Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-20

an hour. Rapldlty and correctness are
equally essential. If postal clerk gets
behind. 1t is almost impossible for him to
catch up. He must distribute the mail as
they are picked up on the way, and make
up those which are to be dropped off.
Absolute perfection is not possible, but we
come nearer to it every year. There has
never been falling back. Without an
exception the per cent of efficiency and
accuracy has shown an increase each year.
! Every mistake is recorded and charged
up to the man who makes it. Last year
the errors we're only one to every 8, S95
pieces handled, or 26-1 900 of one per cent.
1t seems to me that the railway mail
service has a right to be proud of such a
showing"
"Do not the clerks have trouble with
defective and illegible addresses ?"
PLENTY of it. just as everybody does
who handles mail matter A postal clerk
on railway train up to his ears in work,
cannot spend much time in deciphering
an illegible superscription. If he cannot
read 1t at a glance. ne must lay it aside.
The boys call these 'nexies.' They found
upward of four millions of them last year.
They have experts at these offices who
succeed in making the proper disposition
of about halt of them. The other half
they send to the dead letter office here in
Washington, which is the court of last re-
sort for them"
Under what system of examination are
the clerk appointed ?"
They have to go through the civil ser
vice mill. They are, however, examined
with special reference to their fitness for
the business. We do not care whether a
man can read Chaldee or knows anything
about the differential calculus, but he must
understand the geography of this
country and be quick to read writing
These two things count much more in the
examination than any other. If man is
seriously deficient In them he is not likely
to make a good postal clerk. But a GER
tlicate that he has passed a creditable ex-
animation does not make a man postal
clerk. 1t simply means that he is quail
fed to learn to be one. We take him six
months on probation, as they do in the
Methodist church. At the end of that
time, if he has acquitted himself well, he
gets permanent appointment If he is
not quite up to the mark but gives
promise OF success, we may extend his trial
term three months. Some men are slower
to learn than others, but are just as good
when they get there. From time to time,
us the law provides, the permanent
clerks are examined for promotion to
higher grades. Those who pass have their
pay increased. So you see there is a con.
slant incentive to reach the highest posi-.
bic proficiency.
These examinations consist chiefly of
the actual distribution, as if they were
letters, of a large number of cards which
bear the names of postofiices. CELEBRITY
and correctness in doing this are the things
that count. The clerks are started at $500
a year. At present the maximum pay is
81 400"
What provision is made for them in
case of death or disability 10y acct
dent?'
"Not as much, in my opinion, as there
ought to be- The duty of the postal clerk
is not only arduous, but involves constant
danger to life or limb. There is no class
of men in the government service who are
more earnest and diligent in their work
or more deserving Of consideration. The
law now permits us to continue on the pay
roll, for . period not exceeding one year
and to an amount not more than 81 900,
a clerk who is disabled while in the line
Of duty. There is no provision in case
of death. The department has recon.
mended to congress a bill to pay one
years salary to the widow, children or
dependent relatives of one who is killed.
This seems to be emiuenty proper, and
little enough for the government to do in
such cases.
Last year there were las casualties in
the railway mail service. Ten postal
clerks were killed, ninty-fve were serious
ly and forty slightly injured. The danger
to postal clerk in case of accident is
greater than the ordinary passengers. His
car is near the front of the train an is gen
orally more likely to suffer disaster than
the rear coaches. The record OF casualties
each year is narrowing one. The postal
clerks often meet death or mutilation in
their most awful forms. Not long ago
one of our very best men, Greenawald |
was killed in that smash up on the Read
ing. Not week passes without acci,
dents to these faithful servants of the
people"
"A few years ago the employees of the
railway mail service organized mutual
beneficial association, which is in a
Hourishing condition. 1t is a good thing
and we encourage the men to join it. Its
membership embraces about half in the
service Each member pays a dollar in
case of death. The sum paid being now
about $4,000"
"yhis is purely voluntary matter and
does not in any manner lessen the obliga-
tion which | think rests upon the govern
ment to make such provisions as has been
suggested We shall continue to urge
the matter upon congress and hope for a
favorable issue"
What part of the time are the clerks
on duty?'
Not every day, of course Their work
is wearing and they must have time for
rest. On the heavy lines each man ios
from a quarter to third of his time FOR
rest and study. The postal clerk always
has something to learn; he never sees the
time when he can say he knows it all. On
the shorter routes, with lighter mails. the
work is not nearly so hard, The long
routes are divided into sections. For in.
stance, between New York and Chicago,
one set of clerks run to Syracuse, another
to Cleveland and third from that point
to Chicago. Not more than ten or twelve
hours of continuous service can be asked
of a postal clerk. If, as in some cases,