The Mankato free press., 1910-06-17
HOLD JOB FOR LIFE
THAT is WHAT THE POSTMASTERS
WOULD LIKE TO DO.

was lnauSurated yesterday at the
fifth annual conventions of the Mime
sofa State League of Postmasters and
the Tri-State Postmasters' association,
comprising Minnesota, North and South
Dakota, held at the Minneapolis post
! office and Memorial hail. city hall, re
spectlvely, which may eventually result
III postmasters of all classes in all
parts of the United States being APP
| pointed for life if capable and efficient
| 1t is expected that both conventions
! will adopt resolutions today asking
that the classified service be extended
! to first, second and third class post
masters i'll all parts of the United
States and fourth class postmasters in
! the territory not now covered by the
civil service classification. Fourth class
postmasters in the states east of the
| Mississippi river and north of the Ohio
river are now included in the civil
! service classification, their appointments
being for life.
If the Tri-State Postmas sters' associa-
tion adopts the resolution, as expected,
it will be the first time in the history
of the postoffice that first and second
: class postmasters have advocated the
classification under the civil service.
Endorse the Parcels Post.
Resolutions may be adopted urging
the establishment of parcels posts ON
rural routes at such rates as will not
give mail order houses any advantage
over the home merchants. Both con
ventions favor the postal savings bank
and both are in favor of simplifying
! the present method of issuing money
orders, it being the contention that
the application of the buyer and the
| advice sent to the paying office
should be eliminated
Mayor J. c. Haynes welcomed the
400 delegates to the tri-state conven-
tion at the opening session held in his
office. President Kaiser, Faribault,
responded for the visitors. Senator
Moses E. Capp. who was to have
spoken at both conventions yesterday,
was unable to be present.
This afternoons session in Memorial
hall was addressed by p. V. De
Graw, Washington, d. c., fourth assist !
ant postmaster general. The speaker
compimented the postmasters on the
increased business in the northwest in
recent years
President Kaiser then addressed the
convention, advocating the extension of
! the classified service to include all post
tor ho nj
Eliminate the Red Tape
Alton Crosby, postmaster at viii |
mar, MINI. advocated the elimination
of red tape in connection with the
issuing of money orders. He favored |
the giving of receipts to purchasers,
paying office was an unnecessary step
and that the department would save
$6OOOOO annually if this method was
abolished
He advocated the issuing of postal
notes for $40 at less fee than the reg
ular money order, payable at any post
office in the United States. The speaker
also favored the idea of paying money |
orders at all offices. regardless of what |
office it was issued on. He said the |
postmaster who cashed postoffice
money order was not taking very long
chances.
George p Tawney. Winona, spoke for
Il special rural parcels post. c. H. !
Strobeck Litchfield Mimi, gave the
delegates some pointers on system"
which he declared would eliminate
many local troubles in postofices.
Address BY Mayor Haynes.
The Minnesota State League of Post
masters opened its convention in the
civil service room of the federal build
ing at 10 Il. m Mayor Haynes wei |
coined the delegates and President |
Bartholomew of Avon, Mimi, respond !
ed. p. V. De Graw, fourth assistant |
postmaster general, delivered the open
ing address at the afternoon session
Postmaster Fred Bloom of Woodstock
advocated an increase of compensation ,
for pOstmasters of the fourth class.
Postmaster Bloom is one of the old
est postmasters attending the conven
ton and was IA helper in the postoffice
under President Fillmore's administra-
tion. He stated that while the post i
age rates for first class matter had |
been through many reductions that the
postmasters salary had not been raised /
He deemed this unjust as the basis of
the fourth class postnaster's salary is |
the cancellation OF stamps. He said
the rural delivery had added another
burden on the small postmaster bu.
still his salary had not been increa sed
in spite of the fact that he had TO
do the cantor work" for the rural
carriers.
Mr. Bloom declared that prior to the
establishment of rural routes, few
farmers received daily papers, while
now every farmer who does not get one
or more papers on his route daily is
considered a back number
He said the fourth class postmaster
was the only ono who had to provide
his own office, fuel and oil. He de
plored the increased cost of living when
he thought of his small salary.
II bought broom for the postoflicc
the other day for 80 cents" lie said.
i have sold dozens of better brooms
for % cents. Congressman also tell
us to resign if we don't like the Job.
Why. | have seen men struggle to