Franklin First Postmaster General.
It is an interesting and singular coincidence, overlooked by some of our historians, that the man to whom most credit is due, probably, for the organization of our national postal service was Benjamin Franklin, who did so much to encourage and promote the use of electricity, the other great medium for transmitting intelligence. Franklin was the first Postmaster General under the Revolutionary organization, before the adoption of the Constitution in 1787. He was chosen because of his earlier experience in postal matters, as postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, and as Deputy Postmaster General of the British Colonies in 1753. He was removed from the latter office, to punish him for his active sympathies with the colonists. When Independence was declared one of the first acts of his fellow patriots was to place him at the head of the Post Office Department. But the stern necessities of the Revolution called for Franklin’s great abilities to perform services of still greater importance, and Richard Bache, his son-in-law, was chosen to succeed him as Postmaster General, in November, 1776. Mr. Bache was succeeded by Ebenezer Hazard, the compiler of the valuable historical collection bearing that name. He held the office until the adoption of the Constitution and the inauguration of Washington.
Washington chose for his Postmaster General, Samuel Osgood, of the famous New England family. He had been graduated from Harvard College in 1770. He soon became a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, a member of the Board of War, and subsequently an aid to General Ward. In 1779, he was chosen a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, and two years later was elected a member of Congress. After four years in Congress he became first Commissioner of the Treasury. When he left Washington’s cabinet he was made Naval Officer of the Port of New York where he died August 12, 1813.
CHAPTER II.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF CANDIDATES.
Clerks and carriers must be citizens of the United States, physically fit for the service and temperate. They must be more than 18 years of age and not more than 45, stand 5 feet 4 inches in height in bare feet and weigh not less than 125 pounds without overcoat and hat. Some applicants who know they are below the weight foolishly try to secrete about their person, beneath the soles of their feet, or in their hair weighty materials to make up the deficiency. Not one in a hundred ever succeeds in fooling the lynx-eyed examiners, but those who try, do succeed in getting themselves blackballed and are debarred from taking examinations in the future. Female applicants are not required to be of any specific height or weight. The age limits are waived in the cases of persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service by reason of disability resulting from wounds received or sickness incurred in the line of duty, but they are waived only for such persons as have been physically disabled in the way mentioned.