Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-31
LETTER-CARRIERs.
They Petition Congress for Measures to
Better their Condition.

They Petition Congress for Measures to
Better their Condition.
There is general movement on foot all
over the Union, among the letter carriers
toward petitioring Congress for better pay
and an annual vacation of two weeks
The carriers of this city have not yet taken
action in tie matter, but intend to do so
| shortly. Those of San Francisco met few
days ago and adopted the following resolu.
tons:
WHEREAS, An organized effort is being made
by postal clerks throughout the Union to better
the condition of the service, and of the EN-.
be it
Resolred, That we desire the passage of House
bill 6,449, which provides, that eight hours
labor shall constitute days work
Also, OF House bill 6,4iS which provides for
period of rest or vacation for postofiice clerks
of fifteen days annually; TOR the reason that it
is the custom and practice with commercial
houses, and with Governments the world over
who recognize the fact that their employees do
better Work, and more of it, when endowed
with the renewed vitality which such a recrea-
| tion gives.
In the business world, faithful employe is
considered to become more efficient and his
services more valuable, in proportion to his ad-
dltional years of service. IL seems to us that
| the application of that idea would be solu-
llon OF tne Vexe1 question, OF what should be
| the test of a clerks worth.
We indorse the proposed amendment to the
classification bill, which provides that proba-
tionary clerks shall be paid at the rate of 5000
per annum; and for the first year thereafter
| they shall be paid 500; and that for each sue
ceeding yeaf they shall be paid an. additional
SlOO, until they are in receipt of 81 200 per an
mum; and that 20 per centum of the clerks in
each office shall be paid 81 300 per annum; and
that 10 per centum shall receive s., 400 per an
mum.
Many overworked people complain that their
hours of labor are such that they cannot culti-
vate social ties nor the physical and mental
qualities with which they have been endowed
by nature Happily this is something of which
social ties; they live and breathe only for the
postoffce
Throughout the livelong weary day, and into
the silent watches of the night, the postal clerk
labors at any and at all hours, sacrificing his
sight in dimly lighted rooms sacrificing his
health, breathing the polluted atmosphere of
overcrowded and overheated rooms exhausting
keep pace with the never-ceasing rush and
worry, till az last, as the years go by, he is be-
cause of impaired eyesight and shattered
health, unable to earn living for himself or
for those who depend on him.
Is 1t not just that men who make these saeri-
fees, who resist temptations which are well
nigh irresistible, to whose care is committed
the social, political and commercial correspond
ence and literature, which is the great artery
conveying the rich blood of knowledge and
civilization throughout the world, that these
men should receive a compensation which will
enable them to live and to save sufficient to
provide against want when the day comes that
sions aud the nerveless hand refuses to respond
| to the command of the clouded BRAIN