Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-23
THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
Division superintendents and Postal Clerks
Hold Conventions Here.

"ohu conventions mere.
The eleven division superintendent of the
railway mail service held the first meeting OF
their convention at the Post OAice Department
Yesterday. 1t is the policy of the department
to have meetings Of the superintendent at
stated periods to consider matters for the gen.
eral Improvement Of the service, and hereafter
they will meet once q year instead OF. once in
two years, as formerly. The subjects discussed
yesterday after the address OF the general
superintendent were the heating and lighting
OF the postal cars and the distribution Of the
mail of large publishing houses.
The meeting organized yesterday by the
election of r. C. Jackson of the second district
Ne* York. chairman; ]. p. Lindsay, seventh
district. st. Louis. secretary. with Harry White
and Z. L. Thomas stenographers.
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT WHITES ADDRESS.
General Superintendent James E. White
stated the object of the meeting to be to con-
slider measures for the further improvement OF
the railway mail service; to discuss and pass
upon the subjects embraced in the call for this
convention and other matters relating to the
betterment of the service as may be introduced
by those present
He congratulated the superintendent upon
the Improvement in the service and spoke In
high praise of the intelligence and efficiency OF
the CORDS.
This improvement is due. he said, to the edu-
cational and disciplinary measures which have
obtained in the service for years. but which
nave been more thoroughly and generally en-
forced during the past two and half years
than ever before. and to that freedom from re-
movd--except for inefficiency, misdemeanors
and crime--which has characterized The period
mentioned.
that have responded 80 quickly and effectually
to the demands Of the service will continue to
expand and garner up the knowledge essential
to its highes: development. and no doubt the
ratio OF improvement that distinguished our
service last year will continue. and thus Justify
the opinion heretofore expressed by those in
authority that the railway mail service is the
right arm of the Post Office Department.
He called attention to the steady increase OF
the amount of work to be done in the railway
mail service and said that with the increase OF
work comes the necessity for a larger corps OF
clerks. reorganization Of the lines, better and
more uniform methods for the transaction OF
business for the government comfort and pro-
lection OF the employees for the handling and
safety OF the mails while in transit and for i'm
proved and increased facilities TO meet the Just
demands OF public and private business.
RAILWAY POSTAL CLERKS.
The railway postal clerks held meeting at the
Howard House yesterday to consider the ques-
ton of legislation in the interest of the en-
ployes of the railway mail service They want a
Reconsideration of the service and increased pay
but do not favor tine bill Endorsed by Second
Assistant Postmaster General Bell that was in
troduced last year. This bill provided for a
Reconsideration, but did not provide for in
creased pay for the third grade and under and
the men claim that the great bulk of the work
Is done by men OF the third and second grades.
What they want is increase Of like proper
lions in all grades.
They will also seek to bring about some
scheme by which the old men who have served
long years in the service be taken off the
road and put at work which will be better
suited to their years. free from exposure, yet
giving them the same pay. This scheme
means sort of retirement from active service
under full pay. The plans for their ideas
have been referred to this committee. with
power to report, and they will today call upon
the general superintendent Of the railway
mail service and Postmaster General Wanna
maker.
They called on Second Assistant Postmaster
General Bell to pay their respects and present
the matter of legislation before him. Mr.. Bell
replied at some length, stating to the men that
he favored the bill introduced last winter. and
assuring them that anything they would pre-
sent to Superintendent White would be care
fully considered by him and by the post Office
authorities.