, 1889-09-05
.POSTOFFICE STRIKE.
The Clerks Announce Their In
tention to Walk Out This
Morning.
Postmaster Peel at His Ropes End
and Don't Know What
to Do.

"a lamentable state of affairs exists in
the postoiiice" said Judge J. J Peel, the
postmaster, when REVIEW reporter
called at his Office yesterday in quest OF
news.
In explanation of this remark the
postmaster exhibited formal written
notification, dated September 4, at 10
o'clock A. NJ, and signed by five regular
and three special clerks, to the effect that
1t is their intention to vacate their posi-
tions within forty eight hours from the
time specified, unless their salaries are
increased to living basis.
IL have done all in my power" Judge
Peel added, ito secure an allowance sutfi-
cient to enable me to transact the bust
ness of this office. have even gone so
far in this direction as to use large
portion of my own salary in the employ
ment of competent help. / have adopted
this method to the extent that would
have been far better off financially had
! insisted ON throwing up the office two
years ago as ] tried to do, when ] dis
covered the indifference that was mani
tested by the department at Washing
ton in response TO my appeals for facili-
ties adequate to the transaction of the
business of this postoffice, IN the most
rapldls' growing city, perhaps, that the
world has ever secn.'
But what are you going to do now?'
the reporter inquired.
81 don't know" the judge replied; ~
am disheartened and disgusted. | was
in hopes that my successor, Mr.. War
rem, would relieve me on the first of this
month, but there was some technical de-
feet In the qualification of one of his
hondsmen and the bond was returned.
This defect was promptly cured and the
bond was sent back to Washington. |
requested Mr.. Clarkson to wire me upon
the approval of the bond, so that
could turn the office over to Mr.. War
rem, but have received no telegram so
far, anu now | am in doubt as to
whether or not Mr.. Warren will desire
to take the office under the existing cir
cumstances, unless the allowance for
clerk hire is increased.
"You see" the judge continued, "this
Is the second Office in the state so far as
the bulk of mail matter for distribution
to other postoifices is concerned, but the
department docs not take this into con-
sideration. The appropriation for ex-
penditures is based upon the gross reve-
nues, without reference to the extraor-
dinary amount of work that must be
done in the handling of this immense
quantity of mail. When the inspector
WIS ilcIt III July Ile luht
an appropriation of S5i00 be allowed,
but instead of complying with that
recommendation the allowance was
| fixed at $500, or $l7O0 less than the es-
innate of the inspector, who is very
conservative man In his business. Seat
tie and Tacoma have allowances offrom
three to four times this amount, while
Seattle's business Is only n shade larger
than Spokanc's and TaComa's is great
deal smaller, especially in the matter of
distribution"
Judge Peel proceeded to state that il
the clerks carry out their expressed de-
termination to go out on strike he
will call in his bondsmen, turn the office
over TO them and take care of so
much of the mail matter as he can
personally handle, with the assistance
of the carriers, and let the balance ac-
cumulate. ''For," he added, ''it would
be impossible to organize another force
of clerks in the present condition OF
affairs, and ! don intend to try"
The postmaster added that ii the board
of trade or the citizens generally can sug-
gest a remedy for the existing difficulty
nc will be glad to receive It, and will
cheerfully Cooperate in any measure
that may promise continuance of the
mail service, but he confesses that in.
diyidually he is at his ropes end, having
exhausted all his resources.