The Washington times., 1915-01-22
AVENUE MERCHANTS
STRIVE TO RECOVER
OLD P. 0. FACILITIES
Petitions Requesting Establish.
ment of Branch in Postoffice
Department Building Out.
ASSAIL FINANCE STATIONS
Speakers at Retail Mems Meet.
ing Criticise Service Given
by Clerks in Small Offices.

by Clerks in Small OftiCeS.
Petitions requesting Postmaster Otto
Praeger to re-establish in the POST
office Department Building at Eleventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue. COM
plete facilities for the accommodation
Of the general public were today put in
circulation by a committee compose ed
Of heads Of mercantile establishments
and business houses located on Penn
sylvania avenue between Seventh and
Fourteenth streets northwest.
The service now furnished indus
tries situated in this community, 1t Is
alleged, is SO Inadequate as to entail
both Inconvenience and financial loss
to tho merchants.
Fifty Houses Ask Relief.
1T y rssuu, :cld last n.gnt III the
rooms Of the Retail Merchants Asso.
citation. representatives Of more than
fifty business establishments drafted
and unanimously adopted q resolution
calling upon Postmaster Praeger to re-
store to the old postoffice building a
pOSIdl ScTNlCc Which WOulu HlCluuc
general delivery. parcel post accommo-
dations. facilities for handling. permit
mail. lock boxes. registry and money
order Offices. and stamp windows:
The resolution was prepared by a
jr.. chairman; Paul F. Brodt. =. A.
Harris. Louis Jacobs. and Alexander
Muncaster. The petitions. including the
resolution. are being circulated among
the mercantile establishments. office
hs,0N otk 1,,c hnV1onc m
Pennsylvania avenue between Seventh
and Fourteenth streets. and the sew
eral streets crossing this throoughfare
between the bounds mentioned.
Committee To See Praegcr.
When sufficient signatures shall have
been secured the committee will call
upon Postmaster Praeger and present
them. together with arguments in sup
The preamble to the resolution
points out the fact that for many
years, during the location Of the gen.
eral postofflce in the old building on
were not only afforded to the many
merchants and business men in that
community. but to thousands OF visi-
tors who came to this city and re-
removal Of the office. it is said. has
occasioned great Inconvenience. both
to the business men and these visitors
. Had Been Assured of Branch.
In calling the meeting together Isl
dor Grosner, the chairman. declared
that when tho question Of moving the
city postoffice to its new quarters
near Union Station was before Con.
gress the merchants and heads OF
other business establishments in the
vicinity Of the Postofflce Department
were assured that a branch office
would be established in that building
George H. Judd, in urging the adop.
the past week he had had occasion t.
purchase 200 three-cent stamps. ano
to secure them mad been compelled tr
send to three finance stations of the
postoffice before his order. was filled
postmaster pay 800 ench to Tom
Dick. and Harry for postal quarters
and accommodations when branch
office that would adequately accom-
liahed in a central building owned b,
tho Postoffice Department."
Criticises Small Stations.
Robert S. Copeland. a photographer
asserted that by the removal Of the
postoffice from its former location
through the turning of visitors to the
City lEoui tudt DuliuiHs' auu tue ~
convenience suffered In caring for his
mail order business. he had lost one
third of his patronage.
The charge was made by A. d. Stone
that in the majority of finance stations
which the postmaster has established
the clerks employed are not familiar
with the rules governing foreign serv'
ice. A few trained men. he added, coult
replace more than a score of the womer
clerks who are now "hired today ant
fred tomorrow.
Several of the merchants contendct
that much of the inconvenience they ar,
now forced to suffer in due to delayed
service on the part Of the clerks in th'
small branch offices. These clerks. the,
said, are employed by the druggists II
whose stores 1he branches are located
and must give first attention to th'
business of the store. If a customer Il
seeking the wares which the store ha
to sell, q patron Of the postoffice mus
wait until the clerk shall have dis
pensed the soda or other article callet
for.
P. O. Authorities Defended.
The position Of the postal authorize
was defended by ]. B. Corridor. super
intendent Of the finance department. Il
establish such service as the mel
chants are asking. he thought woul
call for expenditures approximatin
$50, 900 per year. Postmaster Praegel
Mr.. Corridor said, desired to run hi
Office economically. but at the sam
time wished to furnish prompt and ade
1uate service. The establishment Of
branch office within five squares OF tn