The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-10
MR. eRANr.s txcEsslyE zEAL.


lie Oyerworks Carriers Employed ut tho
East Washington Branch ONCE.
IL there is any one thing more than
another that the average East Washing.
tonian dotes on IL is the Branch Postonicc,
located at the corner of East Capitol and
Fourth streets. Some of the citizens of
that thriving and progressive section
would rather dispense with the street cars
than do away with their branch post
Office.
The first person appointed as superin-
tcndent of this Office was Mr.. Fred. A.
Grant, son of the late Captain A. Grant.
Mr.. Grant was popular alike with the peo-
pie as well as the carriers and other en-
ployes.
The whirligig of time and politics
brought about change. Mr.. Grant, II
Republican, was superseded by Mr.. John
a. Clarke, n lawyer, Democrat and q
very nice al:around man. Mr.. Clarke
brought the office UP to the very top notch.
He fairly made things hum, ringing in
change after change by way of making Il
model Office. AS an evidence that Mr..
Clarkes administration was successful IL
Is related that only two OF three COM
plants, and these of the most trivial char
acter, were made against him
But the whirligig OF time and politics
also retired Mr.. Clarke. This was only u
short time ago when Mr.. Clarke stepped
out and Mr.. Fred. A. Grant his immediate
predecessor, stepped in again. Turn
about is fair play.
Mr.. Grant has only been in office few
short weeks, but he is not losing any val
service to the people he is OVERRIDING the
thing. lie appears to be running his
Office on the principle that a mans en-
durance is unlimited. Mr.. Grant has q
hobby. II Is TO issue orders To the car
rers. Some of these orders are singularly
orratic.
One of these crazy-quilt and lordly
orders fell into the hands of THE CRIric
reporter. II is as follows:
"MARcI4 4, 1901.
"0FFIcfAL ORDER.
every carrier musf leave the Office at
$50 a. m, 1890 and 4 y. m. and report the
end Of each trip not later than 1880 a. M,
go and 5 y. m.
at is the last time will call your at
tcntion to this matter, and the first carrier
who transgresses these rules will be trans
ferred to the collectors force. The
mounted men and carrier 40 must leave
at7:3Oa. m. and $50 p. M, and report at
"F. a. GRANT, Supt."
Now, such an order rs the above is sim
ply impossible to carry out to the letter.
Sometimes the mail is larger and more
burdensome than at other times. Yet the
carriers are expected to make the same
time with large batch as with small
one. This cannot be done. and Mr.. Grant
ought to know 1t IL he doesn't.
The most unpopular order. however,
that Mr.. Grant has issued is one directing
the men to work every day in the year.
Hereafter there will be no time off--not a
Sunday or o holiday. Before Mr.. Grant
came in the men were allowed every
other Sunday and every other holiday o d.
| The patrons of the East Washington
branch Office, like most other people be-
lieye in fair play, and. they are opposed
to Mr.. Grants methods and will shortly
say SO to Postmaster Sherwood. They
want their mail delivered promptly, hut
| they don't want the already overworkei
! carriers TO be treated Ike slaves.
Mr.. Grant should take in a reef.