San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-12
PoSroFFICE CLERKS BILL

The movement among the postollce
clerks of the country to put them
selves on an equality with the car
riers aud other employees of the pos
tai department, in 80 far as hours OF
labor and vacation are concerned, Is
gaining ground. The convention at
Washington, to which reference has
heretofore been made in the LIGHT,
will formulate its ideas in measures
to be presented to congress, and for
which all the influence that the clerks
can command will be enlisted. The
three points covered by the formu-
lated action of the convention will be,
time, remuneration and vacations.
AS to the first, the bill which has
been drafted to cover the petition of
the clerks, makes eight hours a full
days labor and provides extra pay
for extra labor. AS to vacations, the
bill drafted gives each postoftice
clerk of more than one years SER
vice a vacation OF not less than fifteen
day in each year without reduction
of salary and provides tor their work
during absence through a corps OF
substitute clerks. AS to salary, the
bill is specific and asks for an annual
addition of 500 per annum to all sal
aries of clerks in first-class offices un-
til the sum OF $1,000 per annum is
reached. Also that ten per cent of
such clerks salaries shall be $1,000 per
annum, and twenty per cent $1,000 per
annum, and that no salaries be Ie-
duced in consequence of the passage
of the act.
This is the action taken by the con-
vention, and it is certainly justified
by the circumstances. Taking The San
Antonio postotfice as a sample, there
is no class of intelligent employees in
this city as hardly worked and as
poorly paid as the postotfice clerks, ana
ment that this is so. The work required
at the hands of the postottice clerks
is q very particular one, requiring
care and Intelligence, and such quail
ties with the expedition aud exact
ness required should receive such re-
at the hands of the gov
eminent as they can command i'll
other departments of labor. In no
other department of the national SER
vice is there such irregularlty i'll the
hours of service required or such lack
OF system in grading as in the post
offices Of this country. The attempt
OF the postoffice clerks convention TO
enlist congressional aid in their be-
half should meet with every possible
The LIGHT would
gladly see exact justice done ami that
in liberal spirit. 1t tavors the pro-
posed changes in the law regulating
pos tai service and fixing remunera-
ton, and would gladly SEQ the whole
postal department. disconnected from
the influence of party politics, 50
far as that can be made prac-
tloable. Justice to the pOstoftice
clerks, and wise consideration for
the interests OF the public, as served
through the postotiices of the country,
would naturally call tOI such hours
of service as q clerk can give without
overburdening mind or body; aud.
such remuneration as will induce him
to use his best endeavors to make his
services generally acceptable.
there has probably been no time,
for many years at least, so favorable
as the present for Urging the claims of
the postal department upon congress.
The service in this department, the
most important to the country of all
others, needs system. Some sections
of the service are syslemetized and
graded, others ale not and all need
to be. Sunset Cox, the CHI ,mpion and
staunch friend in congress of the
pOstoffice employees is dead. Upon
whom will his mantle fall?
THE queens speech from the throne,
where 1t touches upon Ireland, has as
much warmth in it as a frozen potato
ID, - l.; 10