The Washington herald., 1915-02-14
office wagons call for them at his place
Of business.
Local Service Uuiaue,

| NthSo "deoHs Cdh IOE lneIn II MS place.
of business.
Local Service Unique.
'In no other city in the United States,
no matter what may be its size or COM
mercial Importance. is there such a pos
tai service-delivering stamps to the
places of business and calling for your
+! packages.
| IF l have any policy in the conduct
OF the Washington postoffice. that policy
! is to bring the postal facilities to the
! people. / have endeavored to bring
| them to the business men whose names
are on the petition In a degree OF ade-
quacy that did not exist even when the
main office was located IN Pennsylvania
| avenue
Il know there are no lock-boxe and
general delivery within the area men-
toned in your resolution. 1t has been
the policy OF the department for years
past to discourage the lock-boX and de-
livery of mail. because of the high devel-
opment Of the carrier system, and GER
tainly with seven deliveries in the Penn
sylvania avenue district. beginning at
o'clock in the morning and ending at
midnight. there can exist no necessity for
lock-boNes and general delivery.
Il know there are complaints by per-
sons patronizing contract stations, but
not more so than there were complaints
OF window service at the main ONCE
in Pennsylvania avenue. Sometimes our
methods were at fault; sometimes our
employees were to blame: sometimes the
patrons did not show exactly the pa
thence or forbearance that a man exer-
Cises when he Is not looking for some
thing to criticise
The recent change of the postoffice
from Pennsylvania avenue is not the first
time that the main Office of this city has
been moved. Unfortunately. every re-
moval leaves a scar and a sting behind
In fact. when the postofice was set up
on the south side of Pennsylvania ave-
nue., in its recent location. so great was
the opposition that the Postoffice De-
partment maintained a contract station
for period Of six years at the corner
of Thirteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue. where Station IS Is now located,
and 1t was conducted by the same clerk
now in charge Of that station.
VIII Keep Open Mind.
81 have stated these facts to show that
possibly a very natural and laudable
civic pride in this particular business
section of the city enters into this ques-
tion tas II almost invariably enters into
protests against a change OF postoffice
site) and makes the situation seem a
hardship, Notwithstanding the bountiful
postal facilities snorded to the business
south OF F street.
What has been said here is not said
of the Importance OF the petit
tion presented. To that petition are at
tached the names Of so many good and
sincere citizens that it bears the stamp
of very earnest endeavor for the good
Of the community. The only difference
that can exist between the postofice |
and the signers Of this petit |
tion is one of judgment. and l regret |
that. with the existing postal facilities |
in the territory under consideration, I |
cannot see that ! would be justified in |
to the department the ex-
penditure OF between $1,000 and $4,000 a |
year for the establishment on Pennsyl- |
vania avenue of a postal station. open
from a. m. to 10 p. m. with lock-
oOX. general delivery, registry and money
order service.
Mr.. Chairman. l trust that you and
he committee. who so ably with you.
presented the case of the signers OF the
petition in our recent conference. will
rot consider your la5Ors closed in this
| realize that in a strong,
arge city like Washington. conditions are
ver changing. and. therefore. | am hold
ng an open mind to the end that I may
,eep the local postal service ever re-
pOnsiVe to such changes. Should a sit
ation arise that will justify a move in
he matter that you gentlemen are so
pressing. I trust / shall have
he further benefit of your experience
nd counsel"