The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-14
PROFITABLE
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About so of the postmasters took the
trip to Silver Springs yesterday aft
ernoon in automobiles and carriages
supplied by citizens of Ocala under
the auspices of the committee appoint
ed by the board of trade and Mr.. T. T.
Munroe president of that body. The
delegates greatly enjoyed the ride to
the Springs and its beauties and after
a thorough inspection of that wonder
full sheet of water. boarded Mr. G. K.
Robinson's and Mr.. Pat RandalPs
boats and went down to the Carmi-
chael landing, farm and bungalow,
where Mr. Carmichael threw the doors
Of his bungalow wide open and invit-
ed the delegates in to partake Of an
fine a picnic lunch and fish fry one
could ever wish for. This trip and
the entertainment supplied in connec
ton with it will long be remembered |
with pleasure by the visitors and |
spokene of with praise in connection |
with their stay in Ocala.
The session this morning was well |
attended with Mr.. Allen in the chair |
and the two lady secretaries at their |
desks, Mrs. f. F. Allen of Orange |
Park, secretary of the Florida League |
OF Postmasters of the Third and |
Fourth Grades and Mrs. Grace 3. Wise |
Of Jacksonville, secretary to Post |
master Gerow and also secretary of
the Postmasters Association of the
state of Florida.
The first speaker the Star reporter
heard was Mr.. F. A Bushnell of Floral
City, on the conditions and qualif1ca-
tions Of the fourth class postmasters.
He had been postmaster for ten years
h
I'm that time. He was certain there
had been great improvements in the
service in that time. He very
proud to belong to the biggest interest
and financial institution of the land.
He related many experiences OF the
qualifications of fourth class post
masters ten years ago. He told of one
who after he had been postmaster for
over a year came to him to get his
help to" make out a quarterly report.
OF another party who when called on
by his securities to make good for
their man, having failed to report to
the government, used one column for
one cent stamps and in the other he
put down dollars for cents. He said
the style of sureties in those days was
man who worked in a phosphate
mine at 1925 a day. No other prop
erty than his ability to labor The
other two sureties were one man with
eight children and no other property
and the other man with more children,
and the surety being on the pauper
list at IS month. The bond of these
three persons was in the sum of $500
and not worth the paper written on.
But looking back he said great i'm
provements existed in the office of to-
day over conditions a decade ago.
discussion were the resolutions ap-
proving of the system prevailing Of
making examinations for positions in
postoffices and for postmasters. They
were about to pass, when POstmasters
ONeal, Bean. Hare, Miss Bishop of
EustiS and others said that system
might be all well in New England but
1T would not do in this section of the
country where negroes entered into
the competition for such positions. Mr..
Bean said he knew sections of Florida
where il the department appointed a
negro postmaster he wouldn't serve
"a hours. You may call it prejudice of
what not, but the fact existed and you
could not alter it. Result the report
made simply received, but not
endorsed.
The following recommendation for
officers for the association for the en-
suing year: President, w. r. ONeal,
Orlando: first vice president, G. A. AL
ba, st. Augustine; second, w. c. Smith,
Daytona: third. c. F. Allen, Orange
Park; fourth, Miss Hettie B. Spencer.
Dade City; treasurer, F. J. Huber,
Ocala; secretary to be left 20 presi-
dent to select, with this recommended
ton, that hereafter instead of a COM
mittee to name the officers they should
be named from the floor.
The next place of meeting was then
contested for There were three places,
Daytona. ST. Petersburg and Jackson
Vile. Mr.. Smith spoke for the beau
tiful city of Daytona and gave it
glowing send off. Mr.. Hanna was
equally fluent and poeticaI about ST.
Petersburg and said if they came they
would never regret it.
Mrs. Grace Barry Wise, the attract
i've secretary to Postmaster Gerow,
Jacksonville, spoke for that town. The
other towns said they were dry. She
said Jacksonville was decidedly wet.
That if they chose to come Jackson
Vile would be delighted to see them
and would do their best as they al
ways did for the entertainment of such
associations. The vote stood ST. Peters,
burg 35. Daytona q, Jacksonville Z.
So St. Petersburg will entertain next
year the mail distributors
The resolutions, at least that por-
ton OF them that referred to the gov
eminent printing the return card on
envelopes and which the association
committee endorsed, was opposed by
Otis F. Landers. a former printer and
newspaper man. having learned his
trade in Ocala, on the ground that the
government was entering in direct
competition with the individual and at
a price that no honest and equitable
rate could sustain. 1t was the only
competition OF its kind against the
individual in the land by the govern
ment. The postmasters favored it be-
cause it facilitated business: it made
the work distinct, but for all this the
chairman admitted the competition
was not fair, favored it and finally
passed read.
Because of the faithful and efficient
work done by Mrs. Grace B. Wise as
secretary. in behalf Of the association
it was moved and seconded she be
paid the expenses of her trip to Ocala
and return and the same be incor-
porated in the minutes. 1t was grac-
ious act and the fair subjects labors
were fittingly recognized.
With