Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-03-05
SITUATION IS
RATHER UNIQUE
Sickness Has Depleted the
Clerical Forces of Local
Postoffice
INSPECTOR CRAWFORD TALKS
He VIII Go to Albuquerque To-
night, Leaving MIR. Kinsell
in Charge.

What is considered unique situ-
alton in postal affairs is found in the
local postoffice here, for yesterday
and this morning the postoffice was
practically without an executive head.
There are several reasons for this
condition of affairs Following the
death of the Postmaster S. B. Grim
shaw, the duties fell upon the should
ers of George Kinsell the assistant
postmaster, the bond holders having
designated him to take charge. But
the fatal illness of Mrs. Kinsell kept
Mr. Kinsell from the Office yester-
day and this morning, consequently
Inspector Crawford found no one here
as the actual head of the postoffice
The new appOintee Edward c. Burke.
has not yet given bond nor received
his commission. Without special au-
thority from Washington Mr. Craw-
ford can not take charge and run the
office, and the law requires the bonds
men of a postmaster to take charge
themselves or designate some one for
whom they will be responsible.
illness Plays Havoc.
But illness still plays havoc with
the postoffice. Inspector Crawford
said this morning: Just at present
the public may we'll be asked to be a
little patient if there are any delays
or mistakes. There are a number of
new clerks in the office acting as sub
stitutes and of course they are far
from being thoroughly familiar with
the duties of the Office.
Fred PlomteauX, the mailing clerk
has resigned to go into forestry work
| believe, and the general delivery
clerk, Miss Moore. is away on leave
of absence. Others are sick and much
switching around has been necessi1
tated.
Il have heard some complaint about
the mail not being distributed fast
enough and the windows being opened
a few minutes late, but | do not think
there is cause for serious complaint in
these respects. The registry window
may have been raised a couple of min
utes after the appointed hour this
morning, but surely not much more
than two or three minutes and nearly
all of the mail was in the boxes by
8 a. m. The situation here is unusual.
owing to deaths, sickness, necessary
leaves of absence and designations,
and the pressing into service of per-
sons inexperienced in postal affairs"
. Civil Service.
A business man who knows a good
deal about the workings of civil serv.
ice said today: ''The postal officials
here are hampered without a doubt by
the civil service rule which forces
them to accept as clerks those who
have passed on paper regardless OF
their business experience or execu
. tive ability and talent for handling de
tails and prevents them from appoint
ing those in whom they have conf
dence. If firm like Wells Fargo
Co., had charge of the post office i
$ would go right out and select clerks
who have tried business ability
> whether they are on an eligible list o.
: not. A postmaster cannot do this ant
many of the men he would like tt
D have around him are unwilling to gt
h into civil service examination ant
9 wait for months to hear of their ap
pointment, or work periodically a
: substitutes"
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