Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-23
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IoWa's Postmasters Begin Second
Annual Convention Here This
Afternoon.
Association Listens to an Address
BY Hon. George u. Allen. Of
Washington. D. G.

Smoker and Social Session to Be
Given After Session Tonight
Those In Attendance.
The opening session OF the two days
annual convention of the Association OF
Postmasters for First and Second Glass
Offices OF Iowa began this afternoon at
2 o'clock In the east court room.
All OF the officers Of the association
are present, with the exception Of John
w. Palm. of Mount Pleasant, mems
Der OF the executive committee. Pres-
dent w. s. Gardner. of Clinton, called
the convention to order. making a short
address in opening. The afternoon pros
d gram was cut somewhat short owing to
the absence of George u. Van Dyke. as
sistant postmaster of Des Moines, and
) +. u. West. of Chicago. superintendent
of the railway mail service of the sixth
division. who were unable to be pres
ent. The first address was that of
PostmasterW. L. Roach, of Muscatine,
who talked upon 1.-THE Postmaster and
Politics." Mr.. Roach was cheered as
he took the stand and the closest at
tention was paid to his talk turnout.
Mr.. Roach is very pleasing speaker
{ and his speech was very characteristic
OF himself.
Following Mr.. Roach Hon. George NJ.
Allen, of Washington. D. c., acting first
assistant postmaster general, was in
troduced as the representative of the
governments postofiice department.
and made q very informal and instruct-
s i've talk. Mr.. Aliens subject was
Some Recent Reforms in the Fostoftice
Department" and he spoke as follows,
Mr. President and POstmasters OF
Iowa: The postofiice department
has been we'll termed the largest
business institution in the gov
eminent. Its increase in business has
far ou.stripped the marvellous advance
in population. The gross receipts of the
postal service In the first year of Wash
s ington's administration were less by %
per cent than that Of the smallest free
delivery office in the United States. The
gross receipts Of the postal service in
the second year OF our existenceasa are
public were less than the cost Of free
delivery service this year in your beau
tiful capital of Des Msines. The cost
of horse hire this year in the free de-
livery offices Is as great as was the en-
tire cost OF free delivery service at the
close of the war OF the rebellion.
Along with the great growth OF the
postal service under the present admin
istration many economies and reforms
have been instituted. OF the entire ap-
preparation OF one hundred and fifteen
millions OF dollars for that service for
fs,np ~
thereof is under control of the first as
sistant postmaster general Every dol
lar OF this relates to the postoflice serv-
! Ice, being expended for salaries OF post
masters, clerks. carriers, rent, light
fuel, supplies and money orders. This
department is conducted like bank
Z Ing institution-the business OF each
day Is closed with the day.
..It has been possible without addi-
tional legislation for First Assistant
Postma ster General Heath to raise this
minimum salaries Of clerks in second
class postofflces from 5000 to $500 pei
annum and of clerks at first-class Of
fees front $500 to $500 per annum.
1.-THE present law discriminates mos
unjustly against clerks In postofiices as
compared with letter carriers and rail-
way postoffice clerks. First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath has re
peatedly urged upon congress the ne
cessity of legislation, but In spite Of
that bodys failure to act favorabls
much has been done in the last three
years to Improve the standing Of clerk:
in first and second-class postoftices Thu
average salary has been increased, TIT
hours Of labor decreased and theil
rights and privileges more clearly de
fined. !,
..The recent growth OF free deliver,
service has been beyond all expecta
ton. The previous administration
marked reduction In the number o
free delivery offices. The Requirement
for free delivery is that the city shall
have population OF 10000 or the otfic
show Src:s receipts nf $4,000. Thu
n,imber#of these has grown from 629 il
1887 to over 500 this year, an increas
OF about 30 per cent
Z, Improvements in the money orde
system under the present administra
ton have been marked. Convention
ratifying the exchange of orders witt
foreign nations have been made; tina
between Mexico and the United State
Is OF special Importance to the peopl
OF the northwest. between whom an
tn people of the republic on our sout
large and steadily growing bushes
is done Domestic money orders issue
in 1897 amounted in round numbers I
one hundred and seventy-tive million
dollars: for 1898. one hundred and nine
" millions and for 1899 two hundre
and eleven millions. making a total Q
Ave hundred and seventy-seven mill
ion dollars This is an increase Q
nearly thirty-seven million dollars 10
the year 1899 over that OF 1897. and tn
business for the current year will ex
coed that OF 1897 by nearly nifty mill
ions Of dollars.
IA popular step was taken about
year ago. by which money order office
were authorized to cash pension check.
& This IL of special advantage to pen
sioners residing in remote localities VIII
heretofore had their pension check
cashed at extortionate discount.
Great delay has been avoided by CIV
ing postmasters supplies sufficient I
laet six months, and these are now fol-
warded months in advance OF require
ment. The postmarking OF letters ha
been brought upto high standard.
.And now word about rural deliv
cry. The previous administration ID
not regard 1t with favor. The appro
kfr,,.. 40 Nv, mr.