The Washington times., 1915-10-22
POSTMASTERSS SEE
RED TAPE UNWOUND
Convention Delegates Are
Pupils While Official Busi-
ness Is Transacted Here.

Tho four hundred-odd members Of
the National Association OF First and
Second Class Postmasters forsook their
convention hall at the National Mu-
scum this morning and were given prac-
tical demonstrations of the grand old
game of winding. unwinding, and re-
winding red tape as 1t applies to the
conduct Of official business by the Post
office Department under the personal
supervision OF Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson. First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Roper. and the heads OF the vari-
Gus divisions OF the department.
The postmastcrs called Mt the depart
ment in groups OF n hundred or more
and were escorted through the offices
that they might see and understand
thoroughly Just what happens there
every day and how the business OF the
Postoffice's general headquarters Is con-
Quoted. This was no sightseeing trip.
the postmasters and postmistrcsses
we're given to understand by the offi-
cials. 1t was business.
Actual Business.
They were pupils. and the officials OF
the department were their teachers.
They were required to transact actual
official business and watch II through
the various bureaus and divisions 80
that they might know just what to ex-
pcct when they put n matter Of i'm
portancc up to the department heads.
The first group Of postma sters. those
from the New England states. reported
for instructionat the office of the First
Assistant Postmaster General at 3
o'clock this morning. The second group.
those from tho middle States. were on
nd n ~ 'n1n Al n n
postmastcrs from the Southern States
were received. and at noon the Western
and Pacific coast postmasters renorted.
This afternoon tn" members OF the as
so"iation were given. little, holiday
10 visit Fort Mycr and watch tho troop
crs Of the Fifth Cavalry and the gun
ncrs of the Tnird Artillery drill. Tonight
tho last business session Of the conven-
ton will he held. officers elected and n
new constitution and bylaws will be
| adopted.
Hear Coast BY Telephone.
The banquet to the men and theater
party for the ladies attending the con-
vention. held last night. has been
voted the greatest affair in the history
OF the organization. For the first time
in the history Of Washington--the first
| time In the history OF the country-thc
! 5n odd guests about the banquet
tables at the Raleigh. with telephone
receivers to their ears. heard three
aftcr-dnncr n speeches delivered by
guests who were in San Francisco,
Through the courtesy of tn" American
Telephone and Telegraph COMPANY tclc-
phonic connection had been established
with each place at the table" Secretary
! of the Treasury MCAdoo was the first
/ 81 anaokar n n heard when
| connection with the Pacific coast was
! established Mr.. McAdoo congratulated
! the postal service on it's efficiency and
! sent his best wishes. He said that Nor
; man T.. Mack. OF Butfalo' ana Assisthnt
I Secretary Byron Newton were with
/ him
Buffalo Visitor Speaks.
| Mr. Mack then took the transmittcr
! and spoke for minute to the toast
| master and First Assistant Postmhs' s'"r
General Roper. after which Postmaster
| knsting of Buffalo. was called from his
r,oca Mt the banquet table here and
! talked for a few minutes with Mr.. Mack
about Buffalo political affairs. After the
! dIrrer had progressed another course,
| san Francisco was again sssnal"d ON
! the telephone. and. taxing up IN" re-
ccivcrs again the hanqnctcrs hcnrd n
| short address and greetings from I nltcd
| States Senator James PhClan Of ''nli-
, forn!a senator Phclan called attention
| to the fact that when California was
| first settled II required six weeks 70 get
! n message across the Country--thc sam"
| kind of message he was then delivering.
! Postmaster Fav. of San Francisco, VINO
was with Senator Phclan. telerhoncd his
greetings to his fellow -postmasters. the
toastmastcr inviting the San Francisco n
Ia "c'mon over and take Il seat ut the
table, The San Francisco transm'ttcr
was then carried TO the shores or the
Pacific. and the banQueters heard
a big roller of the Pacific break on the
rocks of the Clin House.
Program Informal.
The banquet was made an especially
happy affair by the informality of the
program provided by the local commit.
tee. headed by the toastmaster. Carter
B. Keenc. who was assisted in his work
by Postmaster Merritt o. Chance anC
Chief PostOfiiCc Inspector j. II. Rooms
Music was interspersed between the
courses. the "PoStmaSters' Hymnal' be.
ing one of the souvenirs Of the dinner
ice and the wisdom Of the administra
ton, especially the firmncss and judg
ment of President Wilson in handling
the war situation, were made by Post
master General a :. BurlcsOn. Third
Assistant Postm lster General DoCkery
Postmasters BOlin Jones, Of Atlanta
+. NJ. O'Donnell. Of Holyoke, Mars. an,
John l.. Shuff. of Cincinnati; NatIona
Commit eeman Edwin o. Wood, o
Flint. Mich, and former Congressman
Maurice Connolly of Ohio.