Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-15

STAMP WINDOW OPEN 10 A. NJ.
TO 2 Z. NJ. SUNDAYS AND HOLI-
DAYS.
There It was, government regulation
staring him in the face with the self evident
fact OF the impossibility Of mailing several
important letters.
VLTIIAT do you think of that?" he said
w to his companion, as they paraded out
the long corridor toward Market street.
Pretty good evidence that all the com
ments made about Philadelphia provincialism
are true" was the smiling response of his
COMPANION:
We'll, I'll soy so,' was the disgruntled
reply. Then he continued:
Think of II, a city of nearly two million
inhabitants and you can't buy postage
stamp at the postoffice unless YOU hustle
around at time when you ought TO be at
church or else eating your Sunday dinner
"Oh. but you must not forget that we must
have Sunday observance. and you are lucky
to have four hours out Of twenty four In
which. you can purchase a stamp on the Arst
day OF the week, answered the other.
"TT'S this way" said Postmaster Thorn
ton with a good -natured laugh when
the incident was brought to his attention.
The retail stamp window was open for
viz boiV Va boohpb, put hOI lOT tHc VA
mail matter, until year or so ago. Then
committee of gentlemen interested in Sunday
observance waited on me and demanded that
1 cease the sale of stamps.
II pointed out that il was a public con-
venience, necessary in a good many cases in
great city and particularly in case Of
strangers" The committee insisted and
finally ] was informed that unless I ceased
the retail sale of stamps on Sunday complaint
would be made against me at Washington.
n nF nj sptn rAGf IN
me. IL wns only question of convenience
to the public. I then suggested that the Office
be open for several hours every Sunday.
Several of the committee asked that we
discontinue the receipt and distribution Of
mail, which would mean the closing down Of
the office, the piling up Of mail matter, the
disorga nisation Of the city's Monday business
and the necessity of employing a large extra
force Of men to make up for lost time.
II think they saw the force Of my argu-
ment"
THIS Is what Postmaster Thornton pro-
i poses to do hereafter. and his action will
undoubtedly meet with approval from q good
many people.
While the retail window will be open dur
ing the present limited hours for the sale of
stamps and postal cards. it will be closed
during the rest Of the day.
This will relieve the regular stamp clerk
from duty except during the four or five
hours in question.
A push button bell will be installed and
citizens desiring To- purchase stamps need
only press the button to call an employe to
the window. when stamps can be secured.
| The attendant at the stamp window. out
| side the regular hours, can be assigned from
among the regular force, which will therefore
| obvate the necessity Of keeping an extra
| clerk on duty.
Objectors can find food for thought in the
| question as to what difference there is be-
| tween buying postage stamps at the post
! Office or at q drug store where you are ex-
pected to make purchase OF some other
article as n repayment for the proprietor's s
trouble in selling nonprohtNble stamps.
| MEMBERS OF the House Of Representa-
| Iltives Mt Harrisburg are due for jolt one
| of these days.
| 1t has been the custom since the beginning
| of the present session for gentlemen from
| Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but Philadelphia
| and certain Of the eastern counties particu-
| larly. to hop train Tuesday afternoon or
| Wednesday morning and so home, leaving
| those who remain 10 carry on the work Of
| the House.
| It is an imposition on faithful representa-
| tives.
| Speaker Spangler tells me that he proposes
| to put an end to the practice. He IL the
| business manager Of the House and it Is up
to him, he declares, to see that it Is con
| Quoted properly.
| 1t would not be a very pleasant or profit
able thing some "Wednesday or Thursday
morning to have the question of a quorum
| raised, followed by ''CRll of the House"
| Sergeants- at arms visiting Philadelphia or
| Pittsburgh to capture and haul back to Har-
| risburg runaway members at their own ex
| pense would be the cause of a good deal Of
| unnecessarily profanity.
have seen it done n number Of times.
| Speaker Spangler is in earnest. Besides,
a number of country members have already
| begun to lodge complaints to him about the
| work dodgers.
THE Rev. DR.. II. 8. Snyder has just re e.
/ turned from visiting forty five colleges
and universities in the interests of what
might be termed the intensive reclamation
service Of the International Young Mems
Christian Association.
He WAS accompanied by two other clergy
men especially assigned to the work
| It was in reality an evangelical mission.
| The object was to reach the thousands OF
Young men students md set before them d
rectly and plainly, without any popular re
| yiyalistic pageantry or chorus. the straight
truths of Christian faith and the benefit Of
right living.
| Dr. Snyder says that the mission was A
great success, Everywhere they we're greeted
| by large audiences Of collegians to whom
the novelty Of q direct appeal made favor
| able impression.
His itinerary covered the region east of the
Mississippi river.
The closing meetings Of the tour will b,
at PrincetOn University, where DR.. Snyder
| IL scheduled to speak to the student body or
| three successive Sundays.
Not the least interesting phase of thi,
work. which had its inception in the war;
aftermath is that the clerRymeu assigned e
| the task, on leave from their respective con
| gregations, received for their services thei
EXPENSES only and small monthly allowanc,
| in lieu of SALARY.
THE service Ia the universities is free.
Normal Conditions
| From the Kansas CI'y star
IL isn't much comfort to reflect that. ex
cept for it's outward aspects, the Irish situa