The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-07

B
Says the Annual Report Of the
First Assistant Post
master General.
AN EIGHT-H0IIR BASIS
Is One of the Policies of the
Department Postoffice
Locations Are Discussed
General.


At the end OF the last fiscal year
June 80, 190S-there were in oper-
alton a total OF 61,15S post ofHces in
the United States. according to the
annual report OF the FIRST assistant
postmaster general, made public to-
day. The number OF postmasters
appointed at presidential Offices was
'2,174, while 1875 were given COM
missions in the fourth class offices.
The report regards with favor the
meetings of postmasters associations
In annual convention, and states
that these meetings have been en-
Outraged by the department by the
sending of representatives to Join
with the postmasters In discussing
postal affairs and making plans for
the betterment of the service. The
first assistant, however. believes that
better results would follow If num-
Der of the associations would con-
solidate This, he thinks, would eff
feet a larger attendance and extend
the influence OF the associations.
The policy OF the department. it,
is stated, ins;Hmitfng SO far as pos
slble the average daily hours of SER
vice of post Office clerks to eight, and
to have only such work done on Sum
days as Is necessary to prevent delay
in the transmission or the mails and
Inconvenience to the public, has put
the service practically on an eight
hour basis so far as the larger post
Offices are concerned. In the case
OF the smaller Offices. the report
says, it has not always been feasible
to establish an eiEnt-hour schedule,
without increased expanse, owing ri
the late and early arrival and de-
parture of malls To Offset this the
department. has issued instru ctions|
to postmasters to allow their clerks
brief periods of duty at times when
mails are not being received or dis-i
patched.
The fact that millions are appro-
priatcd by Congress for sites and
struc tures to be used for post office
purposes with the Department hay-l
ing no voice in the selection of theI
site or the designing and equippingE
of the building, is cause for consid-l
cradle comment and criticism. "A
convenient location, an interior ar
rangement planned with special ref-I
erence to post Office needs, and al
proper equipment are vital to thet
prompt and economical handling OIL
the mails" says the first assistant.
However he adds. ''the require
ments of the larger post Offices with
respect to location and design differ
SO materially from those OF the Other
government establishments usually
housed in federal buildings, that i'll
is rarely feasible to place them un-
der--the same roof without disad-
vantage to the postal service. -
or special interest to the general
public are the recommendations re-
lating to the extension and improve
ment of the city delivery service.
Millions of people residing in small
towns. it is stated, are without any
form of free delivery. This condi-
ton. the report says, can be rene
died by amending the law so as to
permit of the establishment of city
delivery service at post offices where
the receipts are sa much as $4,000 an
nually. The previous recommended
ton that mail shall not be delivered
by city carriers, except eat residences
or off1ces where suitable mail receipt
acles are placed at the door or emit
rance, Is renewed. The expense to
the patrons would be trifllng." says
the report, while the amount OF
time saved the letter carriers who
now wait for an answer to the door
bell would In the aggregate repre-
sent a very large sum of money that,
might we'll be spent in giving more
frequent deliveries and collections"
REPRIEVE