Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-04
Inspector Rules That Soldiers
Home Postmistress Can Not
Keep the Box Rent Money
OLD CUSTOM is RULED OUT
inspector Decides That the Custom In
Force is, Irregular and Postmaster
Smith Puts Up for Present Year
Saint Comes in for His-Nliss Walk
or Will Have to Repay Both.


affairs has arisen in the soldiers home
postoffice. Federal Inspector George u.
Brill. has found that there had been
no accounting made for box rents
since the sub-station was established,
about ten years ago. 1t seems that q
condition has grown up whereby the
box rents at the home postoffice OF
ten cents per quarter were given 10
the postmistress for additional COM
pensation. Now Inspector Brill calls
Postmaster Smiths attention to the
fact that all box rents must go to the
government and First Assistant Post
master General Hitchcock confirms the
ruling. Postmaster Smith has imme-
diately paid S9s.O7 for the portion
claimed under his administration ana
has asked for a special Inspection "
adjust the whole thing. II the decision
stands Postmaster Saint will be called
upon for sum approximating $lOo per
wear during most of his administra-
ton and Lulu Walker tho postmistress
will have to make good to both post
masters
IrreauIarity Arose Gradually.
INQUIRY at the home discloses that
the irregular;ty is one that has arisen
gradually. Miss Walker. the present
.postmfstress, fell into the same Gus
tom that had prevailed before her. she
was made postmistress in JAM, l90S,
taking the office a few days after the
death of Mr.. Lunt, which occurred on
Ian. 26. 1903. Mr.. Lunt had been post
master for several years, before ten
home had been made a regular SUD
station. In those days the mail was
sent to tie home in a sack and Lunt
distributed it. In order to make IL
more conva Gent, and in order that the
postmaster. so-called, might IN
measure be ,epaid for his trouble.
pigeon holes, made of cigar boxes.
were used to place mail for certain
patrons who wanted to pay quarter
Nv rental and get their mail without
waiting at the general delivery. Wheil
n sub station was formed these pat
rons kept paying their money to the
postmaster, and no question was ever
raised. When Lunt died and MISS
Walker took charge, the same condl-
ton prevailed The new headquarters
building was erected, and an apart
ment was furnished by the state FOR
use as postoffice. Regular boxes
were built in, and all converiences fur
nished. all at the states expense. New
err until recently has any question peen
raised.
Horton Doesn't Like 1t.
Commandant Horton doesn't take
very kindly to the ruling OF the de-
partment, and even threatens TO
throw the postoffice out" He thinks
that it is not fair to Miss Walker
to make her pay back several hundred
dollars that was derived from home
members who wanted to show their
appreciation for the painstaking eff
forts of the home postmistress. The
state of Iowa has furnished every
thing for the use Of the office, and
the federal government has not paid
a penny for fuel light, or any other
of the ordinary expenses ct an Office
Miss Walker Most Competent.
Miss Walker is most competent
postmistress, and according to POST
entire country who handles postoffice
with as much business ability, care and
painstaking efforts to look after the
governments business as she does. He
is sorry the question has been raised.
but knows Of no solution under the
present ruling, except to have the
postmistress made good the amount
due from box rents during her entire
incumbency Of four years.
The soldiers home postonice DIFF
fers materially from other postoffices
and even s,lb-stations. 1t is not a
revenue paying office, in that a great
deal of the business Is done thru the
government and is franked, including
much pension business. For this rea-
son the office would not pay a very big
salary to postmaster If the revenue
determined the salary. AS it is the
postmistress receives straight SAL
airy Of $500 per year.