The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-07-14
A MISTAKEN IDEA

Some of the Stars readers are of the
opinion that it blames the people Gin
the Oca1a postoff1ce for the non-deliv-
cry Of mail Sunday afternoon.
This is an entirely mistaken impress
sion. We don't believe there is, any
where in the United States, more eff
icient and accommodating set of post
office clerks. This paper is indebted
to them every day for courtesies, and it
can testify to their doing much work
and taking much trouble on their own
time to accommodate people who can't
sometimes won't) appear at the deliv-
cry and stamp windows in office hours.
We have no doubt that they would de-
liver. mail to people who want it Sum
day afternoon on their. own time il the
regulations Of the department would
permit.
The trouble in this, as in may other
foolish, measures, lies in the men high
er up. Whatever there is of efficiency
and accommodation in the postoffice
department is due mostly to the rank
and file. The methods of the depart
ment have for years been the ridicule
of business men. 1t has put in much
more time in trying to dictate what
the people should read and write than
il has in making useful improvements.
There is not much use in the Star
kicking on the non-delivery of Sunday
mail. II it was in some town in a close
northern district it would be different
The people who have been going to
the postofffce for their mail Sunday af
ternoons, though comparatively few in
number, are among the very ones who
need their letters at that time the most,
and it is class. discrimination to make
it impossible for them to get it with
out extra trouble and expense.
The following from the Tampa
Times, seems to the Star. to apply very
well to the present administration of
the postal department.:
cit was with much parade of head
lines that it was hera1ded to the nation
that Postmaster-General Hitchcock had
at last, but all of a sudden, accomplish
ed the hitherto unprecedented financial
feat of wiping out the deficit in his de-
partment. Accepting the statement at
its face value. the people applauded and
said, Well done, and proclaimed the
said Hitchcock wonder of economical
management But there are some peo-
pie in this nation who are not satisfied
always to accept surface indications.
and who like to find out how things
are done. These. while they did not all
reside in Missouri, resembled the man
from that state who desired to be
shown. And the consequence of the
prying of these inquisitive individuals
is that much of the gloss has been taxi
en- from the postmaster-ge generals great
record. The very natural questions
were asked. How did you make such
great savings?' and Where were the
big leaks that he stopped?' And the re-
ply has come from those who know
that there We're no big leaks discover
ed: but the expenditures of the depart
ment have been reduced by series of
petty economies, by reducing the pos
tai service, decreasing the working
force on the mail routes and in the
local postoffice, piling up work without
increasing salaries, by making three
men do the work of four upon the pay
of three. The result is that the force
everywhere is overworked, and it is be-
ginning to tell upon the efficiency OF
the service, which is poor economy in
the end. Deterioration means final ex-
travagance. for 1t necessitates an in
ment the men whom overwork has
broken down. And the policy of dou-
bling work without increasing pay is
not to be approved either in the pub
lie or private service. for it is dis
honest in principle. The true facts OF
this boasted financial feat should be
known for two reasons. either that
Hitchcock may be praised as he de-
serves. or that it may be revealed how
little he merits"