The Washington times., 1903-06-23
Third Assistant Postmaster
General Would Complete
Bonding System by In
Guiding Railway Clerks.
Link in Chain Now Want
ing-Matter Referred to
Board, But Finding Delay
ed by MetCalt's Dismissal,

ed by MetCal1 S Dismissal.
One OF the results of the disturbed
condition in Postoffice Department af-
fairs following the Investigations is that
the committee of arbitration which is to
decide about bonding railway mail clerks
will rot be able to complete its report
as soon as was expected. James 7.
Metcalf, the dismissed superintendent of
the money order division, was one Of the
arbitrator, and it will be necessary to
Gil his place.
Registered mail is handled by bonded
employees. except when IT is in the hands
CT the railway postal clerks. and E. G.
Madden. Third Assistant Postmaster
General. wishes those clerks to be bonded
in order to complete the line of bonded
responsibility which extends from the
sender to the receiver of the package
or letter.
Mr.. Madden's Purpose.
The registry system is under the
jurisdiction OF the Third Assistant. All
the responsible employees are bonded, so
as to guard both the Government and
the public against loss. There is a regu-
lar indemnity of SIS fixed by law and
regulation. which is operative in the
. absence of any disturbing factor, for
parcel lost. Often. however. the prov
able value of a parcel is much larger
than this, and the patron of the mail
would be heavy sufferer unless he could
obtain more damages than the routine
sum.
1t has been the aim OF the
present Third Assistant. Mr. Mad
den. TO make his service approach
as near as practicable to that OF
the express companies in the security
II offers its patrons. Only an infnItesi-
NAL fraction OF the immense amount
handled yearly is lost, but for that little
he wishes to make his subordinates ac-
countable wherever he can.
Added Check Needed.
The checks upon accident in this sys-
tenn are a series OF receipts given by
each handler of piece of mail to the
employe who turns 1t over to him: 50
that, on notice of the loss of package.
it can be traced by a chain of receipts
from the hand that first held it through
the series 10 the point where II disap-
pears from the mails. and the man who
gave the last receipt for it is the one
who must make II good.
But there is one link in the chain
which does not fall within the control
OF the Third Assistant This is when
the package is actually en- route be-
tween two distant points. Then it pass
es under the Second Assistant. who has
charge OF all transportation.
II a registered package is to go from
New York to Boston. for example, the
registry division of the New York
postof1ce : accountable for IL till II is
turned over 70 the mail car employees. At
the end OF the route they deliver IL 10
the registry division of the Boston post
Office. which then assumes responsibility
till it reaches the addressee.
II II is to be delivered by a letter
carrier at the door OF the house to
which IL is directed in Boston, it is fair
~ safe. because the carrier is bonded
and must. either in person or through
his bondsmen make good its loss. or
as much Of the sum involved as he can.
Railway Employees Not Bonded.
The railway mail employees. however.
are not bonded. II they lose package
the Government makes good its value up
TO the amount OF $50, and no more This
gap in the system Of indemnity is a
serious handicap 10 the service, which
the Government is doing SIS best 10
strengthen and build Up. SO it was pro-
posed some time ago by the Third Assis-
tant that the Second Assistant should
adopt the practice of bonding his en-
ployes. lie objected. and II was decided
to leave the question to arbitration.
The security which the Third Assistant
Postmaster General insists that the pub
lie should have is entirely outside OF the
law BY statute the Postmaster Genera
IS clothed with discretion to FIX a max
imum indemnity rate at any figure not
TO exceed 500. He has fixed it at $25
and that limit remains till he or some
successor changes II.
Cooperation Needed.
But Mr.. Madden's theory is that the
GVNtTuI1tuf uds Il 10 nDlu Any en-
ploye responsible not only for theft o.
other deliberate wrongdoing. but fot
carlessness. So II any clerk under MS
authority IS responsible for a mishal
10 a registered package. he demand
restitution. II the clerk cannot com
pass IL. II Is collected OF his bondsmei
up 10 the limit OF their obligation, an,
the money turned over TO the unfortu
nate patron. although the latter has m
actual claim on II in law.
The pending effort is to induce TN
Second Assistant Postmaster General {,
take some means 70 make his CLERKS VII,
handle registered mail responsible 70
what happens 20 package when fl
their custody. wholly outside OF an,
question OF the limit fixed by the Post
master General 10 the indemnity, AM
regardless Of whether the patron coul,
recover more than SIS II he went to Law
about IT,