 and our revenues will be owe
$1OO,0Vo,Oco Take period IN which ou
population increases fifty per cent an
you will find that our postal business ir
creastng 300 per cent. The service has b.
come so great, so intricate and compre
henstvc It Is so vitality interviewer with tn
whole business and social life of the people
as to put a solemn responsibility upon thos
who administer 1t and to forbid any COZ
siderauon In Its conduct other than tht
of securing the best possible results wit
the best available means. F"
| with this wonderful growth 1t is ut
surprising that you all come to the d.
partment and cry for more help. You wal
more clerks and more carriers. You wal
. more facilities. 1t Is a natural and reason
able demand. 1t is inevita bleuwit the il
creased work You are required to do. TT
department recognizes its justice and
Is disposed to help you just so far as 1t
possible TO do SO within the limits of II