The New York herald., 1876-07-23
POST OFFICE GRIEVANCES.
THE WASHINGTON PRUNING KNIFE TOO FREELY

THE WASHINGTON PRUNING KNIFE TOO FREELY
UsED-wHAT' THE MEN HAVE TO SAY.
For some time past the employees of the Post Ofhcc
have been complaining about the repeated reduction OF
wages which has marked the beginning OF every quar-
ter during the present year. The extreme heat to
which the attaches OF some departments have been
subjected during tho warm weather, through the want
of ventilation, has also been of annoyance,
and the carriers have had their particular grievance
In their exposure 10 the aud some innovations
which they deem Objectionable.
To Investigate these complaints HERALD reporter
yesterday visited the Post Office. and, conversation
with various officials learned that the complaint of the
Distributing Department very just. 1t is located
on hoor OF the structure living lower than the side
walk and having hardly any communication with the
outer air. The apartment is at all times close, but
during the excessive heat OF the last weeks the
atmosphere In it was sitting To add to its unpcas-
antness row OF closets along it on either side
which arc also without ventilation and these in the
warm weather contribute their share TO tant the air
and make the place uncnantable. or course,
mo architect Is responsible for this disagree
able sia,e OF things, and IL s equally certain
that Mt present there IS no way OF improving IT. The
reporter thcn made inquiries touching ihe reduction OF
salaries From the proper authorities he learned that
during tho present year the expenses Of the Post 0cc
hare been reduced three different times The first
occasion was on January l, when order was for
warded IRON Washington insirucung Mr. James
to cut down his outlay s25.c5t. A com
mission had been sent to New York TO invcsti-
gate the management Of the postal service in the
city, and 10 decide how low a figure
II could be properly conducted. This commits
sion made their report bu, although the expenses
we're reduced to the rate suggested by them fresh
ductons are constantly being ordered. The S25 OjI
reduction effected by twenty one removals and
general lowering OF salaries On March another order
was received requiring u further reduction of Sl1 600
Twelve removals ana another deduction from each
mans salary met this demand Tho Postmaster fan
cicd that everything possible had been done in the
OF rctrenchmcnt, but on July he called upon to
make iurner reduction OF $25 GOO Against this he
protested claiming that the lowest figure which tho
Post OHice could bc had been decided
by the commission from Washington. and that
any further decrease Of the department resources
would seriously cripple 1t and impair It's usefulness
He claimed, too, that his expenses are now only
SIS, 900 more than they three years ago when,
on April l, 1873 he entered upon the duties OF his
office, and yet during that time there had been estab-
lished twelve additional stations. the Auditors Depart
ment the Newspaper Postage Department and the Mall
Equipment Department
This protest forwarded to Washington.
Tho reporter further ascertained that Post
master James has no actual jurisdiction over the
rers Tue special agent OF the Free Delivery Service
ber of deliveries " be made and Congress determines
their salarica
During the heated term, however Postmaster James
took the responsibility oil reducing the number daily
deliveries r m eight to five. and instructed tho
rcrs To report mt any illness they might be labor
under and command the services OF the surgeons Of
the department free OF charge