New-York tribune., 1907-05-23
CORTELYOU H0NORED.
GUEST OF POSTAL MEN.
Former Co1corkers Hear Praise Of
Him as Postmaster General.

was the guest Of honor last night at dinner given
by Eve hundred postal officials of the State Of New
York At the Hotel Astor. II was, however. as q
former Postmaster General that ne honored,
and particularly who had. by mis- demonstra-
ton of extraordinary executive ability, been ena-
bled through the merit system 10 mount the ladder
OF success runE by rUUg from CivN Service en-
ploye 10 the present high Office that lie occupies
And II the answer Of those five hundred OF MS
former coworkers to the question asked by Charles
Emory Smith, former Postmaster General. might
be taken for anything. lie has not yet reached the
final goal his official life After sketching Sec
retary Corieiyous career, Mr.. smith asked; And
has he reached his limit?' There came NO"
that made the walls tremble.
Postmaster William r. Wilcox was the toast
master and with him at the speakers table were
the postula sters cities IN this other states
two former Postmaster Generals and other high
government officials and ex-offcias. Among them
We're Walter S. Mayer. postofice inspector: Victor
J. Bradley superintendent OF the Railway Mail Ser
vice: W. J. Nickery. Chef Postofhce Inspector;
Colonel z. s. Fowler: James S Clarkson Sur
veyor of the Port OF New York: Postmaster Fred
erfck Greiner. Buffalo; H f Cochrane; P V De-
graw, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General: ex-
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff: ex-Postmaster
General Thomas l. James; Frank H Hitchcock
First Assistant Postmaster General: James T Nc
Cleary, Second Assistant Postmaster General;
Hamilton Fish; POSTMASTER George 4. Hibbard,
Boston; POSTMASTER George H. Roberts Brooklyn:
F. J. H hracke; Postmaster James H Callahan
Schenectady; c. E. Argersinger and Postnoes+er
Dwight II. Bruce. Syracuse
Postmaster Wilcox said the rise in the public
service of Secretary Cortelyou was only through
the proper adherence TO the merit system He told
Of the good service aIr CorteIvo, had rapdarad tb
Postoflce Department and the public He said in
part:
system IS qf5s bs tbafe iaia fy IS 5fss SRP0ssa to the merit
Tnent under that system and that those who enter
ne See IIrouga II become mere autornatons in
cur guest. who entered the department through the
TO such high Office in our governent % is ~ e ] r1sen
ret1atlon OF the charge and itself tribute TO the
We had heard much about the needed increase n
bun until the administration Of the giesf -
the evening was this much needed Increase made
Much has been written and said during the last
few years about the extraordinary paw made IN tha
The nsraon Of the guest Of 95 the II eysa wa5 6uAg
tion made. - anu 4 'eu-o-
When Secretary Cortelyou was introduced fol-
lowing the speech Of the toastmaster every man in
the dining hall arose and cheered It was great
welcome, and the Secretary waiting for chanoc
10 begin his speech. was plainly affected by its
heartness Nj Cortelyou referred TO the gather
Ing as a reunion Of comrades, and expressed HIS
pleasure that so many branches of the service as
vel as Inc organizations Of employees We're repre-
fen'eo- ne paid tribute 10 his successor George
Won L. Meyer, as Postmaster General and out
lined some OF the things for the Improvement of
the postal service that his administration OF the
department was able to accomplish Another great
cheer went up when the speaker referred TO Presi-
dent Roosevelt's ready recognition Of the conscen-
uous and efficient public servant
Secretary Cortelyou said. in part:
ne as aaser 6e 9e George e v9p od 4 Me- Meyer succeeded
wish MIN nothing better than that he should have
rom the officials and employees of the service the
ne and that believed he wonid 6sHe ac6 co
head Of the departnent man ~ his LIE eni az er
enoe and fne business capacity. You Will find him
clear headed in his analysis OF business details and
e1sous agas E. ape & IalE minded IN his treatment OF
largest Of the government departments. Those OF
appreciate its Burdens as well az as u it's 5o
and the greater his success the greater will be
For two years / had the honor and privilege of
reference ! have already made you VIII understand
why II was not unnatural that The apointment 70
that position was peculiarly gratifyiRg TO me; /
was fortunate 10 knowing something OF the service
foers and employees certain definite steps could be
taken for its improvement .,-
Of second and third class postmasters at Washing
ton. took occasion say that every employe
pointed. advanced, transferred and in all respects
could not be made business institution II other
considerations than merit governed In the discipline
q its force. that postnasters held peculiarly
important relation 10 the communities in which
they lived and that direct representatives OF the
oelaflleht thelf services Telected credit or as
credit upon it. that they should the interests
or business Civilizations; that did not mean that
they wou!d b 1f for their Dositi9ns if they did
not take proper interest in public affairs; but
q course. barred them from participation in fac
mona! differences or other political action that
iask sk., Q: ,aDpreeiaton Of their relation to IT,
shortly after the policy fourth-cla post
masters was determined upon announcement was
mace that 50 far possible similar policy would
obtaln as 10 Presidential postmasters. This did
contemplate life service but aid conternpiate taking
.ese o1ces out OF politics. ar least the extent
sshat & change of administration a change In
senatorial Congressional representation would
not affect the tenure Of eflcient postnasters ~
,Hlen Fe made the announcement that the record
o. Presidential postmasters would be a deterrninine
tsector as 10 the retention l remember having
sCssion of the proposition with several members
% Congress and calling their attention 10 he .soct
maj under normal conditions-in fact under any
.stelf-fTon fourteen 10 fifteen thousand Changes
majority Of which represented deaths resignafjons
.sIt'Naisi mat ~ al these cases. until some
ou plan could be devised the department would
al al upon The members OF Congress for -ecornrnsn
rsst.s oi.s 70 III the vacancies but that in the re-
se-tts I.iatlFelF small number Of cases, repre-
SaIAg tKIlrauons OF appointments OF capab BILE and
sis1 -. Pos slIiiiasIeis, the department would in
once y they desired reappointnlent ~ IA
rnsster ne p2cy as 10 the appointment of post
M 20 % rlsht II vas not established with
Get some embarrassment and some n1isunders,an1
10 he ~" lhaI II Is established. II is proving
who ,aca,alg a 20 titt appointing power and those
r. iecoininend the appointments. I believe fnr-
s1eT appreciation Of the evils connected tn H.
Patrensg.h .he7hqds 75 of appointing public officais
80 80 20 any administration or any party PM re- a
ref1r,'5. -. praGucaDe must be reasonable. No true
.tII!uon OF party service The tone az t5a 80
- IN boih state and nation is wholesome ysbeyy
cles with every Teae,aiI Ing Tor dellnlte poll
Supporters 10 ser, 'tIie a. opportunity to their
victories wen. ~ 0''DoH "i'eh Iolucal
A-i s'1haster General Smith the next sneaker
-, ~ me eulogy OF the guest Of honor ex-
liS pubic service and predicted that he
80 se' Ilseh 10 the fun meridian OF his off,
% career lie also quoted statistics st,o,,,,, ~
fba