Evening star., 1948-05-19
By George Kennedy

Roy M. North, Washington's new
postmaster (subject to Senate con-
firmation) is a soft-spoken Georgian
who has been responsible for the
money end of one OF the biggest
businesses in the world.
While the reporters was talking to
him yesterday, an assistant brought
in a check for him to sign. 1t was
for $31 ,284, 4,20927. 1t was payable
to the Treasury and was to balance
drafts by postmasters to pay money
orders. This balancing payment is
made daily. He signed 1t in his
capacity of Deputy Third Assistant
Postmaster General.
Chairman LANCER Of the Senate
Post Office and Civil Service Com
mittee today ordered hearings on
the nomination. But he said before
any action was taken on the NOM
ination he wanted a full and COM
'plete investigation" of certain ac-
tions on the part of various officials
of the Post Once Department."
Subcommittee Named.
Senator LANCER said he intended
to ascertain whether Mr.. North had
any connection with these actions.
He appointed himself, Senator
Ecton, Republican, of Montana, and
Senator ODaniel, Democrat, OF
Texas, as a subcommittee, and said
hearings would begin early next
week.
Senator LANCER said there was
incompetence and avoidance OF
civil service laws" in the manage
ment of the Post Office Department
and that the committee wanted to
determine what, If any, connections
Mr.. North may have had with these
management questions.
Until recently deputies in the
postal service have been career men
responsible for operations under
political appointees responsible for
policy. Now career men like Mr..
North are holding jobs, that for
merly went to politicians. The
Postmaster General, Jesse Don
aldson, is a career man and so is
one Of his assistants.
Recalls Biggest Check.
"What was the biggest check you
ever signed Mr.. North was asked.
There was one to the Treasury for
War Bonds sold by postmasters for
s125 900, ,0oO," he said. THAT was
big check
He has been the deputy to the
third assistant since May, 1933-a
15-year period of great expansion:
When he came to the job, the total
revenues of the Post Office were
$500 100000. They are now about
81 500 100000. Postal savings were
about $1,000, 900, 900 in 1888. They
are now about $500, 1000.
He never has the bank teller's
satisfaction in actually handling the
long green, however. He hasn't even
q petty cash account in his Office.
He gave up golf when he came to
Washington. During the war he
started Victory Garden IN a
community plot in Bethesda to
which he drives from his home at
2501 Calvert street NV. He still
keeps it up.
Wanted to Be Ball Player.
Mr.. Norths ambition, when he
was young, was to be professional
baseball player-he was first base
man for the Senoia (Gao team-or
to go to Annapolis. His parents
discouraged him on both.
Their idea of the Navy was gath
cred largely by seeing young fellows
return to the town, after serving a
hitch. with mermaids tatooed on
their forearms," he said. 1T rep
resented evil"
So, when he was an undergraduate
at Emory College, he took an exani-
nation for railway mail clerk and
passed.
one Of his duties as the third
deputy was to take up with the
President the design OF commemo-
rative stamps. He was greatly I'M
pressed with President Roosevelt's
knowledge Of so many things. The
President told him the design for a
commemorate tive stamp on Rear Ad-
miral Richard E. Byrd's flights was
wrong-that Admiral Byrd had
crash landed at the end OF his
transatlantic flight farther north
on the shore of the Bay of Biscay
than was indicated by dotted lines