Show Postal Notes Postmaster Kay R. R Peterson Peterson Peterson Peter Peter- son suggests that an ex- ex lent resolution for many peon pie to make this year would be to learn more than Is now generally known about the services provided by the major major major ma ma- jor departments of national government This would be particularly appropriate says Postmaster Peterson in light of President Johnsons Johnson's current current current cur cur- rent project to reduce the number of federal employees without adversely affecting essential essential essential es es- services The postmaster points out that when most people think about the post office they formulate formulate for for- mulat instinctively a picture of a place to mail letters or buy stamps or deposit a package package package pack pack- age or pur purchase hase a money order order order or or- der or transact some other kind of simple business These are of course important functions functions functions of the Postal Service but by themselves they makeup makeup make makeup up an incomplete and inaccurate inaccurate inaccurate rate picture What the Postal Service is in fact is quite different different different dif dif- dif dif- ferent from what it seems tobe to tobe tobe be at face value These are some of the things that postmasters and other othor post office personnel do besides processing mail and performing the obvious kinds of window service 1 Assist FBI and other law agencies in the apprehension of criminals 2 Aid the Federal Housing Administration in making surveys of housing and vacancies 3 Assist the Treasury Department Department Department De De- De- De with the sale of savings sayings savings sav say ings stamps documentary stamps and the sale of confiscated confiscated confiscated con con- property 4 Act as an agent of the Department of Interior in the sale of bird hunting stamps 5 Make flags for Veterans' Veterans funerals available on behalf of the Veterans tion 6 Furnish a secretary and board of examiners to the Civil Service Commission and maintain an information win win- dow Secretary is actually examiner examiner charge charge in-charge 7 Register aliens of the State Department 8 Receive and transmit the funds for voluntary charities Heart Polio Cancer Crippled Children etc 9 Witness the marking of absentee ballots 10 Witness declarations of competence by private bonds bonds- men 11 Furnish booklets on fallout fallout fall faU- out shelters and what to do doin doin doin in case of nuclear attack Serve as post attack registration registration registration tion center for all Federal employees in the area 12 Furnish information and applications for the Peace Corps Program Postmasters find themselves in eternal conflict between wanting to help their customers customers custo custo- mers in every way possible and yet being restrained by Service regulations which embody embody embody em em- body the fundamentals of the American way of life An excellent excellent ex ex- ex- ex example of this dilemma ma is the need patrons have for information on changes of address and the inability of the postmaster to comply with their requests Most of the calls caUs we receive receive receive re re- re- re in this area says Postmaster Postmaster Postmaster Post Post- master Peterson come from people who want to find a friend or re-establish re contact with a former companion Occasionally Occasionally Oc Oc- Oc- Oc too we receive calls for assistance from both individuals individuals individuals in in- and organizations who are anxious to trace someone who has left town owing a bill biU for rent food clothing appliances or medi medi- cal There are other instances in which either party to a separation or a divorce wants to find the other With very few exceptions the postmaster ter must refuse all aU such re re- re- re quests According to Postmaster Peterson Post Office Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment regulations provide that names and addresses of post postoffice postoffice postoffice office patrons and former patrons patrons patrons pa pa- are privileged and may not be disclosed except when correcting mailing lists or when furnishing chan changes es of address to election boards or registration commissions Special exceptions to this provision are made during times of natural disaster when disclosures of otherwise confidential confidential con con- information about names and addresses of postal patrons may be made to to Red RedCross RedCross RedCross Cross disaster workers for use usein usein usein in locating individuals and families but solely to answer inquiries from relatives and friends concerning the whereabouts whereabouts whereabouts where where- safety and welfare of residents of the disaster com com- For further information on addresses changes of address and other postal matters call Postmaster Peterson or check at the Post Office |