Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-13

general:
1 desire to express to all the
employees of the Postal Establish
ment my appreciation OF the
splendid way they have perform
ed during the past year. Never
have they been more loyal, never
have they labored so necessarily
or, performed their duties more
promptly and efficiently, .notwith-
standing the fact that thousands
OF them have responded to the
call OF their country and have
been Withdrawal from the postal
service, and many others attract
ed by allurinS compensation Of
fered by Industrial and CONNER
Cial enterprises have been Sepa-
rated from the service. thereby
forcing the Department to en-
list the aid of inexperienced help.
The Postal Establishment of the
United States, in the face OF the
great difficulties created by the
war continued to give an etnctent
postal service practically without
Gurtailment or restriction. From
reports received from the Audi
tor for the Post Othce Depart
ment. from the hundreds OF Post
Office Inspectors in the field. from
the superintendent of the Rail
way Mail Service throughout the
country and from postmasters OF
HI lilt ldl ser NALltS NulAAtS Nut
same story-that the postal SER
vice has been and is being main
tanned at a standard of efficiency
the highest known in its history.
when one considers that this has
been accomplished in the face of
the fact that war activities have
been imposed on the service, tre-
mendous in their burdens, il is
little short OF marvellous that you
have been able to discharge your
duties so satisfactorily. For this
wonderful result the American.
people are indebted to the hun
dreds of thousands of faithful
postal workers who have labored'
hard without the glare of the
spotlight and with no recompense
save the knowledge and satisfac-
tion that comes with the con-
. scipusness of duty well per-
formed. I send this word that
YOU may know that the head of
this Department is not unmindful
of what you have done, but has
the keenest appreciation of your
unseltish efforts and the arduous
and important tasks you have
performed.
It's a fine, high sounding bit o
literature and we wish it were al
true; but it is not. So far as tbs
efforts of the men are concerne;
Mr.. Burleson speaks gospel. They
have done wonders under condi-
ions that have been most discour,
aging and disheartening. What
ever of. the oldtime efficiency is
eft in. the Post Office Department 1;
iue TO their loyalty and devotion
rhey have worked long hours witt
lnder-manned forces at pay which
would have attracted only the riff
raft of the labor world if offered b!
any employer other than the gov
ernment. Many of them did leave
and small blame TO them, for the,
saw others earning two or thre,
times as much for half. the effort
But when Burleson says that
the postal service has been and i
being maintained at a standard o
efficiency the highest known in it
he makes an assertion tina
any person who sends or receive
mail is in position to disprove Il
his own satisfaction. There neve
was time when the postal servic,
was so bad as it has been sine,
Burleson took charge, cut dowr
the working forces and began hi
of Decentralization. Asl
the first postal employe you NEE
what he thinks of Burleson and hi
;raRoiapcv