The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-07-29

Mr.. Hammond belongs to the outs in
congress, but this year he was strictly
among the ins, for many of the bills
passed were passed by progressive re-
publican and democrats
Mr.. Davis said that he had selected
the best men for postmasters, men
whom the people endorsed and wanted.
The postmasters were representing the
only large business that doubles itself
every ten years. In any other bust
ness, the expense does not keep pace
with the growth of the business. In
the postoiiice department, the expense
is almost l40 per cent. He did not
high. nor the transportation charges.
The franking privilege ought to be cut
down. Lots of unfrankable matter
goes through the mails. congressman
ought not to send out wagonloads and
carloads of material to their constitu-
ents.
The republican party made a stag
ger at carrying out its platform, and
he hoped that it would keep on stag
gering. Civil service in many instances
is farce Merit does not receive its
reward. The bureaucracy at Wash
ington is great blot upon the coun-
try. The postoffice department is not
run with as much strictness as many
of the other departments.
Many people long for government
,nI, TX l,,,% b{ 10
keep away from it, There are 10000
to $4,000 employees there, some of whom
are worse off than when they went.
They are seeking promotions, which
many of them cannot get because OF
favoritism in the departments. A man
getting 5000 has to stay there, while
another man, not so competent, is
boosted up thrugh the grades and
gets to draw $500, and the 5000
man does the most work. Generally
speaking. civil service is extending to
the postmasters, and merit among them
is succeeding.
Postmaster Veigel moved that vote
of thanks be extended to Congressman
Hammond and Davis for their excel
lent addresses, and this was done by
rising vote.
PAPER BY E. M. Pressnall
Postmaster f. NJ. Pressnall of Eagle
Lake had paper prepared on "The
Fourth Class Postmaster" but for
want of time was unable to read it.
The paper deals with facts showing
| that the man in Il fourth class office
is paid much less than any other per-
! son connected with Uncle Sans SER
| vice. Postmasters in this class are
paid by the number of cancellation
of stamps on letters mailed from that
office. Large stamp sales and a large
amount of incoming mail does not in
crease the pay. Mr.. Pressnall said
! that most of the fourth class post
masters get the meagre salary of $40
or $50 a month. The reduction Of let
! ter postage from 3 cents to 2 cents Is
one of the many things that have re-
duced the salary of postmasters. Then
| too. our congressman and government
officials frank nearly all of their let
! ters. documents. etc. which also tends
I to burden the labors of the fourth
class stamp Ticker
Many changes have been wrought il
the service of the various fourth class
postmasters. Formerly the mail sach
was brought to the Office and tn,
contents dumped out onto a table
where everybody came and helped
themselves Now the service is as goot
as the first class office.
Mr.. PressnalI is an accommoda tins
official and the people of Eagle Lake
appreciate the excellent service rcn
dered patrons.
"Rcads in Rural Routes"
Postmaster NJ. p Lyons of Madison
Lake was unable to be present but hi
sent an excellent paper, which was reas
His subject was Roads in Rura
Routes He said that the govern
ment ought not to have started any
routes without compelling the farm
ers to put the roads in good condition
as it is easier to get them to d,
this before the routes are started
than afterwards. He told what The
carriers could do toward getting thu
farmers to improve the roads, and crit:
cised the way that the farmers do fl,
the roads in many eases, by plowin.
up the sod and placing it in the cen
ter of the road.
Postmaster Veigel of this city was
down for paper on "Rural Delivery.
but owing to the lack of time he dix
not read it. The program had to b.
4 shortened in the afternoon, and tin
automobile ride that was proposed
had to be cut out.
Others who read papers were JOIN
Sheehy of Montgomery on ''The Post
master and the Rural Carrier" w. S
Bartholomew of Avon, on 'Thc Lea2u
of It's Obiects;'' Charles o. Barry o
Walker, Iowa, president of the low;
state league, on "Distriot Organiza
tions,'' w. o. Book of New Albin, Iowa
vice president of the national leacu,
on parcels POST" J. A. Henry o
GAINESVILLE. "On the Money Orde
BUSINESS" and William Kaiser of Fari
bault on "Classifiel Civil Service
Mayer Meyers Address Gem.
Mayor Meyers address of welcome
was a gem, according to the opinion
of those present. He spoke of Man
kato of being such u beautiful city