Improvements Are Even Now On Foot, Copied In A Great
Measure From Ourselves.
Hitherto the American office has not taken
upon itself the task of returning to their writers undelivered and
undeliverable letters.
This it is now going to do. It is, as I
have said, shaking off from itself that terrible incubus, the
franking privilege. And the expediency of introducing a money-order
office into the States, connected with the post-office as it is with
us, is even now under consideration. Such an accommodation is much
needed in the country; but I doubt whether the present moment,
looking at the fiscal state of the country, is well adapted for
establishing it.
I was much struck by the great extravagance in small things
manifested by the post-office through the States, and have reason to
believe that the same remark would be equally true with regard to
other public establishments. They use needless forms without end -
making millions of entries which no one is ever expected to regard.
Their expenditure in stationery might I think be reduced by one-
half, and the labor might be saved which is now wasted in the abuse
of that useless stationery. Their mail bags are made in a costly
manner, and are often large beyond all proportion or necessity. I
could greatly lengthen this list if I were addressing myself solely
to post-office people; but as I am not doing so, I will close these
semi-official remarks with an assurance to my colleagues in post-
office work on the other side of the water that I greatly respect
what they have done, and trust that before long they may have
renewed opportunities for the prosecution of their good work.
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