Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-04

Greatness Is an accumulation to
which many contribute and one crowns
it all.-Sherman.
Our Declining Mail Service.
A Brunswick. Me-. dispatch reads

Our Declining Mail Service.
A Brunswick. Me-. dispatch reads:
the United States post ONCE has cut out
the midnight mail on Saturday, between
Brunswick ana Bath. 80 that there is
60 coek th nst
Monday morning. The reason given Is
that the new contracts with the railroads
are for the space occupied instead of the
IL eliminated saves 80 much space. 1t ID
also reported that the pouch between
Brunswick and Lewiston and Auburn at
u In the morning - to be cut out
It 10 small matter in itself, Of
course, but from every corner of this
busy land como complaints concerning
mail service eud the high handed
manner In which infections on the
public are perpetrated. Kennebec
county had a disagreeable expert
ence last Spring but. thanks to
the vigorous Kicking" of the Ken
nebec Journal and prompt response
by the late Senator Burleigh and SEN
ator johnson, and furnished with the
facts by Ex-Governor Plaisted, the SER
vice was restored.
Since that time thousands Of in
dignant protests have been made from
perhaps every state of the Union. But
most of these have been in vain. The
Post ONCE Department, under the
hand of politician intent on making
record of Saving" for the administra-
ton, has ignored the service of the
people and justice to postal employees.
Everywhere the service has been inn
paired by reduction of forces, by re-
tanning of substitutes to avoid adj
vancement of regulars entitled thereto.
by reduction of the number of star
routes and rural delivery routes, and
adding to the length of those main
tanned, by reduction of the number of
railway mail clerks until those re-
.tained find it a physical impossibility
to handle the mails Not in a quarter
century has the mail service of the
United States been 50 unsatisfactory
as in the year just passing. From New
Brighton n. Y. in this mornings mail
came letter to the kennebec Journal,
bearing testimony as to the made
quacy of the postal service between
this State and his own. He says, in
part:
I'VE used to get four mails day
and now we get only two. On Thurs
day Of this week I got Mondays and
Tuesdays papers. Sometimes l get
three and four at time tied together.
] do not believe you mail them that
way" In another paragraph he says:
II do hope that Hughes will be elected
and that we can have change in the
Post Office Department. l should pre-
fer raising postage, If necessary. to pay
postal clerks and provide sufficient
number so that none be obliged to
work more than eight hours a day."
Should any doubling politician wish
to question our correspondent. his
name Is George A. Stevens.
The National Civic Service Reform
League, some time ago, asked Presi-
dent Wilson and Candidate Hughes to
favor a plan taking the post Offices out
of politics, giving the following rea-
sons:
These offices have nothing to do with
ters are subordinates Of the Postmaster
General and are no more than suoordi-
nate officials In charge OF the business
amusement OF their respective ssn q nn,ea.
cratic postmaster should be removed on
change in administration to make way
for Republican than that clerk should
be removed for similar reasons.
Under the present system all nrst. sec
ond and third class postmaeterships are
part Of the senatorial patronage. Ap-
pointments are based not on merit. but on
political considerations. A change In
pcstmastership at or before the expira-
ton OF term ana ., rm eeptainly havins
but the slightest knowledge OF the duties
OF his office.
The change would result IN materal
to Congress on April 4. 1912. President Tai!
stated that there was loss OF at ieas!
SO 100 annually because OF the present
n mssnec the o. dsSartmsnts Of the treasury
post ONCE, Justice. interior and commerce
and labor. due to the fact that two per,
s essiiy Be done BY one He stated f1r.
ther that III the position Of postmaster
(drst and second classes) were placed in
the classified service and these officers
were given salaries equal to 20 per cent
more than the salaries now given to the
assistant postmasters. the latter position
being no longer required. there would be
a saving in salaries to the government Of
A.512900. In the case of postmasters at
ofices Of the third class a large annual
saving could be made"
No reply has as yet been received
from President Wilson.
Mr.. Hughes, declaring that he fav-
ored the passage of legislation provid-
ing for competitive appointments Of
presidential postmasters. sent the
League. on October IS, the following
letter:
Montclair, New Jersey.
October %. 1916.
Mr.. George T. Reyes.