Evening star., 1929-07-01
JOSEPH STEWART, POST OFFICE
DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE, DIES
Rose From Clerkship to Fin
Two important Posts
in Service.
47-Year Career Covered Al
most Every Phase of
Activity.

JOSEPH Stewart, who rose from a
81 900 clerkship in the Post ONCE De-
partment TO fill one of its most impor-
tant executive positions In q dual capac-
ity as special assistant to the Attorney
General In postal matters and execu-
tive assistant to the Postmaster Cen
eral, died at his home, 1912 Lamont
street. early today, after an illness OF
several months. He was 20 years Of
age. nearly a. of which were spent In
the post, ONCE service.
Few offlcials In the postal service
have had more TO do with the forming
and carrying out OF administrative pol
icies affecting almost every phase of
postal activity than Mr.. Stewart, dur
/ ing his long career. HIS administrative
activities were not confined solely TO
the work Of the department In wash
ington. but extended to the formulating
of cooperative efforts at all OF the IN
ternational postal conventions in recent
years.
Illness Prevented Attendance.
His recent illness prevented him from
attending the International Postal Con-
Nention now being held In London, as
the head Of the American delegation,
arrangements for which he assisted in
the making three years ago ut D confer
ence in Cortina, Italy, Inspector Eu-
gene r. White, superintendent OF the
international postal service, was sent 70
London in his place.
Perhaps Mr.. Stewards most valuable
services to the Post once Department.
were extended in connection with the
inauguration of the parcel post and the
upbuilding Of the railway mail service.
His long experience In postal matters,
and his intimate knowledge Of postal
laws and regulations, made him the
right-hand man Of Postmasters General
in appearing before committees Of the
House and Senate In the shaping OF ad-
ministrative affairs and new laws. He
personally handled and adjusted for the
department the zone rates and salary
increases under the parcel post. and
had an important part in the framing
and enactment of all salary increases
for postal clerks for many years.
Served as Second Assistant.
From September 20. 1908. to Septem-
Der 1, 1915, Mr.. Stewart served as Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General.
to O. Democrat, Otto Praeger, by the In
coming Postmaster General. Albert S.
;Bufieson. Mr.. Stewart was made spe-
cial assistant to the Attorney General
for the Post Once Department, q spe-
cial office created then.
In July. 1924. he was appointed
executive assistant to the Postmaster
General Ia the execution Of orders and
the inauguration Of policies, holding
st.,>t1n
established until his death.
In connection with his duties at the
Department Of Justice. Mr.. Stewart was
charged with assisting In the defense of
cases against the United States arising
out Of the transportation of mails and
other matters affecting postal revenues;
the Post Once Departments cases in
proceedings before the Interstate Com
nnefce Commission in. addition to- rep
hearings before the department on
orders changing the mode Of TRANSPORT
ing periodical mail, and In connection
with review Of orders by the Court Of
Appeals Of the District Of Columbia.
Headed U. S. Delegation.
MT. Stewart appeared for the depart
ment recently In the settlement Of rail-
road claims for extra pay in the carry
ing of mails. His duties have been so
varied that there were very few import
ant matters connected with the depart
ment In recent years In which he did
not have q directing hand
Mr.. Stewart headed the American
delegation to the Universal Postal Con-
gress at Stockholm Ia 1924. In 1925. he
represented the department at the Pan
American Postal Congress, held In Mex
leo City.
Among other duties, Mr.. Stewart was
appointed by Postmaster General VIII
Hays in 1921 as representative Of the
department on the Division of Federal
Relations of the National Research
Council. .
Mr.. Stewart was born at Humboldt,
Kan, October 80, 1859. He was the son
Of Watson and Elizabeth Upton Stew
art He received his education In high
school, at business college and at the old
Columbian University, now George
Washington University, receiving the
degree of bachelor of laws from that
institution in 1884 and his master Of
laws degree the following year.
Started Postal Career at -.
At the age of 27. after being in the
insurance and banking business at Hum
boldt, Mr. Stewart applied for position
as clerk in the Post once Department
on July "A, 1882. HIS application was
indorsed by Senator Plumb Of Kansas.
He was appointed the following Au-
gust IL. serving until 1887. when he
resigned to practice law in Kansas
City. He re-entered- the Government
service In May, 1891, as q clerk in the
War Department and was transferred
Department.
Mr.. Stewart's principal hobby was
collecting rare paintings. His private
collection was considered one OF the
best In Washington, and he devoted
many years to 1t. Mr.. Stewart also
found much enjoyment in painting dur.
ing hours Of recreation.
Wrote on Postal Matters.
In addition to his favorite hobby, he
wrote much on postal matters and was
editor of the Digest Of Decisions Of the
United States Courts Affecting the Post
once Department and numerous Gov
errment papers.
Mr.. Stewart was Q director in the
Departmental Bank Of this city and
was q member Of the Phi Delta Phi
Fraternity, the University Club Of this
city, the Authors Club Of London and
the Independent Artists Club Of New
York
Mr.. Stewart was married to Miss
Jessie Stewart Bailey Of Wayerly, N
Y, on April ., 1887. They had SON,
Elmer Stewart, and daughter, Mrs
Phyllis Patricia Stewart, wife Of Capt
Charles Harrington Stewart, U. 8. A
Also surviving him are five grand
children. They are Jean Ely and Ma
rian Bailey, children of Elmer Stewart
\ and Charles Harrington, Donald Bailey
and Richard Joseph, sons Of Capt
Stewart.
| be held at the r. H. Hines funeral
parlors, 1901 Fourteenth street, ct 2
O'Clock Wedrs sday afternoon. Inter