The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-04-02
POS MAS TIERS Of
FLORIDA LOSE JOBS
IF LAW IS PASSED.
1T is PROPOSED TO HAVE ONLY
ONE POSTMASTER IN EACH
COUNTY AND THUS ABOLISH
JOBS HELD BY $4,000.

According to Louis Ludlow, Wash
ington correspondent of The Jackson
vile Metropolis, large number of
postmasters in Florida will lose their
jobs if legislation which is now ON the
verge of passage is finally approved
in conference.
That such Legislation is even con-
templated will be news to most per-
sons, as it has attracted virtually no
attention. Under its sweeping provi-
sions $4,000 postmasters throughout
the country would be abolished. The
offices themselves would not be wiped
out, but after the (postmasterships
have been abolished the offices would
be open to the appointment Of super
intendents. Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson is backing the legislation and
doing all he can to procure its pass
age.
The legislation referred to is now
in conference and is in a bill which
proposes a reorganization of the pos
tai savings system. The house COM
mittee on postoffice and post roads
refused to recommend it and the bill
as it passed the house did not contain
the provision. It was incorporated in
the senate bill, however, and is now
one of the amendments in dispute
between the house and senate confer
rees.
The provision which would go so
far toward uprooting the established
postal service reads as follows:
Hereafter the postmaster general
may establish under such rules and
regulations as he may prescribe, one
or more branch offices, non-account.
ing, for the transaction of any post
office business which may be required
for the convenience of the public"
In a statement before the house
committee explaining the operation
of the proposed legislation First AS
sistant Postmaster General Daniel G.
Roper said:
"By making the county the unit
and each postoffice located therein
subsidiary to the main Office situated
at the county seat the number of &C
counting offices would be reduced
from $4,000 to 5000. The county
postmaster would be assisted by a
clerk in charge, under his immediate
supervision, at each subsidiary office,
instead of a regularly appointed post
master and the business conducted in
precisely the same manner as at sta
lions in the larger cities"
Mr.. Roper clearly stated in hear
ings before the committee that the
legislation would abolish the present
postmasters. Representative Mad
den, of Illinois, was one Of the mem
bers who asked questions and one of
his queries was:
"This would put the postmaster
general in a position to appoint one
postmaster in each county, would it
not, and would put all other post
offices in the county as non-account-
ing offices, subject to his jurisdic-
tion?"
Mr. Roper said that was so.
1t is said that more than fifty mem
bers of the house have been IN con-
ference with the postmaster general
during the last week in regard to this
item. The conferences have been at
the request of the postmaster general,
who is insistent on the approval Of
the item.
There was a similar proposition
once before when the postofice de-
partment wanted to get nd of assist
ant postmasters by abolishing the
Office. Congress would not stand for
it and it is believed by many that the
firm attitude shown on that proposed
measure win be repeated in the house
on the present wholesale proposition.
It is anticipated that there WIN be
a general and sweeping opposition to
the measure from local communities
that Will lose their postmasters and
become sub-stations if the legislation
goes through congress.