New-York tribune., 1891-12-25

injured to such an extent at he died the next even
ing Clerk L. T. Binford slightly injund In paeA
and leg No mail lost or injured.
June 90, 189I.-Kansas City and Osceola Il. +. o''
train No. / was wrecked two miles out OF osceo'a'
caused by washout Tie engine and mall car
plunged from the top Of tcnfoo embanlment 10 'he
bottom OF creek twenty feet deep Clerk r. d. Popchoe
was thrown violently from side OF the mai apart
ment against the paper rack on the other sue
striking his back against the rack ana ihIunhs hh'
spine. Only few letters were lost, but the nai Sa'eu
was In spoiled codlon.
The clerks, who are thus exposed to constant oah-
gers and dlscomfors receive small compensation from
the Government. OF the 5000 clerks employed more
than two-tlirds receive salaries Of 5000 Slooo or
SlI5O. considerable number receive smaller sal
aries and some receive from 81 200 to Sl4oo' hho'S
have been made by the clerks to obtain an increase In
salaries, and the General superintendent ana o'ner
officials are In sympathy with the movement = Dill
has been prepared Ieorganizng the clerca lorce anu
allowing higher salaries for clerks Of the higher grades
General superintendent White has also recommended
other changes for the benefit Of the clerks IL Is now
the custom to allow leaves OF absence with pay 70
clerks who injured while in the discharge OF tneir
duty. II the injured clerk continues unable to work
for than year. he Is compelled to resign super
inendent White recommends that in case OF death
not exceeding 81 900 be paid to those dependent
upon clerks who killed while duty and that the
money be taken from deductions from the salaries OF
other clerks who fail to perform their required dutes.
lie also recommends that clerks who have become IN
caparated for further service By OF age or In
juris received in the discharge OF their official duties
should be allowed onethird halfpay the money to
be paid out of fund Created by Withholding one-half OF
per cent OF the salaries paid to permanent clerks, and
per cent of the annuies paid to retired clerks 1t Is
also suggested that, instead OF placing nfrm or dis
abd clerks routes OF small importance, young clerks
should be placed in such places, so that they may learn
their duties there and be prepared for more Important
work elsewhere. The Government owes more than or
binary duty toward employees who exposed for small
wages to risks so great as those which railway clerks
undergo.
The railway mail service was one of the first de-
partments of the Government TO establish civil service
examinations long before such examinations were re-
Quired by law The system is now continued with
consistency and attention to detail which few de-
paItmeDts show Clerks who are on probation are
tested TO their proficiency before permanent ap-
pointneIt, and the permanent clerks are subjected
to frequent examinations. These examinations con-
sst for the most part in the distribution Of cards bear
ing the addresses OF various pOsoces throughout the
United States. Those who candidates for appoint
mcnt are examined principally In their knowledge
CT the postolices Of certain locality,
but the elder clerks have to become
familiar with the location Of postoficcs extending
over wide surface Of country. over 10000 examina-
tcns OF permanent clerks beld In the last fiscal
year, and the number OF cards handled exceeded
IL, 1000 Nearly "a per cent Of the cards were
correctly distributed although time well as cor
rectness is important element in the examination
OF those which not correctly distributed large