The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-27
Postmaster General Burleson's
Administration Has Been
Marked by Progress.
POSTMASTERS LEARN OF
DEPARTMENTS GROWTH
What Various Postmasters-
General Have Achieved-In.
teresting Historical Facts
Relating to Postal Service.

The recent meeting Of the National
Association of Postmasters in the
capital city OF the nation. the many
interesting papers that were read and
the general interest shown in the
work, calls attention anew to the re-
markable activity displayed in every
branch Of the postal service since the
beginning of Postmaster-G neral
Burleson's administration The press
of the country has taken notice of
this great development. which is not
only a compliment to the present
head OF the department, but would
seem to show that the South can fur
nlsh quite as capable and energetic
business men a. the East. from which
section nearly one-half OF all our
postmasters- general have been drawn.
II is noteworthy fact. however il
may be explained that. excluding the
border States the South properly
speaking has had but two men In
that Office since the days Of Benjamin
Frankiin-Joseph Habersham. OF
Georgia, and Albert Sidney Burleson
Of Texas The more populous states
of the East. with their political power
and material advantages, have had
the greatest number of such appoint
ments. % of the AS men who have
held that office having come from that
section. The border States have had
fifteen and the West only eight, Il,
was not until 1855 that the West was
at all recognized in the appointment
of such cabinet officer. when Alex
ander W. Randall of Wisconsin, was
chosen by President Johnson Sub
sequently that State furnished three
m lore postmasters- general, viz, Howe
Villas and Payne. In 1929 the post
master general became member of
the ca binet by the action OF Presr-
dent Jackson his first appointee to
that position. Hon. william T. Barry.
or Kentucky, receiving that honor
Pennsylvania and New York Lead
In considering the States OF the
Union which have been most fortu-
nate in appointments 10 this office. it
is found that Pennsylvania and New
York have each had six to their
cerdit; Connecticut, Kentucky. Ten
nessee and Wisconsin. four each:
Massachusetts, Maryland and Ohio.
three each, and the remainder scat
tered among the eighteen States
from which all the postmasters- gem
eral have been selected,
The term of service vas Il seems,
much longer in the olden days than al
present From l775 TO lS50-seventy-
Ave years--there were only seventeen
men in that position, Gidon Granger,
of Connecticut, having served thir-
teen years and eight months, and
Return J. Meigs, of Ohio. nine wears
and three months From 1850 10
1871 3-siXty-three years~-there have
been thirtyone men in that office.
Whether the shifting current Of po-
itlcal life and eXpediency. or other
causes, hive operated 10 make
changes in this office. II appears that
many occurred In the administrations
of some OF our chief executives
Roosevelt, for instance. had four
postmasters general; Grant Arthur
and Cleveland Gin the lattor's two
terms) also had four each; Washing
ton and Buchanan, three; Jackson,
Fillmore, Lincoln. Hayes and Nc
kinley. two each. The remainder OF
the Presidents evidently held on TO
the men they had originally appoint
ed
The postmaster general being by
the nature of his Official duties
brought into close contact with the
people. 1t rnight be of interest to know
something of these men, who they
We're, and what notable achievements
are connected with their names. but
all that Is past history and does not
concern the issues of today. A few
of the more important measures may,
however, here be mentioned,
During the administration of Presi-
utnl iyleT. Wnlie non. InarleS A.
Wickliffe, of Kentucky, was Postmas-
ter General, many reforms were in
stituted, such as cheapening the post
age, improving the manner of letting
routes by contract, and restricting the
franking privilege. The foreign
desk" from which ultimately grew
the admirable arrangement of the
Postal Union. was instituted by Hon.
Horauo King. of Maine, Through
~
York Postmaster General under Pres
ident Fillmore. the postage on letters
was reduced TO three cents. The rig
iStration system came in under POST
master General Campbell, of Pennsyl-
vania, during the administration OF
President Pierce. The Free Delivery
Service was inaugurated in 1859 by
Hon. Montgomery Blair. of Maryland.
also the money order system in 1854
in Lincoln's administration. The Rail-
way Mail Service dates from July.
1852. when Judge Holt. of Kentucky.
ordered its establish ment. the first
railway postoffice being from Quincy,
H. to St Joseph, Mo, on the Han
nibal and St. Joseph Railway.
Some interesting historical data
touching the introduction or begin
ming of the chief features of postal
progress other than that already given
may be briefly summarized as fol-
lows:
Postage stamps first
issued, at New York, July. 1S47
Stamped envelopes
first Issued ........... June. 1853
Letters registered July. 1883
Newspaper wrappers,
Act of Congress Feb. 1881
Free City Delivery 1890. July. 1864
Money Order System III. Nov. 11tA