The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
AN AUTOCRATIC. COMMITTEE.
Something About the Constitution ofthe
Postal Clerks Brotherhood.
Peculiar Names of the Officers of the Lodge
Some Indianapolis Clerks Wish They
Hadn'tWritten Those designations.

| A number Of those postal clerks who became
members of the brotherhood by putting their
| designations in the hands of the grievance COM
mttee are said to have tried every
means of getting the RESERVATIONS back,
and have even telegraphed to Wash
| ington, saying they didn't mean to
resign. Some of them have threatened to bring
injunction proceedings TO prevent the custodian
presenting them to the authorities at Washing
ton The custodian has 103 designations. with
dates left blank, now in his possession, and upon
the order of the committee on grievances he is
compelled by the constitution to forward them
| to Washington Another clause of the constitu
ton, it is said, provides that any one can with
draw from the organization by paying SIS into
the benefit fund. Two of the clerks said to
have become somewhat under the influence of
| liquor few evenings ago, and. in that cond
tion to have wept copiously at the bad state eff
things.
| The Chicago Tribune. of yesterday, gives the
points in the constitution of the Brotherhood of
| Postal Clerks. 1t says:
'The objects OF the order are stated to be for
| mutual aid and protection, and for per-
| feet union, that we as body may be the better
! enabled to resist encroachments made upon our
| rights as citizens and our manhood as officials
| by ndiscriminate removals from office of any of
our members without sufficient cause and upon
charges filed and fairly and fully investigated,
| and that We may also be the better enabled to
| administer to the wants and necessities of sick
and INDECENT brothers, and in other respects TO
cultivate more fraternal feeling among our
members
''rhe first annual meeting of the grand lodge
| is fixed at indianapolis, July 49, and its compo-
"a an in
| its presiding officer. known as the grand chief
clerk; is shorn of all executive functions, which
| all appear lodged in the grievance committee.
There is per capita tax of ST upon all members
| of the brotherhood, which. together with the
usual fees for lodge charters and the sale of ritu
ais will bring in fair income ii the member
ship is reasonably large
The bylaws define the regulations of mem
bership, and state that no person shall be ad-
mitted to membership ia this brotherhood
whose reputation FOR honesty sobriety and in
dustry be seriously assailed, and all appli.
cants must be recommended by two members or
| the lodge in every way worthy OF
membership. The initiation fee is So. 1t is
provided that a member who shall die in the
service, or who shall be discharged from his
position for alleged causes upon which there has
been conviction, shall be entitled to a sum
from the benevolent fund of the grand lodge
| equal to amount to be raised by an assessment
of 81 each upon all the members Of the brother
hood said amount to be paid to his widow or
the same may be disposed of by will or be paid to
those dependent on him for support.
''The following language is used:
ITO all the BYLAWS. rules ana regulations bind
ourselves by the most solemn pledges Of honor unit
ing ourselves n the raternal bands Of brotherly love-
We pledge to each other lives, honor, and our
| lasting fidelity and featy adnonishing brethren
to be the principles that characterize true
hood Continue to give the work Your most faithful
and honest efforts and this important branch of he
government service which your skill and genius aided
so largely in concentrating will go down the ages
an imperishabe monument to your memories
"The officers of the lodge rather peculiarly
| named They are the chief clerk the second
clerk, the third clerk. the transfer clerk and the
shortstop The chief clerk is the presiding of
cof. The second clerk is the secretary. the third
clerk is the treasurer, the transfer clerk is sort
| of general utility man, while the shor tstop is
| supposed to stop nterlopers at the door. The
power of the presiding officer, following the lead
of similar societies, Is practically unlimited be-
| tween the meetings of the lodge and he can do
about as he pleases.
ITO become member it is necessary to have
received permanent appointment as a postal
clerk, commission from the Postmas ter general
being evidence of that fact, and also to be iE
active service at the time of application The
usual procedure is carried out in the way of in
itiation until the candidate has taken tho oath.
| then he, by further attestng his sincerity and
allegiance will surrender to the lodge. through
the chief clerk his resignation as postal clerk.
which will be placed in the hands of the grey
ance committee to be used by said committee
under the orders of the lodge only in of ex-
| treme emergency and In concert and conjunction
with all the members of the same
This grievance com mittee while it is but one
of three standing committees in the lodge, thus
| becomes the most important one of the lot be-
ing closely modelled after the executive boards of
| the Knights of Labor. Their duty as laid down
in the constitution, is to take charge of all mat
ters relating the official relations of the Broth
erhood Of Railway Postal Clerks with the Post
and fhqrn in hd
| mail service, and when, in the opinion
| of the committee, an ex gency shall ex-
list for the exercise of arbitrary action they shall
at take the necessary steps to prosecute
! any plan or scheme that may, in their judgment,
be the means of consummating desired object.
They shall not, however, resort to extreme meas
ures until an amicabe adjustment of all Difficult
| ties may be deemed impracticable, and without
| the knowledge consent of the lodge.
| 1.-THE entire plan shows the hands of good
| organizers, and bears the marks of months
| of study which it doubtless received. in the
meantime, however, SO 1t now appears, the
| department was kept daily informed of the
| progress of the incubation of the brotherhood,
! and the twenty nine clerks who manly in
| strumental 10 its formation were dismissed from
| the service just at the moment 1T was prepared
| to act. The constitution they left behind gives
full evidence of the faithfulness OF their labors
| which the secret zeal OF the members who are
still in the service may yet prove not to have been
wholly in vain The call for the general meet
| ing of the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis next
week is still extant, there being at present nc
clerk who has the teinerity to recall it,"
The Tribune adds:
I'm the meantime the brotherhood is striving
earnestly to increase its membership without
the knowledge of the department. The inform
ers have been spotted and driven out, and the
secrecy about the brotherhood would do credit TO
Guy Fawkes plot. Every clerk has become
suspicious of his neighbor, and the division
superintendent suspicious of all. Each clerk
looks for dismissal with each mail. aud many
a asks himself why he did not go hence two
years ago. before the Affections began. Unfortu-
nately. the publication Of the secret work of the
brotherhood will not tend TO aay their ills
brought on by too much civil-service reform a la
Villas. The members of the brotherhood who
are emnlnvad on The Chicavn rnn havA hurnaH