Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-20
Postal Reforms. Postal Clerks and
Letter-Carrier5.


Letter-Carriers.
The bill recently introduced into the
House of Representatives, by request OF
MIR. WAsAMaKER, the Postmaster-deneral,
Ia nothing more nor less than ON pro-
yiding for employing telegraph lines 10
net in connection with the postal sys-
tenn. and paying for their use just as every
body already pays--that Is. by the mes
sage. The real want Of the Post.oihce
Department, or rather OF the people, -
government postal Telegraph, transmitting
ten-word messages all over the Union LOT
one rate, just as letters are carried pel"een
Maine and California for the same price as
between Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The bill before us cuts the throat OF the
measure it proposes when it provides that
no expenditure OF money Is to be made OF
contracted for beyond the sums received
for delivering the messages. We wisn 10
say lust here that the DISPATCH has always
favored q government telegraph. rev
years hence everybody will be on our side.
as everybody will soon demand the free
delivery OF mail matter everywhere and
the privilege of paSting clippings on pos
tal-cards and sending the same through
TIE mails.
Whilst on the subject OF postal reforms
We will say word as to House Bill No. S6Os.
which has claimed good deal OF attention
from the persons most interested. IL -
bill for the clerks in first and second-class
post-oGices. and for the fixing of salaries
of the same, of whom the celebrated Sun
sEr Cox said in a speech in the House OF
Representatives in 1899 that they receive
less pay and more hours, ard perform more
onerous and Indispensable duties than
perhaps any other officials in the govern
ment service. Mr. Cox was also fsvorite
with the letter-carriers and never failed to
advocate shorter hours and better pay for
them.
Bill 3G0s. as we understand it, is intend
ed TO place the postal system on business
basis, so far as the measure it is intended
to promote is concerned. tasks that men
holding responsible positions, such as as
sistant superintendent and foremen. bead
vanced, so as to make it possible for some
of the clerks TO be put in such grades. We
are not ready to advocate the bill. but we
may say that the friends Of this measure
quote Postmaster-General GRESHAM as
favoring il. Also, General Villas Demo
craft. Also. Hon. FRANK HATToS. Also,
the incumbent Postmaster-General, MIR.
WAsAMAKER. Also, Hon. Mr.. BLoUNT, of
Georgia, who says that only the
clerks in the post-office have been
left at the mercy of an arbitrary
assignment of salary-a statement which
will surprise good many people. We may
be sure that neither letter-carriers nor
postal clerks will receive too much pay or
be placed upon too secure foundation.
We have not lost any sleep because civil
service reform, so-called, has progressed
so slowly, yet we think Postmaster-General
WAsAMAKER probably formulated O truth
when he said that IN any occupation 1t IS
the man who is looking for better work to
do and better pay for doing it that de-
serves the better work and the better pay.
Nevertheless, we repeat that We do not
commit ourselves TO the support Of this
bill in its entirety. The next administra-
ton will, however. be Democratic Ad-
mnistration, and will do what is right in
this matter. Perhaps some of the out
slders will wish TO warm their toes" as
1.-THE noblest Roman OF them all phrases
it and perhaps some Democrats Of high
qualifications will ask promotion. At any
rate, we commend Bill 96OS to the atten-
ton of Congress. We are willing to abide
by the Judgment Of that body.