The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-10
WASHINGTON CHIT-CHAT,
GNIp Of The Week al the Capital Of
the Republic,
RBLTEY FOR RAILWAY POSTAL CLERKS.
sorrrnsry Tracy aud the Itata Anair-Thc Life
saying Service Crookednessat the
Races-The Hil Boom.


vtsHruToN. May 9.-Recent railroad no.
.;}rnts in which seven or eight railway postal
olorls were killed and five or six others seTi-
opalv wounded have directed official and pub
ucattontion 10 the dangers TO which these
mn arr exposed in the discharge OF their duty
and 20 the Justice Of making some provision
f9r the helpless families of clerks killed while
on duty. Assistant Postmaster-Gen
an Bell and Superintendent Grant,
a the railway mail service, are
now collecting statistics with the pur-
r,,sc Of submitting them 10 the next Congress,
which will be asked 90 make some sort of pro-
VISION for railway mail clerks. IN published
interviews with several of the principal
p0stofice Department officials they oil pro
claim themselves earnestly IN favor of at least
Some moderate amount going 10 families Of
railway postal clerks killed IN accidents or on
duty Their suggestion is that the family OF
each clerk thus losing his life shall be allowed
a sum equal 10 years salary for such clerk
DECEASED GOVERNMENT cLEEEs.
on these interviews the department chiefs
are singnlSrlv ignorant Of one important line
~ prccedents IN the way on compensatiug tho
families OF deceased Government employees.
For wears il has been the practice Of Congress
y
to the family OF any employe who dies IN the
service Of either body, and frequently Con-
cress pays the funeral expenses OF the deceased
iuaddition This practice has been most vigOr-
ouslv combatted at every sess on. principally
by Democrats whose contention has been that
the system was really equivalent 80 civil pen
rouinc. but all arguments and protests have
been unavailing The Senate and House
have become so accustomed 30 that practice
that they invariably vote the ''gratuity,' as 1t
is sometimes called.
AS matter of common Justice 1t would
seem that If employees who are not IN their
line of duty exposed TO any special danger
indeed the employees. who, of all others in
Government service have the sOftest births,
are thus favored. there would be no violation
~ propriety o. of the spirit of economy ia
allowing some relief 20 the families of men
who are daily exposed 20 the dangers of rail
way travel. Railway postal clerks are. as
everybody understands. more exposed il the
event of an accident than are the passengers.
They are exposed equally with the employees
Of the railroad.
The question Of affording some relief 20 this
most capable and worthy class OF public sery-
ants WILL no doubt. be brought before the
next Congress and the railway postal clerks
will bc supported by all the influence OF the
poetof1ce Department and by many members
of both political parties in Congress. III Is IN
tmated that the President IN his regular
message T. Congress Will champion the cause
OF the postal clerks.
TIE LITE-sAVING SERVICE.
In connection with the relief thus proposed
Il would not be amiss TO include another mer-
itonous cass whose duty exposes them 10
risks cert a.nlv equal 10 those of railway
clerks. and whose services have thus far been
generally uuderestimated or ignored The
hfe-saving service crews annually save more
property in money value than the cost OF the
service 20 say nothing Of the many human
beings theyrescue No mOneyed value can be
placed on human life. but certainly the lives
saved should count largely TO the credit Of
tie life saving service The men of these
crews ara paid a most niggardly salary and
arc isid of four months in each wear. Many
Of them are compelled to reside on bleak
sndbaUen coasts. where not a blade of any
thing green eau be grown OF even sprouted
The nature Of the service requires that these
men shall be hardy and brave and that they
shall be shllful in handling the oars. Their
hOnlike courage IS shown whenever
On occasion offers. and vet this
great government imposes upon these men by
demanding their service for the pittance of
$40 per month In behalf of the hfe-saving
no pension is asked. They appeal to Congress
for better pay; for pay more commensurate
with their services.