Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-09-12

2
PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON
CThe First Man to Reform the Post Office
Department.
By the time the proposed annex can
be completed it is estimated that there
will be upwards of $4,000 post offices.
By the way, while this development of
the postal service indicates national
prosperity, it must not be overlooked
that the other executive departments
are likewise showing increased bust
ness, although not to such a marked
extent as in the postal service.
The auditor for the post Office de-
partment, although an official of the
treasury department., must have his Of
fees in the same building with the
post office department, for conven-
fence in the transaction of public
business. This official has under his
direction in round numbers 600 en-
ployes, and they require a great deal
of space.
In all ages of the world there has
been disposition to dishonesty on
the part of government employees. An
nor was Cassius the only Roman
"reputed to have an itching PALM
Previous to 1886 all postal accounts
were received, recorded and settled in
the post office department. Under this
practice scandals arose and president
Jackson requested the congress to in
vestigate them. The congressional in
vestigations resulted in law estab-
1.rh .
arate institution, free from the inf1u.
ences of the postal service: In accord
ance with that law President Jackson
appointed c. K. Gardner, of New Jer
sey, on July 2, 1886, and the postal ac-
counts have ever since been audited
by treasury officials, the present au-
ditor being Henry A. Castle, of Mime
sofa, who has occupied the position
since may II, 1897. Previous to assum-
ing the duties of this great office. Capt
Castle had been postmaster at ST.
Paul, Mimi, where he made a careful
study of postal laws and regulat ions.
In 1886 the total transactions of the
office were less than 100000 an
nually. For the last fiscal year the
aggregate transactions amounted to
$SO3,259, 500. Isn't that a tremendous
business? The sale of every stamp
and postal card is watched by the au-
ditor's office. Not a penny must be
misdirected in all of the more than
36,OOO,OOO domestic money orders
which are issued every year. Every
money order ultimately comes to the
auditors office as a voucher, where it
is handled five times and checked
twice, by different officials. Without
counting them, the total weight of
money orders received here has been
>apwards of 5000 pounds in one month.
In his official report the auditor
says: "Not only are we obliged to
keep correct accounts of all branches
of the postal service, for the purpose
of our own settlements with postmas-
tiers, but we are almost daily called
upon for informa ton by the post office
department which is used as founda-
ton for proceedings against postmas
tiers and other employees, or for deter
mining their status and efficiency.
The official tenure and even the per-
sonal liberty of the postmaster may
depend upon the statement of his ac
counts at a specified date, furnished
by this Office"
Previous to 1890 there were always
| thousands of delinquent accounts of
postmasters every year. In 1892 new
| system of auditing was inaugurated
| In the third quarter of 1894 there were
| only 35S delinquents. For the quarter
| ended June so, 1901, when there were
| 10000 postmasters, there were only
nine delinquent postmasters in the
United States proper, two in Alaska
| and three in Hawaii This is regarded
as the best bookkeeping in the wold
The postmaster general is very
much in earnest in the matter of Sc
curing an additional building for the
| transaction of the work of his depart
ment It is believed by the auditor
| and the officials that the secretary of
| the treasury will also desire the cree
| ton of additional quarters. In that
| event, with two members of the cab
| met recommending the same thing, as
necessary business proposition, it is
fair to presume that within another
year we shall see the beginning of an
other handsome departmental build
ing in this city.
SMITH D. FRT.