The Washington times., 1915-02-04
PRAEGER PROMISES
THOROUGH INQUIRY
Postmaster Requested by Busi-
ness Men to Open Station in
Old Building on the Avenue.

Declaring that merchants and other
business men in the section between
Sixth and Fifteenth streets and b and
r streets northwest are put to great
Inconvenience because of inadequate
postal facilities since the removal Of
the postof,ice to it's present site at
Isidor Grosner called on Postmaster
Praeger yesterday afternoon and pre-
sented a petition, containing more than
1000 signatures, requesting that a clas-
sified station be opened in the old post
ONCE building at Eleventh street and
Pennsylvania avenue.
While Mr.. Praeger would give no en-
courasement that their request would
be granted, he assured the committee
ef his desire to give to the city the
best service possible. and stated that he
would thoroughly investigate their com
plaint and advise them by letter OF his
decision.
on the committee with Mr.. Grosner
were Lem Towers. .jr., Louis Jacobs,
Karl F. Brodt. e. A. Harris, and Alex
ander Muncastler.
Means Loss of Time.
The committee told the Postmaster
that while the branch contract stations
. were sufficiently near for all purposes.
they could not set adequate service
there at all times. A large number Of
stamps. or several thousand stamped
envelopes or postal cards. which the
business Of many required or short no
tice. could not be had without going to
the classified station at Eighth and r
streets, which they stated meant the
~
disappointment of their patrons and
resultant loss OF business.
Parcel post facilities. at the con-
tract stations. also care Inadequate.
.N It Tas ~ there fss being wbo ony
Connection with the station. This
frequently means long waits. It was
pointed out. before packages could
be received and weighed; And in
had been made by these clerks. either
due to inexperience or .overwork.
which had resulted in packages be.
ing accepted and delayed for several
been collected at the time Of delivery.
Much the same condition exists as
regards the issuance OF money orders
and the handling Of registered mail.
1t IL claimed.
The committee pointed out that =
in the old Postoffice building at a
comparatively small cost, since ade-
Quate quarters are already provided
there. thus saving the rental expense.
Get Better Service.
Mr.. Praeger told the committee that
in locating the classified station at
Eighth and streets he had been
guided by the theory Of the greatest
benefit to the greatest number. and
that he felt sure under the present
arrangement the people as a whole
we're getting better postal service
than ever before. He pointed out to
the committee, that while all con-
veniences might not be the same, so
far as the men in their section are
concerned. as when the Postoffce was
at Eleventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue, they are now SenJoytng rs
good. II not better service. than the
people along F, G, and II streets were
given under the old arrangement.
Mr.. Praeger thanked the committee
for bringing their grievances to him
personally and assured them that he
always would be glad to receive them
and other business men and discuss
their problems with them with view
to increasing the efficiency Of the
postal service.
At the close Of the interview Mr..
Praeger personally conducted the
committee on a tour Of the new build j.
advantages it has over the old one
and explained the various devices for
rapid and accurate handling Of the
city'S mail