The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-05-14
'SERVlCE FIRST!'' IS MOTTO HAYS
CHOOSES FOR EVERY POST0FFlCE
New Postmaster General Who
Set Out 10 "Humanize" De-
partment Wants Courteous
and Efficient Service to Rule
Department
~ X. N. RDckEy

BY n. N. RlckEY
Washington, May AT have just
one ambition, one determination in
the administration OF this great Office
that is to give to the people OF the
United States the most efficient postal
service they ever have had and the
most efficient In the world"
The speaker was Postmaster Gen.
eral Hays, the youngest man who ever
held the Office and one of the young
est who ever held a cabinet post The
manner OF speaking and his very evi-
dent sincerity. convinced me that he
meant exactly what he said.
We were lunching together in the
cafeteria on the top floor OF the de.
partment building on Pennsylvania
avenue. had asked Hays to talk
for publication about the problems of
his department in their relation to
its employees and the public and his
policy 81 postmaster general.
The talk began in his Office and
was being continued as we lunchod.
The foregoing statement was made
in answer to my suggestion that his
appointment had caused some ;criti-
cism on the ground that it was pO-
litical-a a reward for his services as
chairman Of the Republican National
Committee during the campaign.
..a Service First
II do not care to discuss the po-
litical significance of my appoint.
ment" continued Hays, except to
say this: II anyone seriously thinks
that | am going to run the Postotfice
Department as political machine he
IL just as mistaken as he could be.
Even II were so shortsighted and
had such perverted idea of my
duties and responsibilities, President
Harding would be the last man in the
world to permit such thing.
I II am as interested as any man
possibly can be in the OF the
Republican party and Of this admin
istration. And know that there is
but one way that success can be in
sured. We must give the country ef-
tlcient, economical and just govern
ment. b..
That is what we promised during
the campaign and the sever million
plurality indicated the country's be-
lief in our ability and honesty OF
purpose
IF we make good we shall be en-
titled to continuance Of the coun.
try's confidence and will get it. If
we fail, we, will be turned out, and
ought to be- -, ~ \. h
Definite Plans
''Whats are some of your definite
plans for making the postal service
more efficient servant of the pub
lic?" | asked.
First and foremost it is my pur;;
pose to improve the conditions of the
employees. The one most important
element in any business is the spirit
of the men and women in it. We are
going to get away entirely from any
idea that labor is commodity.
4 suggested in speech the other
day that that idea was abandoned
1891 years ago last Easter. repeat
/. 1t now. l am gOin to whatever
lengths are necessary to develop in
the department the spirit that we are
800 900 partners.
1T is not matter of higher wages.
The $7O,O00,00O increase recently
made, with no decrease now that
other wages are coming down. takes
care OF the wage situation in fairly
reasonable way.
WORKING Conditions
Working conditions. however, IN
many branches OF the service arc
unsatisfactory and we ere going to
improve them. In short, we are 60
ing to put some heart into the works.
'tWe have organized welfare de.
partment just as definite in its duties
as any other department. There is
nothing original in this as every other
large business in the country has done
the same thing, from a perfectly sell
fish business standpoint.
If we can improve the spirit and
conditions of the men and women who
do this Job, that in itself will be an
accomplishment and it is perfectly
certain to be reflected in the quality
of their service to the public.
"The fact that the Federal Com
pensation Commission is paying many
claims for injured eyes caused by
poor light in postoffices, is one OF the
symptoms of the disease we propose
to cure"
Concerning Profit
"You have said that politics should
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