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 SINESS


began a four days session. in convention
assembled, at the Arlington Hotel this
afternoon at 2 O'Clock. The convention will
meet at 10 o'clock a. m. and z 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
membership numbers 140 out of O total of
1859 frst-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 tirst-class offices at
least once each year to confer upon mat
ters relating to the postal service and i'm
provements of mail delivery facilities. At
this meeting an effort VIII be made to fix
Washington 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
o
of Atlanta Ga; C. c. Dewstar of Cleve-
land, Ohio: G. L. SWEET of Portland. Me. !;
Gen Thomas G. LAWYER Of Rockford, Ill. !;
George A. ballard OF Fan River Mass;
B. Dckerson of Detroit: Asaph Buck Of
Keokuk. Ia; Lewis H: Miner and James
l.. Hays of Newark N. J.; e: B.. Roenell
of GAINESVILLE. Ohio w. f. Hull of Peoria,
m w H. 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-efsht
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 fourtb-class mail matter. At
| the present time the postage for third-class
matter is l cent for two ounces and Tor
| 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 of Civ
| ing contracts for the transportation of mall
| from railway stations to post ofhces ana
| thence to SubStatlonS
Postmaster Generals Welcome.
| The welcoming address was by Postmas-
| ter General Charles Emory Smith. Mr..
| Smith said:
Il am glad to meet so 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 ac-
| cepted as evidence that you meet with nc
| 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.
| at is II seems to me, fortunate anC
| suspicious circumstance that You have Sc
| Iected 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. anC
| your presence here offers the occasion no.
| for a council of war. but for council OF
| peace. for a comparison of notes ana for &
| conference Of progress. If you came to
| gether with any thought Of proposing
| measures which might not harmonize will
| the policy OF the department, or of looking
| to ends which were not feasible or 1u
| dicious, your assembling would be regarded
with different feeling from that witt
| which it Is now greeted and welcomed.
| is because you do not come with any sci
| fish purpose, because you seek only TN
best interests of the postal service and tn
| people. because you aim at the same on
| tects which the department itself cherishes
| that l am greatly gratified at your pres
| ence. You have the practical admtnistra
ton of the postal service largely IN you
| hands. and the counsels which come as tn
ripe fruit of your actual experience and Oh
rect contact with the daily problems in tn
handling OF the mails will be of the creates
value. The department wants the beneh
of the knowledge you have acquired. 4o'
| want the advantage of n comparison o
| your various methods You are here I
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. /
that work you have the sympathy of tn
department, and l sure that the de
partment will have the aid of your best ef
forts.
Greatest Business Undertaking.
you represent a service which stand
for the greatest business undertaking i
| the world. This age is witnessing colossa
. business enterprises IT sees enormous car
J italizations for the application of materis
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 {
this or any other country. 1t embrace
more than half of all the civil establish
ment of the government; it counts on II
, roll more than 100000 men. While its ea
, penditures as recently as 1880 were abou
, $36,Eo,o0 a year. and it's receipts abou
, So, 100000, we shall this year spend abol
$1O5, 100000 and our revenues will be owe
$100.0UJ,OCO. Take a period IN which ou
population increases Atty per cent an
| you Will md that our postal business II
: | creasing 300 per cent. The service has bt
/ come so great, so intricate and comprt
} henstvc, 1t Is so vitality interviewer with tn
| whole business and social life of the peopl
as to put solemn responsibility upon thos
e who administer it and to forbid any COZ
| slderation In Its conduct other than thu
of securing the best possible results wit
! the best available means f.
with this wonderful growth 1t is nt
. surprising that you all come to the d
partment and cry for more help. You wal
:. more clerks and more carriers. You wal
q more facilities. 1t is natural and reason
able demand. 1t is inevita BILE with the il
creased work you required to do. Tt
department recognizes its justice and
:, Is disposed to help you just so far as 1t
z | "a do x,,isl I<,,,t{ re Z