New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-21
pnsrnEELcE MAINTENANCE.

Postmaster Wilcox is right in thinking that
the postal business Of New-York iustifes more
liberal allowances than have hitherto been
made to this postoffice and in giving his atten-
ton TO that phase of his problem even before
taking office 1t is TO be hoped that his visit
TO Washington has impressed all who are in
fuential in the matter of appropriations with
the necessity of keeping this office up with the
times and enabling it to make Improvements
on a reasonable business basis. The pressure
for economy is strong in Congress. Economy Is
a good thing, but it does not consist in robblng
the chief revenue producing postofice in the
country of the facilities which 1t needs for the
proper performance Of its work. The New-Hork
Postofice allowances should on DO account be
cut down. Rather they should be considerably
increased. and New-York Congressman should
bestir themselves to secure TO the metropolis
for once IFS just dues
Considering the task laid upon It. the support
of the New-York POstof1ce is inadequate. 1t is
the great entrep6t for foreign mail matter. It
is the clearing house of the money order sys-
TEN. and all international money orders come
to this Office. The business Of the whole coun-
try gravitates here. 1t is to the interest or
people in distant States that the mail be
promptly and safely handled in the commercial
capital. but rural Congressman do not always
remember this They seem to think that New
YORK IS n pace apart, 10 wv uldN IL vi Ivy
for postal revenues and allowed TO get on as
best 1t can. The burden placed on New-York
bv its foreign business and other work Of
general character is not adequately recognized
in allowances. These activities longest the
office and cOmplicate its affairs so that local
work is interfered with.
The receipts Of this Office are nearly S2OOO0-
GOO year. 1t produces about one-htth or
the postal revenues New-Yorkers have not be
grrldged the development at enormous expense
of the rural free delivery system where one per-
son is served with one or two letters. when the
same effort here would bring TO a dozen persons
a dozen letters each. The one person may well
be served, but where there are dozens with
much more business they should be likewise
served in proportion to their needs. The idea
that the city is favored unduly because 1t has
several deliveries a day is erroneous. 1t has
them because there is mail to be delivered so
often It would be as reasonable to complain
because New-York streetcarS ran every minute
whereas rural trolley line gave farmer a
car only once an hour New-Hork has letterS
to send. It pays postage on them and as Il
simple matter of business the government
should keep them moving. The quick local de-
livery system. if properly developed. could
draw much business from telegraph and mes
senger companies and add materially TO the
rich revenues which this city contributes to the
national postal establishment
It may be well also for Republican Congress
men to remember that there is good politics IN
the reform and Improvement of this ofhce. II
has been in an unsatisfactory condition II
now the administration can show the business
people Of New York and the thousands OUTSIDE
who have relations with it model postal ser
vice the demonstration will rebound greatly to
its credit Nowhere will improvement be more
ouicklv or more widely noted than here. Mr..
Wilcox has been put in Office with special re-
sponsibilites as a reformer, and he is entitled
to the most liberal aid in the performance or
the task imposed upon him.