The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-02-17
Postmaster General BurIeSOn
Puts the Muzzle on Postal
Heads in Cities.
ACTION CAUSES MUCH TALK
Senators Express Much Sur
prise-Statistics Desired by
Boosters and Commercial Or
CARNATIONS Tabooed.

The postoffice department has put
a muZzle on postmasters. Hereafter
give out any information in regard to
postoffice matters even when such in
formation is sought for the promotion
of public interests. The muzZle has
been put on tight, and there il will
remain, according to department Of
ficials.
For example, if the Board Of Trade
of Brunswick desires statistics of the
amount of postal business done in
the city postoffice it will appeal to
the postmaster in vain. 1t often hap
pens that in trying to boom a city
the receipts of the local postoffice are
set forth to show that it is live and
up-and-coming community. Such in
formation is tahooed henceforth. 1t
might possibly be secured by a round
about and lab0rious process of writ
ing to Washington but that means
red tape galore and long delay.
The fact that the postmasters have
been muzZled was brought out as the
result of an appeal made by the Cham
Der of Commerce of Seattle, Wash, to
the postmaster of that city, asking for
information as to the amount of post
office business done at Seattle. The
postmaster replied that he could not
furnish the facts sought This struck
the Chamber of Commerce as great
surprise and it wrote letter to Sen
ator Jones, saying:
at is difficult for us to understand
that such an order has been issued
On the assumption that the postoffice
business is a matter of public record
this chamber. for its own statistical
information and in order to fulfill the
requirements for business data from
many directions has been accustomed
to request, and heretofore has obtain
ed, the facts as to the volume of bust
ness done at this office at the close
OF the month or for any given time
that may be Indicated
Senator Jones was as much aston.
ished as his Seattle constituents, and
he wrote a letter to the postmaster
general asking to be enlightened as
as to the departments ruling. He has
received a confirmatory reply from
First Assistant Postmaster General c.
Roper. who says:
''In answer to your letter which the
postmaster general has referred to
me, | wish to state that the depart
ment believes it inadvisable to have
postmasters give out statistics con.
cerning the business of their offices
and on November 13, 1914, issued the
following instructions which were
published in the December Q914
supplement of the Postal Guide:
'Postmasters are not authorized to
give to other postmasters statistics OF
their postoffices, and they should not
call on other postmasters for instruc.
tiOns in regard to the conduct of post.
offices. Requests of this character
must be addressed to the department
at Washington d. c.
ut will be noted that the foregoing
referred particularly to giving. data to
other postmasters, but the department
is applying the same rule. to inquiries
from individuals and corporations, as
considerable time and work are re.
quired to get up the statistics and an.
swer correspondence In view of all
the circumstances it is believed best
not to continue the former practice of
giving out such information.
good many members of congress
have secured from postmasters in
their districts mailing lists of persons
to whom to send garden seeds, docu.
ments, etc. The ruling OF the depart
ment is construed as forbidding post
masters to furnish these lists.
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