The Washington times., 1905-01-27
WOULD IMPROVE
MAIL DELIVERY
The Postal superintendent
Make Recommendations.
URGE UNIFORM PUNISHMENT
Would Compel New Book OF ReguIa-
tions-other Suggestions Made.
Yearly Conferences Hereafter.

Postmaster General Wynne has re
ceived the report of the conference OF
delivery superintendent, which held a
session of several days in the Postof-
fee Department
The Postmaster General called the
conference for the purpose of having
the superintendents of delivery in the
large cities of the country make recon-
lnendations for the betterment OF post
Office conditions and facilities
In accordance with the wishes of the
Postmaster General. the superintendent
from New York. Philadelphia, Chicago
cussed numerous subjects having a bear
ing upon the matter of establishing
a uniform system al over the country.
Uniformity Difficult.
The first obstacle encountered by
the big letter carriers was the utter
impossibility OF establishing a system
which would meet all cases In all Of
fees. Therefore, one of the first things
decided by the committee. ii is under
stood. was that minor details should be
|left TO the postmasters, and only rec
concentrations which could apply to all
koffices were made
Postmaster General Wynne has not yet
made public the suggestions contained
I'm the report, but it is known that one
|of the most important recommendations
was a uniform punishment law 10 be
[apried alike in every Postofiice for the
ISame offense.
|. AS it is now, different rules are fol-
lloweG in almost every large postoffice-
fThe superintendent wish to provide for
Iihe punishment of a carrier who gets
drunk, for instance, and apply the rule
I1H cases in Boston and San Francisco,
|or wherever they may arise.
New Regulations.
Another important suggestion which
Twill doubtless be acted upon is the
mpilation of book of regulations, to
|be distributed to every carrier and
postoffice ernploye in the United States,
(which will show them exactly what
their duties are, and what they can do
and cannot do. Already there is such a
book. but it was published several
Years ago, and Is not at all complete.
Other equally important ideas were
Suggested by the committee of super
tntendents. and most of them viii doubt
Tess be adopted.
The superintendent who attended
the conference We're John Washington,
New York Walter A Smith. Brooklyn
Major Edward T. Barker, of Boston
JaIneS. OSulliYan. of Philadelphia; Gel.
.e Roy T. Steward. of Chicago, and
Major James E. Bell, of Washington.
First Conference in Years.
Fourteen years ago there was a CON
Ference composed of the superinten-
Dents from the same cities, but only
TWO OF the present superintendent Were
Lhen In Office They We're Major James
E. Bell and Major Edward T. Barker,
who lare two of the oldest delivery Off
kcials Ain the postal service.
The conference which met in January,
1891. made many recommendations
which were adopted, and brought about
FnaEy improvements in the service.
Those improvements, however, hay5
about reached the limit of usefulness.
Strange to relate, the very things these
euperintendents strove to establish
Fourteen years ago. are now recon-
|nesl1ed for abrogation.
It is understood that the conference
recommended that the superintendent
be called together every year TO dis
sllss various matters arising in the Of
1iceS throughout the country This
Recommendation will most likely be ap-
proved