The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-06-23

form viii receive equal consideration.
Heavy Percentages Of Resisnations-
Tie old aeazs that government en-
/ psoyes MAY die bat that none ever ne
sign does nck apply te postnAssers.
Is Isciaily 70 fourshclaSs postEasteFs
Of which there are Ts,455- They both
die and ressgn. for there vrsre sic
deaths and SOFA designations Of these
postmasters last year. an increase Of
600 designations over the preceding
year. or about one in every nine post
masters
These somewhat unexpected hg-
uTes certainly dfsprove the adaxe. as
of-hand ana uniformed the average
man would make a guess al I.ee0 res
fgnations all told. and then be afraid
he had gone too high.
The causes Of this high percentage
OF designations are many and diverse
but two main subdivisions may be
given. First. in rural communities the
| postmastership Is thought TO be a
great honor and soft snap. II Is a
distinction. but far from a snap as the
department holds postmasters strictly
accountable for the proper perform
ance OF their official duties. Thousands
of postmasters in small Offices get that
tired feeling long before their terms
are over. and gladly Telinquish honors
and perquisites which they find. 70
their disgust, do not come up TO their
expectations But il one man is ready
70 give up there are others at once
willing to earn the few dollars obtain
able annually from these small Offices.
and the vacancies are usually shortly
or instantly filed. Where the depart
ment finds il impossible 10 Ill the
vaeany the Office Is discontinued.
This raises a howl OF protest and
fiushes several candidates at the same
time.
Another prolific reason why post
masters resign in such numbers yearly
is on account of the bond of $500 or
over they are required to give Many
men haven't the confidence of their
neighbors 10 secure bondsmen and
others will not so TO the trouble to
obtain sureties. Others resign when
a new bond is required. as is the case
at certain periods. or where the Office
is made a money order Office. Thou
sands of small Offices have been made
money order Offices within the past
four years. and the designations of
postmasters OF these Offices have been
comparatively large. as the incum-
benfs did not think the added respon-
sibiIities were commensurate with the
remuneration. while with some they
had no safe place to keep money or
der funds.
Even the Sig Fellows Give Up.
1T seems odd that government Of
fee holders will resign places paving
81 900 and over. but they do, and there
is always lively scramble for these
places. The men with their represen-
tatives' recommendations usually get
them. The fact that forty-seven
presidential postmasters resigned last
year adds proof to the exception OF
the adage quoted. There were but 40
deaths in the army of 4.233 OF the
Presidents appointees.
'sThe reasons for giving up these
well paving berths are also diverse.
Business men who have Leen appoint
ed postmasters find that the duties
and responsibilities Of a postofice re
auire too much Of their time. and as
the department demands that post
master shall devote his attention to
he duties of his Office. the good old
plan of past days of allowing an as
aistant 10 run things while the post
master remained in his business
house. drew the paw and enjoyed the
honor no longer works. Postmasters
who try to thus carry water on both
shoulders are promptly called down,
admonished to attend TO the affairs
of the Office and il they do not they
are removed Many resign TO avoid
removal.