New Britain herald., 1926-05-10
POST OFFICE SERVICE AND THE FUTURF

The postal service, being a pub
 lie institution and not run for
 profit frequently faces criticism
 for no other reason than that 1t is
 expected to be a perfect institution.
 L~ our other institutions, public and
 pS+vate were measured by the
 same yardstick there would he just
 as much room for faulthnding and
 perhaps more.
 That the post office department Is
 departing from is former unbusi-
 nesslike method Of being the foot
 ball. so t4r as new buildings are
 concerned. of congressional politi-
 clans is gratifying 10 the public.
 The ElIiott-FernaId hill in Congress
 providing for the construction of
 $t65. 5.o00,0o0 worth Of post office
 property within the next six years
 aside from being the first large at tempt at such improvements since
 1913. at the same time marks an
 epoch in post office history in that
 the money will not be spent upon
 the you tickle me and I tickle
 you" principle. In other words, 1t
 will not be expended upon the pork
 barrel principle, but upon the basis
 Of where the improvements are ac-
 tually needed in the judgment of
 the treasury and post office depart
 ments - mostly the latter. True,
 jealousy Of tho Senate in trying 10 avoid curtailing it's politico-control
 over such matters has brought about an amendment whereby this higher body Of learned men. statesmen and politicians can still exercise q general oversight over tho amounts 10 he expended in various cities; yet in practice this will amount 10 little, as in q dis cusson with the post office depart l ment as to where improvements ! are needed it is not likely that the 1. learned senators will be able 10 prove they know more about tho l subject. ,
 Under this bin Now Britain's post office will be enlarged within . the next few years, and for this . purpose S1S5,00O has been sci . aside. Considering the crampcd condition of the post office, the large increase in mail handled and the consistent increase every year. i. is patent that the money will be | a wise governmental investment. Few in the city thought, when the present post office was built that | it would require additional space in such a short time; and even the Of q parcels post sta ton on Court street within recent s years as an emergency measure has { not completely revoIutionizcd the neod for more room at the main post office. !,
 There is sufficient land adiacent x 10 the present post office 10 take care Of an addition. When the building vas constructed foresight f WAS exercised 70 admit Of future ( ,Xtensions.
 The service in the city has been improving, greatly 10 the sa,isfac- T ion of the postmaster. his loyal 1"ipers and inc public. The placing { 'f l5 large distributing boxes in 1 .ariops portions Of the city, 10 which mail is dispatched by truck, 'laced under lock and key there 0 await the call Of carriers for de- livery so that these men do not '. .eed to return 10 the central post . fice, sma"lls of modern efficiency {" methods. The addition Of an i'm n 'oriant sub-station likewise is reditahle 10 the service. The in- W tallation of new boxes has been e oing on constantly. greatly ac- .,, eIoratlng their uSe hy tho public. D, There remains only one point a hal seems to require improvement, tC nd that is later collections from > oNos throughou, the city. especial II, 7 the chief boxes along the main " .recjs in various sections. Cousid- c' ring that mail can be dispatched rom the city considerably after fc it would seem not unrca- W onahIa to have 10 r, nl collcc- 'c on, In many small cities such olIecfions arc made by men on bi- G vc!r$ or in Fords. r such collec- al ons ar" made by men walking. of ,"' ours', it is nearly out Of ,he quos- hI on. y1
 FATHERS AND SONS