Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-10-26
4 pOsrMAsrERs' CONVENTION.
\ Formidable Movement to secure Much
Needed Icgi-lation.
fFltfg.t,fD Fifr.l.tf1t.

Chicago Tribune
Between three ana four thousand third
aud fOuth-Class postmgStcrs viii ASSEM-
bic i'm national convention iu Chicago
Thursday, November %, to take action in
regard to certain injustice practiced
toward them by the government in the
matter of rent, light fuel and boN-rent>.
They claim that all legislation pertaining
to the management and expenses OF post
Offices is directly in the interest OF FIRST
and secoud-cldss pOstnnstcrS, while those
OF the third and fourth grades, ly far the
hardest worked, are treated with positive
injustice,
4 reporter of the Tribune met Mr., John
IL. Patterson, editor of the United States
Mail, nj the Grand Pacific hotel last
evening, and learned from him some of
the point, in the controversy. Mr.. Pat
tcrSou said
ayes, sir, there Is to be a convention
held here next month, and it will be one
of the largest and most respectable ever
convened in this country The delegates
viii come from every state in the Union,
and after discussing their grievances they
will form national association, the OBJ
icct oil which will be TO secure much
needed legislation in the matter of Office
expenses
"Wn it have any political signit-
cancer
"No, think uot-tlut is, not in the
( way of advancing the personal interests
of candidates Tor Office; but as postmas-
/ tiers are generally persons OF some politl-
cal influence, and as those OF the third
and fourth class number some $4,000,
such an organization must OF necessity
WELD great DOWcr.n
/ GLOW are they treated by the govern
ment? What is the nature OF the inlus-
ticcyn
"The fact is, " answered Dr., Patterson,
"it is long story. IL may be summed
/ up briefly as follows. Every third and
/ fourih-claSS postmaster is compelled 10
nav his own rent and furnish his own
light. fuel, pens, ink, paper, mucilage,
{ peucils, a numberof books i'm whicht 80 keep
his accounts with the government,
and. in aword, all his incidental expenses,
while every dollar for such purposes m
all first and secOnd-Class Offices IS pald
bv the postonice department. They are
not only loaded with such unjust eN
nenses, but they are virtually robbed OF
their legitimate incomes by being com
PEELED to turn over 90 the government a
large percentage OF their boN-rents, ana
that, too, in face OF inc TACT tiut tlc
boxes are their own private property
They may have invested all the way from
$500 to $1,000 for an Office outfit and yet
the revenue derived from the rent OF thelr
boxes is turned into the national treas
ury. There can be no earthly reason
why postmasters Of the third aud iourth
grades should be compelled TO pay the
expenses of their offices while those OF
the first and second class are provided
for by the government"
apo you think any relief viii be Sc
cured by the formation of a national or
ganization!" Il.
"Most assurcdly. 1t IS the only way IL
can be secured In unity there Is strength,
and / NAV say, mildly, that II any con-
gressman wants his political HE snuheu
ont ali he will have TO do VIII DC TO op
nose measures for the relief OF these post
masters, and it will be done speedily and
eftcctually," ,,.o
"Win Mr.. Villas oppose such aino'o-
meut of his subordinatesf'
"No, he will not, am assured 'na''