The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-29
Washington, Governed BY News Writers,
Sho.us Success of Commission Rule

As q postmaster this newspaper man
not only has saved tho government
500, 900 . year in the administration of
the Washington postoffice. and at the
same time has increased the carrier
service and extended the parcel post
system, but he has instituted innovations
that have made the Washington post
office the model for the country.
The parcel post is his particular pet.
He issues quarterly. upwards OF 1900
copies Of a circular giving prices of farm
products by parcel post. supplying the
name OF the farmer. the character of
goods he supplies. the cost and his post
office. These are sent to the housewives
OF Washington for their information. At
the city postoffice a huge refrigerator
has been installed in which perishable
parcel post stuff Is kept and a delivery
of that class OF goods as late as o'clock
at night is made.
post package weighing as much as ten
pounds to send. all he has to do is to
telephone the postofics and a collector
calls at once and puts 1t in the mails.
Mr.. Praeger Is the active exponent of
the idea Of using the postoffice to bring
the producer and the consumer together.
In the same manner the Washington
business man who wants TO buy 900 or
1000 stamps or stamped envelopes only
has to telephone and a messenger Is sent
to his place Of business with the needed
postal supplies.
Special delivery letters are collected
from stated boxes in the business section
OF this city every half hour under an
other Of the new postmaster's ideas of
how the postal service ought to be made
to attend to the peoples business. His
training asea newspaper correspondent
has enabled Mr.. Praeger to see posi-
bilities that would escape the average
officeholder. and which have Injured to
the advantage Of the people OF the Ma
tional Capital.
Not of the Hero Type.
The most observant OF men would pass
the new major Of police of the National
Capital without 4 thought that the mild
hammered. soft-spoken, hne-featured. cul-
tured young man who now bears that
title was the official head OF the Metro
polital police service OF Washington
rms appearance bellies every impression
ever! idea ever CLEANED by the average
citizen Of the typical police chief and
would cause ono to wonder what pecu-
liar qualification caused the District
Commissioners to select this young news
paper writer to guide the force that pro-
tects and guards the lives and property
OF the citizens of the Capital City of tine
country.
Raymond w. Pullman is only 81
years of age. but those years have
been spent in the study of social
problems and civic work for the i'm
provement of his fellow mon. lie has
specialized in writing on the govern
ments scientific Investigations. and
is the author of syndicate letter
bearing upon the WORK or all the de-
partments. He has Travelled extern
sively in all parts of tine United States
and has given special study to prob
lens of government, sociology and
economies.
Maurice Splain. United States mar
shal, is. another veteran newspaper
correspondent who now holds down a
Federal job because the
President wanted him to have II, and
not because the appointee went out
and sought il. Mr.. Splain was the
of the PhiladeIph,a
Record and the Pittsburgh Post for
many years. The President had him
IN mind for one of his original APP
pointments as District Commission
er. but Mr.. Splain asked that he be
not considered.
Later on a snarl came about over
the selection of a United States mar
sinai Secretary Bryan backed Cotter
Eridc. with whom he lived while a
member of Congress. Unfortunately
Bride was treasurer of the Antitrust
League, which had been fighting At
iorney General McReynolds, and the
Department of Justice did not take
kindly TO his selection.
Appointee Not ConsuItcd.
Tom Pence. of North Carolina. an
other well-known newspaper man,
who bears no title. but who is recog-
nMed as the chief political adviser
OF the President, suggested Mr. SpIain
as the solution of the marshalship
problem Postmaster General BurIe-
son. also personal friend of Splain,
went to the President and urged his
selection. and the appointment WAS
made without the appointeo being
consulted about II.
Mr.. Splain came to Washington from
New York in the carly eighties to 20 on |
the fost, and served for five years az |
critic under the late Stilson
iiutchins. Subsequently ne was attached |
TO the Star for like period After a so !
)ourn III the West on account of his |
health, MIR. Splain became the associate !
Of Henry 3. +. Macfarland on the Phila- |
delphia Record and Pittsburgh Post, sue |
ceedinS MIR. mcfarland when the latter |
vas appointed District Commissioner by |
President, Mckinley in 1900
Besides the men here named are large |
number of newspaper correspondents at |
the National Capital have been honored |
with public office since the Mckinley ad-
which broke the Ice through
The selection OF Henry r. +. Mcfarland
as Commissioner. President Roosevelt |
made Henry Litchfield West, then a po-
itical writer on the Washington Post.
member Of the board and he and Mr.. |
ran the affairs of tho. District ,
Jointly for six years. Robert J. Wynne.
of the old Cincinnati Ga
,ette. was Postmaster General for a time
md afterward consul general to LoR-
Ion. Robert o. Bailey, of the Associated |
Press. was made Assistant Secretary OF |
he Treasury in the Taft administra tior,
md is now connected with the National
lily Banks. Of New York. Maj. John
VI. Carson. Of the Philadelphia Ledger, !,
became chief OF the Bureau Of Manu-
and John CaIlan O'Laughlin, OF
he Chicago Tribune, was appointed As
;istant Secretary Of State by Roosevelt.
Louis A. Coolidge, Of the Boston Jour