The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-29

The Department and the Railways-The Pro-
posed classification OF Clerks.

posed Classification of Clerks.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The Postmaster
general has sent, in reply TO the request of
the House committee on postoffices and post
roads. his opinion on House bill 12lO9.
which requires railroad companies to carry
the mails at the rates of compensation fixed
by law. In his answer the Postmaster-gen-
eral points out the present condition of the
law. under which any railroad company
may refuse TO take the mails and by which
the department can secure their carriage
by contract only. He commentsas follows:
With rapid facilities a necessity TO the mail
service, with the whole subject of legislation cX-
c~lusively within the jurisdiction of the Congress,
with power and duty 10 lcgislate clearly APP
parent, ! venture to suggestthat the presentcon-
be stopped at the caprice of a carrier, consti-
tItes q reproach to a govcrnme0 established 10
promote the public welfare.
The committee this afternoon unanimous
i1y voted 70 report the bill. 1t provides that
If any railroad company shall refuse or neg
lect TO convey any mails upon any train
upon which the Postmaster-general may re-
quire such service. or willfully refuse TO
obey any law respecting the ira nspOrtation
of the mails. ii shall be liable to a penalty
not exceeding $1,000 for each day in which
such refusal or neglect shall be persistedin.
The Postmaster-general will tomorrow
communicate to the committee his views
upon the proposed horizontal reduction of
compensation 10 railroads for carrying the
mails. He will advise against the proposed
measure as being inexpedicnt at this time,
and. to some extent, unfair.
The POstmaster-generalhaS sent 10 Chair
man Blount. of the House committee on
postoffices and post-roads. a proposed plan
Tor the classification of clerks IN all first
and second-class pOStofices.. The plan is
submitted at the request of the committee,
jt having under consideration n bill for a
more equable and effective classification of
clerks in postofices and of the classes
named. Under the proposed plan the sala-
ries of assistant postmasters at first-class
poStofices cannot exceed 30 per cent. of the
salary of the postmasters at the respective
offices, and are to be graded in even nun
dreds of dollars from $500 to not exceeding
5000, except the assistant postmaster
fixed by This classification at $500.
The salaries of superintendents of mail and
superintendents of delivery cannot exceed
~ per cent. of the salary of the postmaster.
and are 10 range from $1,000 to y, 200. The
safaIiss ef the surerintendents of registry
and superintendents of money-order divis-
ion cannot be greater than % per cent.
masters salary, or exceed 50 ,l0O and S3,4W.
respectively As TO the superintendents of
the registry divisions. exception is made in
the cases of the officials in New York, Chi
cago and Washington. where this officers
salary is fixed at 40 per cent. of that of the
postmaster. All subordinate offices and
c~lerkships are also classified and the sala-
general effect of this classification of the
present force. it is said, would be to i'm
crease the aggregate of salaries by about
S30O.Oc0.