New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-25
$Abl1KS
~NONPoAsonous
NSSNSoctaN1S
POSTOFFICE SALARIES.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT REDUCTIONS.
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR THE EXAMINING


COMMISSIONERS.
One OF the most difficult problems with which tho
Commission that has been examining the Now.York
posofce had to deal In its report the Postmaster
General was TO make the organization Of tho Office
form as far as pos sblo the bill passed BY the last Con-
gross classifying the clerks and officials Of the various
first class postOIlcos The law was intended 70 cor.
rect many Irregularities which existed IN tho service.
The salaries OF clerks In the irst-clsss onices are
fixed at from $500 year up to 81 200 81 400 and In
the case OF finance CLERKS. 81 200. Tho salaries OF
many Of the clerks Will probably DO raised by the now
classification. The Junior cerhships, at s4eO year.
for boys under twentyono years. VIII DO abolished
and tho grades OF salaries will be marked by increase
Of 300 year In the salary Of the higher grade over
tho next lower The increase OF salary Is now
made In the Now. York Office BY $50 year In tho
higher over the love- grade. Tho effect OF tho
now law viii depend largely upon the method In which
the men are classified by PostmasterGenerA WAna
maker.
The most important changes will be thos. affecting
the higher oc OF the Postoce. and the prospective
many Of the salaries and the abolition OF
some OF the positions are causing much complain
among the Oldcs: AM most trusted employees OF the
ssrvcc. Tho Ih.aso used In the appropriation 10
that the Postmaster General Is authorized TO mako
the elias sc atlo but tho Attorney holds that
the law Is mandatory and the salaries must DO road
justed TO comply with the law even II the rearranse
ment should greatly affect tn, service.
The present organization OF tho divisions OF tho
Official work was tho result of Ions study and exp,r
aud has remained substantially unsltered for ten
years The heads Of the various divisions called gon-
eral superIntondents formerly received $4,000 year
each but after commission visited the office In 1882
the salaries OF tho assistant postmaster and OF most Of
tho general surortu,sndents rcircrd 10 Vow
Each OF the general superintendent Is In charge OF
large force and tho work performed has been OF
so important nature that the salaries have never
been considered too high
In the department Of thu Postofce work known
as the Executive Division tho salaries Of the post
mastor and the assistant postmaster are not changed
| by tho law. There Is appropriation for tho
superintendent Of the inquiry Office nor for tho chief
clerk OF records, each ot whom now receives a. 900.
Both Of the present incumbens have been In the scr
vico for many years 10th were trusted aids OF Mr..
Pearson, and both have been active mem
bers OF the local civil service board Of
| the Postoiice. salary Of s1,40o Is
fixed in the law for ioremrn in charge Of crews
working sections and under that classification each
Of these two officials might receive that salary.
The first or auditing division has now, above the
| rank OF clerks. an auditor at 5000, an assistant
auditor 1000, superintendent Of mail inspection
and rating at 81 900 and a superintendent Of news.
paper and periodical postage at S2oCO The auditors
salary Is unchanged but none OF the other positions
IS provided for In the bill The incumbent must be
cla,scd either at Sl40o clerks in charge Of gangs
or perhaps as finance clerks al salaries Of not over
~ 700 The second division is in charge Of the
cashier The Office handles millions Of dollars yearly,
and the official in charge has responsibility almost
| like thar OF a bank cashier. Stamps worth many
thousands OF dollars al all times under his charge
| TIE present Incumbent receives $1,000 The new law
will reduce his salary 10 a. 800 and his assistant, who
now receives al 500, WILL after July l. have salary
Of sl,4o9; ,..,,,,, ,,., -, ,,u0, -, ,,.,r,,,,o,
includes among its employees large number Of clerks.
The general superintendent Of the division now re
cciycs $500 and will receive $500 under tho new
classification. \ superintendent OF this division has
Charg Of the transportation OF the mails and receives
salary Of $500 His position IS rot mentioned IN
the new law and no must resign perform his duties
al a salary of 81 400 Five assistant suporintendenis
at Al 900 will also be reduced TO the Slio0 grade.
Two assistant superintendent Of the forign branch
| must submit 10 a similar reduction.
delivery division hs charge Of the zoo carriers and
Of several hundred clerks. lie now receives $500
year and under the now law viii sGes $500 ss.
nllcd by one Of the most Intelligent and active officials
year and can only remain foreman OF gang ~
Slio0. -Four assistant su. erintcndents now rec.iv-
ing 81 600 will have salaries of 81 400 each a1er
july l. Each OF tn, supcrntcndcnts OF the various
branch stations will receive from 800 10 1900 Fss
The money orie: department, known as the afth
division Is under the charge OF General superintendent
aaartcS of century Iii, division handles sse 900
year, and In the many years IN which he has seen
the Government has never lost dollar by him.
Though he room Is Inadequate In sac and the monry.
|
cunistanccs, Mr. Plmley's division has always beea
| regarded model one lie was the only genera
| superinl endent who SUI received $4,000. Under ns
Gew classification he can not receive more than Vs.
a year. Tho superintendent under him must snons
| 10 reduction from $1,000 10 p 400. The sxh
division registry department is affected less than
the others, the salaries paid arc already low nS
general erntendent VIII continue TO receive ~ 10y
and the superintendent viii receive g., 400 insesa
of his present salary OF $3.50 One assistant super
iutendeut will still receive al 500, and two other
assistants, at al GOO, can peform their duties -
foremeD at 81 400 each. a.,
some Of the officials affected by the now law are "a
doubt as what do They feel that they earn their
present salaries and yet they do not wish 10 ieavs
The service to which they have already given their ocs
years Most Of them will probably retain their posl.
lions until next winter, and look 10 Congress Tor ~nss
| IL ALL. far