The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-08-04
ployees i'm the service. Z
[Signed.]
e. e. LANE, I
o. A. HOLT, Z
Holm r. MOORE 4

II. II. LANE, r
+ o. A. HOLT, +
+ JOHN E. MOORE. t.
4. + 4. + j. I. + 4. I. + + + + + +
From Fridays Daily.
The second annual convention of
the Mankato District League of Post.
masters of third and fourth class Of
fees, which was held in this city
yesterday, was pleasant and inter-
esting affair. The afternoon session
was devoted to discussion and listen
ing to papers. e. H. Olson of Nicol-
let had planned on coming in his au-
tomobile, and let the train go, and
the rain detained him, so he could
not present his paper on Parcels
Post on Rural Routes" A. H. Press
nall. of Eagle Lake was also absent,
but his subject, civil Service for
All iOffices of the Fourth Class"
was discussed by w. S. Bartholomew
of Avon. The latter took the ground
that this ought not to be withheld
from the fourth class offices, as any
thing for the good of the service
ought to be adopted, and this would
certainly be for the good of the
service. Since 1910, the ablest men
away with the present political sys-
TEN of appointments, he said
Construction, Painting, ETC., of
Rural Mail Boxes" was a subject
thrown open to general discussion,
and more participated in this than
in any other discussion. Different
postmasters told how they had gone
to work to have the boxes painted,
and what progress had been made.
Favored Parcels Post.
C. p. Christensen of Lake Crystal,
in discussing the subject, favored a
parcels post. He, had served one
year as postmaster, and was trying
to sell out his interest in the mer-
camille business so as to comply with
the regulations of the government.
He hoped that when the four years
rolled around that he would have
given such satisfaction that he would
be reappointed He had put up a
new postoffice building, thing
which many other towns need, for
pOstoffices are often located in di-
lapidated buildings. His building was
25 by SO feet, well lighted, and cost
$4,000, and was credit to the town
ceived numerous letters from other
postmasters making inquiries about it.
Postoffice Inspector John IT. Boylan
of this city made a few suggestions
to the postmasters as to how to help
prevent postoffice robberies. He said
that the yeggmen are over the land
and he was confident that more
postoffices would be robbed in this
district. 1t was up to the postmas-
ters to protect the government
money as they do their own. They
should make deposits often and keep
as little money on hand as possible.
The stock of stamps should be di-
vided and only three or four days
supply should be kept at the post
office, the rest being put in the bank
vault. Whenever a robbery occurs,
the local inspector and the depart
ment at Washington should be no.
titled promptly, and the same thing
should be done in case of fire, and
especially where a mail key is lost,
SO that there may be as little delay
as possible in getting new supplies
and the public Inconvenience as lit
tie as possible
Mr. Christensen, whose pOstOffice
was robbed yesterday morning, said
that he deposits his funds every day,
and therefore did not have much on
hand.
BoyIan Read a Paper.
Mr. BOylan read a paper on "Atti-
tude of the Department Toward Post
masters" He spoke of the magni-
tude of the postal system with it's
325,OO0 employees, handling nearly
4,000,0 100000 pieces of mail annually,
through more than $4,000 postoffices,
over 500,0O0,000 miles Of postal route
travel, and involving an expenditure
of nearly $25O,OOO,0OO annually. Post
master Hitchcock had put the de-
partment on self-supporting basis,
whereas when he took the office
there was $17,500,000 deficit:
/ The speaker told of the merit and
demerit systems. He said that the
attitude of the department toward
postmasters was based on efficiency.
The postal service should be a bust
ness institution, and to make it such
efficiency must govern, rather than
political, social or business affilia-
tions. The department holds that
pOSIludSICIS U6 dppOlHIcU
marily on the basis of fitness for the
work and regard for the wishes of
the communities they serve. and that
trained and capable postmasters
should be retained
Postoffices are not established to
give this, that or the other a posi-
ton. The fundamental idea of every
regulation is service for the public.
Special, particular, continual and ever
lastingly-at-it attention is necessary
to reduce to the minimum the delay
and misplacing of mail. The depart
ment has made numerous changes in
organization and administration that
are proving beneficial, and commits
sions are working on other problems
for Improvement
w. S. Bartholomew, who is presi-
dent of the state league, spoke on
"The District League" He gave
history of this league and told what
it had done, and said that it's object
was the Improvement of the postal
service. He urged support for the
league.
Committee on Elections.
The committee on elections report
ed the following recommendations
for officers President, F. S. Pollard
Of Morgan secretary and treasurer,
Hs