The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-27
P0STOFFFCE CLERKS.
PARIS POSTAL ServANT6 BECOME
SOMEWHAT UNRULY.

SOMEWHAT UNRULY.
xrasrsrstiss Inciviiity in the French Post
sOec-The Traditions Must BE Respected.
4 Pathway Not strewn with Roses.
Ruallness Of Remuneration.
Tie postoAice clerks in Paris have actually
threatened 10 strike. Their agitation has
,,,tai,led, but their threat remains on record,
And II Is ono that contains much matter Tor
reaectiou The times must be rather queer
whom state servants freely talk OF turning
oat az though they were masons or carpehT
ters. the value OF whose work rises and iai's
with the fluctuations OF demand and supply.
Il would be an excellent thing for France II
al or nearly all Of her pubic servants were
N turn out, for then there would TIC some
chance of revolutioniring the system OF
bureaucracy, which is the curse OF the coun
trv But 20 long as those who hold places
upder government keep firm grip OF them,
The French nation will have it's blood sucked
nv N swarm Of useless functionaries Tho
postoffice clerks are badly paid, but then
there are q great many more than are needed'
and the public is made TO suffer in the trans
action OF its daily business by tins super
Auity.
RUINS THE TEMPER.
know of no place so calculated 10 ruin a
sweet temper as FrerGh postoffice. III yon
have not 10 faire Ia queue in order TO get q
stamp you will have 10 wait before boie
ike that of fowls house while the clerk ON
the other side is leisurely, and with an ex-
preston of indifference that is enough to ex-
ssperate a wandering angel, adding up
columns of figures or making entries in n
hook. You may be in deadly fear Of losing
the post with some important letter, but this
is of no consequence 10 him Behind ms
wooden partition ho feels as secure in his in
ciyiity as any brigand noble OF the lhlr-
feenth century behind the ten foot wall OF
his dungeon tower. Knowing the futility OF
irving 10 hurry him Won AZ length rush OIL
10 the nearest tobacco shop and buy stamp
there. This is just what he wanted you TO
do. He would like you TO buy all your
stamps at the bureau dc tebac, so that his
work NAV be lessened. II YOU wish to send
away q money order your temper is still
more sorely tried, for when at length your
Won must watch the clerk filing up as many
blank spaces as II he were drawing up
policy of insurance This is not his fault.
All the unnecessary scribbling is the result
of the natural genius for organization, in
respect of which every Frenchman is so
justly proud.
Strangers 20 these ways often express in
energetic language their surprise at the in
penuity thus shown in wasting time IL, how
ever, the work Of the postoflice were snpli-
fed, a reduction OF the staff would bc UNI
ayoidabe Nov all such reductions are quito
opposed TO the traditions OF French govern
inents. The approved system is to cram as
many persons as possible into tho public
Offices and TO pay very small salaries. But
small as the salaries are, candidates for
posts and friends of candidates arc for.
ever swarming like mosquitoes about depu-
ties and ministers with the hope Of securing
tho desired influence When there arc no
vacancies, offices are not unfrequently made
from purely political motives. Republican
legislatures have promised again and again
20 reform and simplify tho system of admin
istration in the interest Of the taxpayer; bet
the fact remains that the number Of public
functionaries is very much greater now than
1T was under the empire.
rHoRNY PATHWAY.
To return to the postofico clerk. Al
though his ungracious manners have placed
him outside the pale of public sympathy, il
must be admitted that his path in life is not
strewn with roses. After receiving his NOM
ination ho has often 10 wait three or four
L. - e.. .i.xrt NJ l.,
commences his career with n salary Of 500
francs "a year-about half much as he
could earn If he were willing 10 carry out
meat for butcher Then he has to deposit
800 francs as caution money" for which,
however, no is allowed 3 per cent interest
Five per cent. Of his salary is retained, and
goes towards his retiring pension. lie has
little moro than sixty francs month clear
ON which it is quite impossible to live in
Paris and to pay for clothes and lodging
AS his salary is increased very slowly, Inc Is
a long timc partly dependant upon parents
or friends.
The smalness Of bis remuneration is not
the only grievance Of the postofiico clerk he
has another, and this is certainly a just reason
for agitating. His advancement depends
much less upon his industry and ability than
npon the influence which he is able 10 bring
10 bear upon deputies and senator's Tho
word is given 10 move up o certain one, and
he is moved up. Those who have no infuen-
tlal friends remain in the same place for
years, while their Juniors are being system
atically set above them Tho clerks havc
protested loudly against this injustice, but
their chance of obtaining redress Is very
slender Favoritism is so ingrained with the
whole official system Of France that the post
Office clerks mus: be sanguine indeed II they
suppose that their cutlery will produce any
radical change Even the revolutionists only
touch tho surface Of things in France When
the country settles down after ono of those
periodical earthquakes official life goes on in
much the same fashion as it did before
Paris Cor Boston Transcript
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