National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-08
RAILWAY MAILS.
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SERVICE.
Reorganization to Take Effect May 1, BY Which
the Nails VIII be Delivered More Promptly
Employees Doing the Same Work
Put On an Equality.

| For the purpose of increasing the etfl-
cheney Of the Railway Mail Service by defining
| the duties and adjusting the pay Of employees III
accordance with the work performed by them, the
following order has been issued by the Postmaster
General Much dissatisfaction has heretofore been
created by the discrepancy in the pay OF employees
doing the same similar work. The effect OF
this order will be to put all employees doing the
same work upon an equality. 1t viii neeessitate
the reduction of those incompetent to do the work
assigned to the pay now received by them, and
will lead to the promotion of deserving employees
in the lower grades. Under the reorganization eff
| fected by this order the Railway Mail Service
ought TO become the model civil service of the
| world. The order takes effect on the LIST of next
month:
l. Organisation Of Working CFelcs.-Hereafter the
working crews in all offices railway pOstofce lines
Will be composed follows Upon line where out one
employee is necessary perform the service he will
be of grade not to exceed 900 per annum On lines
that require two employees TO an office there viii be
one at 81 800 per annum and one at 81 lJ0 per annum
On lines that require three employees to an office
there win be at 81 800 per annum, one at 81 $50 per
annum, and one at 81 600 per annum. On lines that
require four employees there will be at 81 800 per
annum, one AT 81 $50 per annu, one at eco per an
mum, and one at $50 per annum. If more than four
employees required to Office, such additional
employees viii be of grade not 10 exceed $500 per
annum, except on lines where there etwo offices on
tran for letters and the other for papers
On such lines the of the offices in which papers
| are worked will be composed of one employee al
81, 200 per annum. two at 81 $50 per annum, one at
81 coo per annum at 500 per annun1 and all adj
ditonal employees of grade not to exceed $500 per
annum.
2. "iShort Stops" or "Helpers"-Except in case OF
emergencies, hereinafter provided, no employee or
local mail agent above the grade Of 500 per annum
will be assigned TO duty short stop or "helper
on any railway postofice line and short stops or
helpers" On route agent lines Will be of grade not
| to exceed 500 per annum.
3. ProridiE9 for Emer9elcieS-To meet emergencies
superintendent can make any assignments of en-
ployees and local mail agents in their respective di
| visions which may seem to them necessary for the
benefit of the service but not for longer period than
ten consecutive days. and such assignment must be
at once reported 10 the general superintendent for the
information of the of the Department. and, If neces
sary for the readustment of the grade and salary of
employees assigned in accordance with this order
4. Netg Appoiltnents.-All new appointments of en-
ployees and local mail agents will be for proba-
tonary period Of six months, and at salary not e1-
ceeding $500 per IT. at the expiration of six
months such employees records satisfactory. the
| appointments will be made permanent
D. assignment OF Observation-Disclosures II shall ap-
pear that employee is unable perform the duties
assigned to his grade his division superintendent will
at report the facts TO the general superintendent
with recommendation for the reduction or retire
ment of such employee; but in no event Will EN-
ployee be allowed TO receive the salary of higher
grade than is by this order assigned 10 the duties
actually performed by him, except when ordered by
the division superintendent to perform lower duties
| in an emergency.
| 6. RedssigR1lent Of EhpLOyees-Div superin-
tendents are instructed to reOrganize their working
crews and reassign employees in accordance with
this order. Where there more employees of the
higher grades in the service than will be needed
under the reassignment. they will assign the most
efficient TO duty in accordance with their grades
der this order and will report the least efficient the
General Superintendent for reduction to lower
grade retirement.
g DetGts Of Employee, from One Ro,lteto Another
This order will Lot interfere with the present prac
tice of detailing employees and local mailagents
from one route TO another but employees detailed
must be assigned TO duty in accordance with the pro-
visions of this order.
s. Details Of Employees for Clerical Duty-No more
employees viii be detailed for clerical duty than the
exigency of the service absolutely requires. No en-
poyee will be assigned to assist chief head clerk
cept in special cases and then the grade of the
poyee assigned must not exceed 81 600 per annum
8. SALARIES Of Mail Route MesseHgeFs.-This order
does not change the mode of adjusting and determn
Ing the salaries of mail route messengers, which will
continue to be based upon the number of miles of
daily service performed.