The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-05
IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCAL POSTOFFICE

Louis Kenake, assistant postmaster
ever. returned on the Mariposa from
Il two weeks visit in California. He
went at once to the office, rolled up
his sleeves and began his work where
he left it several weeks ago.
| Prior to the departure of the Maripo-
sa from San Francisco he was q con-
slant visitor at the morgue in the hope
of Identifying the bodies of Honolulu
victims of the Rio disaster should they
he found. But after the first bodies
were brought in whose names have
been published, none other was discov-
cred. Mr.. Kenake, who is a Mason,
left orders with the San Francisco
lodges to keep a close watch for the
body of William A. Henshall and to
take charge of it If found.
AS to the mail the Rio carried, MI
Kenake says that most of it will prob
ably be a total loss. A few sacks were
recovered. Some of the registered
mail pouches were found but they had
been cut open and the contents stolen.
The value of this mail Is problematical
and may never be aScertained.
kenake says he saw more California
postmasters than he ever expected 10
meet in his lifetime He journeyed
from one end of the state to the other
and visited every pOstoffice that his
itinerary would permit. He was greet
ed everywhere and given every courte
sy and returned chock full of informa
ton about the running of postoffices.
Before long there may be number
of changes here beneficial to Honolu-
lans.
Il went through the San Francisco,
Los Angeles and dozens of other post
offices in the state" said Kenake, "te
see how they work the office. mails and
money departments. The general sys-
TEN followed in the. local postoffice is
about the same as those visited.
There are a few changes which could
be made here. especially in the regis
try division. which would greatly i'm
prove our service. '-" ~"
"As to the free delivery system.
saw ]. NJ Erwin, chief of the western
division Of free delivery systems, and
consulted with him on the needs of Ho-
nolulu In that regard. From what ne
told me 1 am convinced that nothing
will be done about 1t before July. MI.
Erwin said that 30 far nothing had
been done about it and he was doubtful
II the matter would receive much at
tention before the middle Of the year.
From our conversation and from
what 1 saw in California, the free de
livery system in Honolulu will be
very hard proposition as compared
with that elsewhere. This will come
on account of the irregularity with
which the mails arrive in, Honolulu
For instance the mails arriving here
on Sundays will have to be delivered
not from the general delivery window
but from the carriers window The
whole system will have to be changed
and will require careful study. Then
there Is the difficulty of receiving so
much mail in a bunch. The carriers
will be overloaded on such days, while
on other days they will not have
enough work to keep them busy during
the requisite number OF hours.
1T may be that some special iegisla-
ton may be required in regard to Ha-
waits free delivery system. The sys-
TEN in other cities IL that the carriers
work eight hours a day. If by chance
he has sufficient mail one day to make
him work nine hours. the next day ne
VIII work only seven hours. II the bust
ness permits by law ne "a required 10
work only forty-eight hours q week"
Mr.. Kenake was entertained at Los
Angeles by Inspector Flint. who took
charge of postoflce AFFAIRS In Hawaii
when the group became a Territory.
The Southern Pacific gave the genial
Louis pass over it's system during
his entire stay and Louis says he
worked II overtime" The night be
ore he sailed for Honolulu he met Ben
Naplhaly IN very genial mood