Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-15
LETTER CARRIER UNIFORMS.
The Department Wants a Uniformity
Over the Country.
New Rules for the Service Being Pre-.
pared-TwO Uniforms a Year
to BE Required.

First Assistant Postmaster General Frank
H. Jones believes that there should be uni
formity in the uniform of letter carriers.
Section 613 of the present laws and regua-
lions provides for uniform for letter car
riers and Mr.. Jones thinks that good disci-
pline requires a more strict enforcement of
it's provisions. Up to this time the frequency
of procuring uniforms or parts thereof and
the judging of their condition have been left
to the discretion of the local postmaster.
The result is that there is no general uni
form throughout the country. Each locality
provides it's own and fixes the price, which,
under existing arrangements must involve
carriers in a greater expense than they
would be put to If they could procure one
kind of uniform both in quality and style.
Considerable complaint has been made by
postmasters that many carriers fail or re-
fuse to keep themselves properly and neatly
uniformed. Some have been getting but one
uniform suit each year; others have pro-
vided themselves with two: the former, dur
ing one-half of the year, having by no
means neat appearance; the latter always
appearing on the streets well uniformed. AS
there is no regularity of time for procuring
new uniforms, some carriers always dress
in worn, faded and shabby uniforms.
Two Uniforms.
In order to insure uniformity, not only in
the style and cut of the suits, but also in
their appearance neatness and condition,
Mr.. Jones is of the opinion that 1t should
be made obligatory upon all carriers to fur
nish two uniform suits each year, one on
May 1 and one November l. The only
objection that could be raised to this sug-
gestion is increased expense to carriers. Mr..
Jones does not think this tenable as under
general contract controlled by the Post
master General Mr.. Jones thinks that two
good suits fas good material that now
generally furnished, and al price not ex-
ceedng that now paid for one, could be pro-
vided.
Duties Defined.
The department is now compiling a set of
rules and regulations defining the duties
and conduct of letter carriers and regulating
the treatment of mail intrusted to their
care Every carrier will be required to
familiarize himself with these rules, and to
keep copy of them in his possession for
handy reference. This step is deemed ad-
visable for the reason that the limited num-
Der of copies of the Postal Laws and Regu-
latlons furnished a post office will not afford
carriers sufficient opportunity to become
familiar with the rules and regulations pro-
vided for the free delivery service. Expert
ence shows that a large majority of the
errors made by letter carriers can be traced
to Ignorance of the laws regulating the
treatment of certain mail matter and de-
inning the duties of carriers. In some of the
large offices special rules and regula-
tons have been compiled by the postmasters.
perusal of several sets of local rules and
comparison of one set with another show
lack OF uniformity, and in some instances
direct conflict with the Postal Laws a.G
Regulations and the special orders and in
structions issued by the Postmaster Genera.
The new rules and regulations are being
carefully drafted, so that they will be in
Of t6n nj Ia,r ~
orders of the Postmaster General now in
force Provision will be made, however, for
the addition, by the local postmaster, of any
special rules that the conditions of his office
may require. provided they do not conflict
with any of the rules of the department
uniform set of rules for all free delivery
offices will, it is thought, greatly improve
the discipline of the service and raise its
standard of efficiency