The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1901-04-13

the city post Office must find shelter
elsewhere. 1t is quite likely that the
latter course will be pursued. 1t will
be nothing new, however, for the city
post Office to move to some other To-
cality. 1t has been accustomed ia
moving. In fact, it reminds the writer
of the capital Of Dakota territory,
which Gov. Ordway once said was "al-
ways on Wheels" moving from city to
city according to the whims Of corrupt
legislatures.
Reverting ia the fact that the gov.
eminent business increases with the
growth of the country in population
and wealth, by way of illustration it
may be said that IS years ago it cost
100000 900 annually to pay the gov
eminent expenses. The appropria-
tions for this year are, in round
numbers, $500, OOO, 900. just think 81
that 1t costs $500, OOO, 600 moro
every year to pay the expenses of the
government than it did Is years ago.
OF course, it requires an army of
clerks to attend to this business.
Not less than 10000 people are writ
/ ing lCGICLS uGlG anu AaIl4uR EuCLl
through the Washington post Office.
Answers to these letters are received
also through the Washington post Of
flee. And this business is increasing
year by year.
The clerks in the state, war, navy,
treasury, interior, agricultural and
post office departments, and the de-
partment of justice are busy all the
time; each one looking after specified
business and writing letters. Think
of the war department alone, with its
vast correspondence since the begin
ming of the war with Spain, the ac-
QUESTION of additional territory, the
maintenance of an increased army,
and all that is meant by those condi.
tons. Then think of the additional
correspondence required by the navy
department because of these changed
conditions. Is it any wonder that the
work of the city post Office and the
post Office department have been
enormously increased? Then again,
think of the fact that all of this
business is supervised, in a sense, by
the treasury department; because all
OIL IuG ~IllCIEdSGu expenditures muS6
be watched and noted by the great
corps of bOokkeepers and vigilant in
spectors. The mail matter sent out
and received by the treasury depart
ment alone is so great that only
skillful attention to every detail can
keep it in proper bounds.
All of this correspondence is car
ried on without the use of postage
stamps. 1t goes free through the
mails. Consequently, the salary OF
the Washington postmaster cannot be
fixed according to the amount of
stamp cancellations, as in other
. post offices. All government business
is carried in penalty envelopes" up
q on each of which is printed the
e warning that "a penalty of $780, will
S be required of anyone using such en-
S velopes for private correspondence,
n These are the reasons, COncisely stat
ed. WHY the salary of the postmaster
! of this city is arranged by special
v law.
e Lieut.. Gen. Miles dictates about SOC
: letters daily; Admiral Dewey, about
300; Adit. Gen. Corbin and his clerks
a about 5000; secretary of the navy
e 5000; secretary of war, about 5000
the pension office, about 10000, anG
t so on all along the long departmental
line.
t So you e that the post office Of
;, the national capital is a busy bee
t hive, which the people of the coun'
try seldom hear anything about, but
P it is an important factor in carrying
r on the muItifarious business of the
S great and growing federal govern
2 ment. SMITH D. FRY.
VnseIine Prevents Rust.
q VaseIine is the best rust preventive