New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-07-21
POSTMASTER PRIOR
ENDS Term TODAY
Will Continue in Office Until New
Appointment
DISCUSSING new OFFICIAL
Nelson Morgan Gets Certificate For
Artillery Proficiency-Odd Fellows
and Knights of Pythias to Install
OfficerS-BI1ief Items of Interest.

and Knights OF Pythias to Install
Oficers-Bl4ief Items of Interest.
| The term of Peter J. Prior as
postmaster of the town of Plainyille
expired today. This completes two
| terms of office which the local man
has filleo. starting with the filling
of the position after the death of
Postmaster Tomlinson. His second
term was through reappointment nv
President Wilson.
Although his tenure of office Of
ficially ends July 81, 1921, Mr..
Prior will not leave the local office
probably for several months, due to
the fact that no appointment has
been made for Plainville and espec-
tally because of the fact that a sec
ond class postmastership as that in
Plainville is to be filled according to
civil service ruling and may con-
sumo many weeks for final action
If the senate adjourns soon, it is
probable that no postal appointments
will be dealt with until after recon-
vening, which time is generally
placed as October
During his two terms of office Mr.
Prior has brought the local office to
a high point of efficiency and has
seen 1t rise to second class office
| of importance. The business here
has risen yea after year and reached
its peak during the past season when
an extraordinary volume was
handled.
| AS postmaster the local man was
successful in securing new and
spacious home for the office on
Whiting street. It formerly was in
| the Newton block on West Main
street in which quarters it was de-
cidedly cramped for working space.
New equipment has been secured
and larger office box room for the
| factories has been secured. The
best service the postmaster has done
! for the town was in securing street
delivery. This was done through the
appointment of two carriers who now
serve the main streets of the town
as far west as Forestville avenue,
| Bohemia street, and West Broad
street, and as far East as northerly
| Pennington avenue, New Britain
avenue and the length of East street
| to Tomlinson avenue.
In connection with his work as post
master, Mr.. Prior has taken keen
the town. This is essentially necessary
on orders of the government for the
continuance of rural and city delivery.
Frequent trips over the city routes and
rural ways showed the streets which
needed repairing and opening for bet
ter traffic. Work by the postmaster has
been instrumental in securing the
needed changes until today the rural
roads and the city delivery streets
compare favorably with the majority
Of nearby towns and cities Many Of
the roads were in terrible condition
land without repairs the delivery could
not be maintained. Constant work
upon the part of the local Office in the
line of public agitation secured the
necessary Improvement. This has
been especially noticeable in the West
wood Park district.
The local office force has been in
cleased and now includes five clerks,
four male and one female, two car
riers, and a sural delivery carrier. AIDE
tquate service in windows is maintain
ed for stamps, registry, special deliv-
cries, and savings department. A bet
ter train schedule of mail service has
also been maintained and the service
to and from the local passenger sta
ton has likewise been bettered. The
local Office is in fine condition.
The New Postmaster
Speculation is naturally rife over
the question of who the next postmas-
ter will be- According to the new rul-
ing the local postmastership will come
under civil service ruling and will be
subject to appointment according to
the standard of the ones examined. 1t
. is understood that one of the three
highest averages will be selected by
the postmaster-genera who will
commend the nameto the president
and in turn the appointment will be
turned over to the Senate for con-
firmation. If this is true it is probable
that politics will again play a part in
the matter as one of the three highest
on the list will probably be a republi-
can and favored for the appointment.
Many are OF the opinion that the
, present incumbent will be returned
| to office if politics are taken from
the organization. This is concluded
because OF his knowledge of postal
1 affairs and the fine record which he
has maintained with the department
offices in Washington. Mr.. Prior
was unable to say this morning
whether or not he will take the ex-
animation and is awaiting instruc-
| tions from Washington in regard tc
the exam before making any state
ment
: The name of James Usher has
been mentioned and is known to have
the endorsement of a local politician
s high in official circles. Mr.. Usher
1 is loca, man and the son Of Towr
Clerk r. G. Usher His name wa:
o offered to a local organization which
, is supposed to be non-politicaL L
is reported that after a spirited de
bate AMI a show Of considerable feel
= ing the members went on record
4 against endorsing the local man. This
is thought to be in maintaining The
; policy of the body which has gone Or
, | record as nom political.