Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-06-30
RAILWAY POSTAL CLERKS.

Recently, the Postoflice Department
found il necessary TO discharge num-
Der of employees in various parts OF the
country, for banding together and con-
spring to obstruct the business OF the
department, and TO destroy the respect
and confidence OF the public in several
Postmasers. This conduct OF the de-
partment was emnently right and just,
as even the most exacting Civil Service
rules permit dismissal for cause, and
surely insubordniatc conduct and con
spiracy against the welfare OF the depart
ment are sufficient causes in the eye
OF the law, or in business sense, for
instant dismissal. That there was cause
for such action is proven by the proposed
action OF the Brotherhood of Railway Pos
tai clerks, who meet in Indianapolis
tomorrow The object OF their meeting
is to select n committee to proceed to
Washington and ascertain from the De-
partment what they may expect in the
future. 1t is intimated that the late
action Of the Department will not in
fuence the Brotherhood in their
intended demands on the Post
master-General, and, in short, that
they intend to make him come to time.
The formation OF Labor Unions and the
use Of the strike and the boycott have de-
veloped many curious phases OF labor
trouble, but none SO unique as this. Here
are some thousands OF men, taken from
all walks OF life, their only requisite being
knowledge Of the three RS, and given
six months probation, for which they
are paid at the rate OF 5000 per annum,
in which TO learn the names OF the post
Offices on any one route they may be as
signed TO, and failing upon examination,
are permitted to try again. 1t will be re-
membered that they have no special fit
ness or adaptability for the business, only
such as they learn while in the pay o
the Government, and having accom-
plished the herculean task OF putting the
names OF postoffices written on cards in
the correct pigeon-hole where they should
go, these men assume that they should
be treated with special favors by the
Government, and band themselves to
gether to secure them. Can anything bt
more ridiculous? These men are paic
from 5000 TO $l250 per year for running
over distance seldom exceeding 10(
miles, in the Eastern country, and being
required on duty not more than one-thirt
OF the time. They are treated with al
the leniency compatible with accuracy
and the prompt dispatch OF the mai
service, and yet, because employees o
civil corporations band together to fore,
certain measures from their employers
these men follow suit, and undertake Il
imperil the United States Mail service
This is a step too far, and the presen
Congress should pass an instantaneous
law checking this dangerous tendency
and establishing n training school wher
snpernumeraries can be taught the detail
of the business, and in sufficient number
to obviate the threats OF these men at In
dianapolis that they will force concess
ions from the U. S. Postal Department
The action Of these men is combination
OF ignorance and folly, and il we have nc
misread Postmaster-General Villas
he will shortly prove it so to them
Combined counter influences in de
partment OF the Government service /
no more or less than treason, an
should be treated as such. What
pitiable spectacle these men cut, b.
threatening the business interests Of thu
whole people OF the country on accoun
Of some fancied wrong, or mayhap, be
cause their uniform is not sufficientl
bestrapped with gold lace. These mel
need heroic remedies for their ailmeni
and it is to be hoped they will receiv
them.