The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-16
The Allowance for Clerk Hire OF the
Rock Island P0sotfiice to be Re.
duced $1,000 Per Annum.
Changes Contemplated in Regard to the
General Delivery and Stamp
Window.
DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY.

"What did he want here, to ascertain
whether you were an offensive partizan or
Dot2"
"No, not all; his business here was to
make a reduction in the clerk hire of the
Office, and to make some recommends
lions in regard to the delivery of mail"
Mag. Halves farther stated that the in
spector, Mr.. Adsitt was visiting the
different postoffices throughout this secs
ton, and making grand stroke for
economy. According to last years re-
port of the auditor of the treasury the
allowance for the Rock Island postoffice
for clerk hire is $4,000, while the receipts
for the fiscal year ending July 80, 1884.
were $16,096.
How does this compare with the res
ceipts and allowances for clerk hire of
other offices?"
ut is altogether out of proportion.
Now we are allowed even more than Off
ces whose receipts are nearly twice as
large, but we have got to economize.
How much did the inspector agree to
allow you hereafter"
''He endeavored to shave it down TO
$4,000. but l strongly objected to such
wholesale slaughter in behalf of any good
democrat that may be appointed as my
successor He finally consented to allow
the Office $1,000"
"Will this result in cutting down of
salaries or dismissal of some of the
force?"
Both. l think. We now have six
clerks, but when the new order goes into
effect, which will be the first of July,
some one will have to GO"
/ WHO THEY ARE.
The present clerks, with their respective
salaries, are as follows: Albert Frantz,
mailing clerk, $1,0s0; Harry G. Brooks,
supt. city distribution, $780, George
Koe nigsaeker. general delivery clerk,
$3.50; James l. Beardsley, general delivery
clerk, $3.50; Mary E, Cleland. register
clerk, $3.50; Katie HAYES, stamp clerk,
$500
The total expense for clerk hire falls
$3.50 short of the amount allowed. The
postmaster's actual salary is So, 500, but
with the commission allowed in the mon
; ey order department makes it about So, )
800 per annum. The sundry expenses,
however, which he has to meet individ>
ually, more than absorbs what he real
> ICES from the sale of money orders,
THE ORIGINAL ALLOWANCE.
The original allowance for clerk hire
i was So, 200, but when the improvement:
were made in the present office, Maj
Beardsley donned his best suit, and hiet
himself to Washington. His persuasive
influence succeeded in getting anothc
e 81 600 tackled on, which accounts for III,
d favoritism shown the office in this re
spect.
IS ALTERATIONS.
Inspector Adsitt recommended severa
changes in the interior of the Office, whicl
e are in reality orders from the postmaste
general. He thinks the Office is not sys
q tematically arranged for effective worl
T. with the usual number of employees. HI
II instructed that the general delivery win
Is dows on the east side of the building, b
e closed, and the present stamp window uset
: for that purpose. Stamps are to be on sal
at the money order department. but tina
N will be quite an Inconvenience to thu
IS public, as door will have to be opened
: the way it is now arranged. While it il
the general custom to keep stamps an
De money orders in the same department, tn
Office is not suitably arranged for tha
purpose The postmaster does not lik
the idea of closing the present deliver
e windows, but he will be compelled t
le obey orders unless he can manipulate hi
d reduced force more effectively.
OF We have no hesitancy in saying that tn
er present manner of delivering the mails
Y. much more satisfactory than the co 4
n templated method Ex>Postmastt
Beardsley went to considerable expens
a. in oider to give the people the preser
" facilities they enjoy, and the general de
IS livery department was one of the mai
improvements. As everyone know tb
ladies and gentlemen have separate deliy
=, cries, and they do not all have to crow
o in front of one window and experienc
-, delay in receiving their mail. 1t woul
al be proper enough to close the STAN
l. window, and we should think that tn
10 proper course to pursue.
WAITING FOR THE WORD.
70 When are you going to turn the oftic
over to democrat2" asked the scribe.
Whenever President Cleveland Sc,
fit to appoint one; l am ready to go {
D. any time, and / intend to see that ever
" thing is in good shape when the transft
III is made"
&c No one will deny that Maj. Halves hi
es given the people good service since
ID. took charge of the postofice. The mai
have been distributed promptly, and v
have heard no complaints in regard
the management of the Office. But it
at proper that his place should be filled
f. democrat. and no one knows this belt
nd than himself.