The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-19
a LETTER CARRIERS COMBINE.
They Think Their Arduous Service
Worth More Than They Get for IL.

They Think Their Arduous Service
Worth More Than They Get for IL.
The sultry weather for the last four or
five days has been felt by no class of toilers
to greater degree than by the letter car
riers. of whom there are seventeen in
Savannah. and fifteen of whom trudge on
foot. The other two are mounted and dis
tribute and collect the letters in what is
known as the fourteenth and eighteenth
districts, which embrace that portion of
the extended limits of the city south of
Anderson street as tar east as Lovers lane
and as far west as the Ogeechee road.
The carriers work under the eight-hour
law, but it is safe to say that none of them
are able to sorve their districts in that
time. This is especially true of their Mon
day work, when the mails are heavy, as
they are the accumulation Of Sundays
mails, and often the carrier goes out with
two or three sacks strapped about him, and
as many loose packages as he can convent
emily carry under his arm.
True, the carrier gets fifteen DAYS fur
Tough on year in pay, but he earns it, and
especially so during the season when torrid
waves are not uncommon. Some make two
collections and one delivery, and Others
make one collection and two deliveries
daily. There has been more than one car
rier who was late in getting in for the after
i've that they have had to travel more
leisurelv and avail themselves of the shaded
sides of the street.
One carrier SAID yesterday that while they
are presumably working under the eight
hour-law, their hours are often from 5
o'clock a. m. to o'clock p. m. and some
times later
Carriers are paid after the first year of
service at the rate of $40 per month. Car
riers throughout the country think that
this pay is inadequate and they propose to
take steps to have it increased to 800 per
month.
A gentleman said yesterday in discussing
the matter: Ibid you ever stop to think
what a strike by the carriers would mean,
or what a political influence they can
exert! No2 Well, it would embarrass
the postal department more than
you can conceive if they should fail to
obtain the increase they are working for.
just think what a political influence the
] 800 carriers in New York city would exert
ii they would stand together in an election.
It might determine the electoral vote of
New York, and the present administration
cannot afford to treat them with indiffer-
ence if they ask for increased pay"
The carriers have hard time of it. They
must go in sunshine and storm. in cold and
hot weather, aud their position is one of
trust and great responsibility. They must
go in snow aud Ice in the northern cities
when the mercury is below zero, and in
summer when the mercury is above 1909 in
the shade, and no telling how high in the
sun. For these reasons they propose TO ask
better pay. and it is understood that they
are organizing all over the country so that
when they do act they will act as unit.
The movement was started in the north,
and will be seconded by the carriers all over
the country. The carriers in Savannah
are not inclined to talk freely about it, but
it is understood that they have been COM
municated with and will act in harmony
with their fellow carriers