The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-24
ooveRNMeNrI. auILplNcs.

tionas cosors 10 be diSplayed On the /
federal building every day In reply ]
] 1t Is to be said that the display OF the
dag is a treasur, der artment, not !
postoface department. regulation The
prtofHce department has no control !
whatever over the government build
ings occupied for postofice and other
purposes. The inquiry suggests the
thought that there mar be other per-
sons who are not informed concerning
the maintenance and control CT fed
eral buildings and that statement q
/ the facts IN the case wouId be Of more
Tor less general interest
All government buildings are under
confro. Of the treasury department
which bears the entire exp nse Of
their maintenance For convenience
In cities like Keokuk the postmaster
is made custodian of the building TO
the treasury department he is known
as the custodian and not as the post
master AS custodian he receives no
SALARY. AZ the representative of the
treasury department he is required TO
do all the work thai the landlord or
the paid agent of a building would or
/ dinarily perform. II the postofzce was
in rented quarters the landlord or his
agent would be required to look after
all the details. The post ONCE depart
ment rents only buildings already
lighted and heated, and there is never
Il any dispute about gas bills, fuel bills,
Il water rates and all that sort of thing
\ to worry the postmaster. Uncle Sam
knows nothing of them. With govern
i ment buildings 1t is different The
custodian must contract for all of the
supplies necessary IN the conduct OF
!. the business. The experience OF years
has brought to the treasury depart
ment such store OF knowledge that
nothing IS overlooked Printed blanks
j are furnished the custodian with list
/ Of everything that he may possibly
/ need. For all of these various supplies
: sufficient for year, he is authorized
to as.- for bids. The bios are re
N ceived in a formal way. opened in the
presence OF witnesses who mus. sub
scribe to the detail of the transaction
and all o. .hat information is then
! forwarded to the treasury department
: where the successful bidder is desig
) mated.
The regulations require that the fue
shall be inspected to<make certain
/ that 1t does not contain slate, iron
5 ETC., which is not wanted and the au
r thorized inspector must attest that the
# fuel was OF standard quality and ful
x weight delivered. In the supply de
i partment provision is made for carry
d ing away the waste material, ashes
etc, and bids on that work are asked
for.
3 The list OF supplies required in som
Is of the buildings as shown by the prin1
d ed lists Is really surprising. the rang
e is so wide. II Is noticeable that tn
t. treasury department has feather dus'
n ers on the absent list; there is no a
Is lowance for that generally tabooed al
IL ticle. There is ample allowance, hov
ever, for everything, with that excel
lt.on, needed by the janitors, althoug
as the buster can not now be classed
re the st of necessarfes-
o. There is no lack of red tape In Il
rt treasury department, but 1t is diffe
at ent from the methods Of the post
on department. In the regulations of Il
he latter every man is required to sig
Ike the pay roll when he receives his {
i'd lowance The treasury departme
nd simply pays the caretakers on certa
les days. and that is the end of it. II Il
is- postmaster was required to buy 81
plies for the postal department, t
payee would be required to sign ]
~ ceipt, perhaps in the presence of v
da. nesses, and that would be fled in I
NO department. The voucher or che
he would come to the postmaster to
Nv delivered to the proper person.
rna treasury department has another pls
=. After all of the formalities of inspe
Gle ion of supplies, correct attestation
On. their receipt, formal approya, OF t
4 ), claim CT the contractor, the custodi
ver simply forwards the claim to Washil
= al ton. The voucher IN liquidation dc
ava not come to the custodian. 1t is mail
tn direct to the claimant
The custodian is required to Ike
ned a distinct set of books for the but
You ing, showing each step in all trans
oys. tions. This is done largely throu
ana the fling of letters, of which there
I ,aI large accumulation on hand
.a1, The post Office department does ]
syer pay rent to the treasury DEPARTING
One department gets all Of the be
lus- fits of the building, and the other
.ws- partment bears all the expense.
/ he The department regulations requ
any the flying OF the flag; provided furt
onfi- that it shall be ha'f staff on Men
the ial Day, and such other days as
, in department may direct There is
i on lot of rules to be remembered in {
his ing for the building, certain meth
of procedure for practically ev
emergency There is a specific pro
ion that the building shall not
rail. draped. Thus 1t happens that whet
, eX. it is on an occasion OF mourning or
- . of common joy and delight, the W
-. of the most office will remain bare