Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-21
Monday, juno II, 1915.
II Experience valueIess?


Doubtless the European war had
some part in producing the six and
half million dollar deficit in postal
business, but there are some circum-
stances that point to other contribute
ing causes. For instance it seems to
be one Of the theories Of this ad-
ministration that practical experience
ie of minor value in determining fitness
for responsible positions in the postal
service.
When Woodrow Wilson became
President, one Of his heaviest RESPONSE
bilities was that of choosing Post
master General. The responsibility
was great because the postal service is
the most extensive and most complex
feature of governmental operations and
affects the business and personal inter-
ests of all the people. That Depart
ment handles more than s300.0o0.000 a
year in receipts and disbursements.
Upon the efficiency of this service
largely depends the prompt, con-
venient and satisfactory dispatch OF
private business.
The postal service is complex be-
cause it involves not merely the hand
ling of mail in post offices. but the
collection and delivery Of mail in cities.
collection and delivery on rural routes.
transportation by RAIL- by star route
and by steamboat, management OF
money order business and operation Of
the parcel post and postal savings
bank. Scarcely any enterprise in the
problems as does the postal service.
President Wilson knew this. Did he
endeavor to place at the head Of the
Department a man already possessed
Of practical knowledge of postal at
fairs? Not at all. OF course he would
appoint a Democrat. Quite properly
he would seek for available men in
Congress, though he might have found
good men in the Department itself.
There were seven Democrats on the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads and fourteen on the cor
responding committee in the House.
All these u men were familiar with
postal affairs through their annual
re ha
bill and other bills affecting the postal
service.
Not one of them was called to the
head Of the Post Office Department
Neither did the selection go to a man
of large experience in private business
The appointment went to a Texas
Congressman who began practicing
law when he was q, held positions con-
tinuously as city and district attorney
for eleven years and then went to
Congress where he served IA years.
Inspection Of the Congressional
ever served on the Post Office Commit
tee or took any part in the discussion
of postal affairs. He was in no way
identified with the enactment of the
parcel post law-the most important
development in the postal service in
recent years. However good lawyer
he may have been, he had no special
fitness for the business management Of
SO large and so complicated a public
service as the Post Office Department
No private enterprise would have
selected manager in any such man.
the fate the postal service has met in
Its financial accounts. No factory,
construction company. or other large
concern doing a business Of $500, 900, 900
a year could succeed If such policies
prevailed in the selection of a man.
ager.
Undoubtedly Mr.. Burleson was a
good prosecuting attorney, and his
seven elections to Congress are strong
evidence that he is a good politician.
But his lack Of special qualification for
the position of Postmaster General, to-
gether with his experience in politics,
is not altogether reassuring to those
American citizens who think there Is
more need for business management
than for politics in tho postal service