Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
TO INSTANT DEATH
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Continued from First Page.)
genial disposition had brought so much
sunshine into the world, and whose loyal
friendship was his chief characteristic.
In a little while his two sons and his
brother arrived and the body was removed.
A Prey to Disease.
For some time past Mr.. Willett had been
| Ill, and when he became convinced his all
ment was Bright's disease he became mo-
rose. Soon after he vacated the office OF
postmaster he was taken with an acute
attack, and when he returned to business
cares he was greatly emaciated and many
of his old friends failed to recognize him.
He was anxious to get back to work and
was a frequent visitor at the Post Office
Department, where he expected to be en-
ployed. When the removal of the old Post
Office Department to the new building be-
gan Postmaster General Smith appointed
Mr.. Wfllett assistant superintendent to take
charge of the moving. After working sew
eral weeks, the Treasury Department., in a
letter to the department, acknowledged the
appointment of Mr.. Willett and gave the
officials to understand they considered 1t
tantamount to the acceptance of the build
ing, and would Immediately turn the same
over to the Postmaster General. The lat
ter, however, was by no means ready to
accept the building. and it became neces-
sary to drop Mr. Willett from the rolls to
avoid complications.
This was no reelection at all upon the lat
ter, although it was a source of great con-
Germ. There was disposition on the part
of the post office officials to give Mr.. Will
lett something, and only last evening the
first assistant postmaster general, Mr.. Perry
s. Heath. called the matter to the attention
OF Postmaster General Smith. and the lat
ter direc ted that Mr.. Willett be forthwith
appointed to a position In the unclassified
service.
Was Greatly Depressed.
Yesterday Mr.. Willett visited the Post
Office Department and had a conference
with the officials regarding position. He
was told he would be fixed at the first op-
portunity. He was greatly depressed over
the situation, but smiled and expressed the
hope that they would not forget him.
Mr.. Willett leaves family consisting OF
a widow, daughter. recently married, and
three sons, tn, youngest being mere boy.
One OF Mr.. Willett's sons Is employed in the
custom house at Georgetown, while another
was temporarily in the postal service dur
ing his fathers term of office.
Sketch of His Career.
Mr.. Willett was ffty-five years of age,
having been born in 1874, the year James
X. Polk was elected to the presidency of
the United States. 1t was on account of this
coincidence of birth that the former post
master was given the name of that chief ex-
ecutive. Mr.. Wfllett was appointed to the
Washington poStmastership in December,
1894. being one of the few native-born
Washingtonians honored with the office.
He served under two different political adj
ministrations, to the entire satisfaction of
his superiors, and retired from the office
June 80 last, with the very best wishes of
the entire community, and especially Of
the clerks and employees of the city post
office, the latter presenting him at that
time with a magnificent gold watch and
chain as a token Of their esteem and the
appreciation they felt of his labors for
them and their welfare.
Before entering the government service
as postmaster Mr. Willett had been en-
gagged in business, having been just prior
to his appointment senior member of the
firm of Willett & Ruoff, matters, since
dissolved. Thus Mr.. Wiilett brought to the
office his years of business training and
experience, resulting in more thorough
systematiZing of the work there. Com
plants were few after he had been in SER
vice a short while. When they were made
however Mr.. Willett took pleasure in in
vestigating them personally, so that he
might find just where the error was made
or where the service was at fault. This
was done that a nearer perfection might
be attained in post office affairs. From the
beginning of his term he was most Jealous
in working for the improvement of the
District postal system and service, his la
bors bearing quick and lasting fruit. In
der him the city post office rapidly in
creased in its efficiency. In 1894 there were
179 regular and substitute letter carriers,
while the force now numbers PIT. In the
same time the number of substations in
creased from sixteen to forty-two.
Established City Railway Service.
Another improvement noted during Mr.
Willett's tenure Of Office was the establish
ment Of the street railway postal service
now in successful operation. 1t was I'M
der his direction also that the collection of
mail by a wagon manned by distributing
clerks was inaugurated, thus affording the
quickest Of facilities in gathering the mail
and. dispatching 1t throughout and from the
city. Mr.. Willett gave his undivided at
tention to post office work. and was ever
looking to the improvement of the office
itself and the greater convenience Of the
people SO directly interested in the postal
service.
While not instrumental in the building Of
the new city post office on Pennsylvania
avenue Mr.. Willett was the first postmas-
ter to occupy 1t. He directed the moving Of
the effects from the old place. the Union
building on G street. to the new granite
structure. Then, for the convenience of the
many business interests and department
buildings in the vicinity Of the old site, he
secured the establishment OF substation G,
now in the Union building.
The growth of the business of the city
post office during Mr.. Willett's regime was
sources during the four quarters ending
March 81. 1880. were $3.50, 674.0S. while for a
corresponding period ending March 81. 1894.
the receipts were 1896, 1889 At the begin
ming of Mr.. Willetts term there were 276
clerks employed in the office. the salary roll
amounting to $236. 700. Today there are 337
clerks in the office. whose aggregate SAL
aries amount to $3O8, 400. In addition to SO
large an increase in the number of clerks
the records show that Mr.. Willett promoted
eighty per cent of the clerks during the
time he was in Office The large increase Of
force was due, in addition to the work en-
tailed nv of the enhanced receipts.
to the increases in the volume Of official
matter handled by the office, for which no
postage is paid. In fact. the prepaid mat
ter amounts only to about thirty per cent
Of the amount Of mail that passes through
the local postal establishment.
Tribute to His Memory.
As a result of his efforts in their behalf
the employees of the post Office who served
under Mr. Willett held him in the highest