Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-12
THE EIGHr-HOuR LAW.
Questions ~ 10 Its Application 10 the Letter
Carriers Considered.

Questions ~ TO Its Application 10 the Letter
Carriers Considered.
The questions arising out Of the eight-hour
law as applied to the letter carriers are numer-
Gus as well as complicated. While the act pro-
viding for the eight-hour day was approved in
1883. the decision of the United States Supreme
Court affirming the judgment Of the Court of
Claims constituting certs in phases of the law has
only recently been made.
This decision holds that "the carrier Is en-
titled to eight hours work and to his nav il
work Is not furnished.to him. For any excess on
any day he is entitled to extra pay. The only
onset that can be maintained is when he is alb
sent from duty without leave. The department
10 st liberty to keep . carrier employed eight
hours every day but not to give him q deficit Of
work one day and an excess another
A large number Of claims have been filed
with the department for compensation for over
time services under this law. Action ON these
claims has been suspended pending the decis-
ion OF the court The claims now on file num-
Der about 2, 700. and there about IL 900 letter
carriers in the employ OF the government, and
owing to the character Of their work
it is impossible to give it the degree
of hours per day requires. it is
evident that the claims will reach very large
number. Postmaster General Bissell in a re-
cent circular to the postmasters instructs them
that no claims for overtime service shall
be paid until they have been submitted to
and approved by the apartment new form
OF claim blank is being prepared by the depart
ment and will be sent to all the free de-
livery Offices whence overtime claims have
emanated, and these blanks to be used for
claims already made, as well as any subse-
quent claims which may be presented to the
department for adjustment.
AN IMPORTANT POINT.
The important point which the letter carriers
have been anxious to have recognized by the
department, is that the meaning and intent Of
the law is to give them work day Of eight
consecutive hours. This question has been
brought to the attention of Postmaster General
Bssell and in the circular above
referred to he holds that ''under his decision
full days pay is allowed for not exceeding
eight hours service in any one day. This
service may or may not be in consecutive hours.
1t is not to be construed. however. deciding
that overtime may be allowed in anv case unless
for an excess of eight hours actual service in a
day."
, In large cities, such as New York. the bust
ness of the Office is of such magnitude that il
provides continuous work throughout the en-
tire day ana the eight-hour law is observed by
having three distinct forces, each working
eight hours per day. In small towns, where
the work is necessarily not continuous, a good
many questions are likely to arise under this
law. The Postmaster General in his circulars
to postmasters makes the following sugges-
tons:
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS SUGGESTIONS.
"You will also. in person or by some duly
authorized member Of the force of your Office
other than letter carrier or collector, have
daily examinations made of each carrier and
collectors trip report to ascertain whether
any one on any day is consuming more
than eight hours in the performance of
his official duties. and whenever any ex-
cess of time is reported for any day
you will at once proceed to ascertain the cause
thereof. If 1t Is found that a carrier or col
lector in the proper discharge OF his
official duties is necessarily employed in
excess Of eight hours, you will at once relieve
him Of such part of said duties as will
enable him to come within the eight-hour limit.
This you will do either by assigning portion
Of his route or his labors to another carrier
who may have deficit, or by adopting some
or all of the other remedies outlined in the
order Of the Postmaster General
The average number Of persons served by
carriers has been SO greatly reduced in recent
years and the ratio OF cost per capita for the
free delivery service has been SO enormously
increased that the most rigid discipline must
hereafter be adopted and enforced in order to
keep within the reasonable intendment of the
law authorizing the free delivery service.
The accumulation of vast indebtedness for
overtime services in the face of liberal allow
arces for free delivery service is an evil which
must be abated.
Section GA Of the postal laws and regulations
ISSUED under date Of February 2. 1881 pre-
scribes the duties Of letter carriers, and no
deviation whatever from this rule will be
allowed at any Office where any letter carrier
makes Overtime
Moreover, any letter carrier found lettering
or unnecessarily consuming time on his route,
or absent from duty without permission in the
absence Of justifable excuse. will be at once
recommended for acknowledgements can
not appoint, remove, reinstate or promote let
ter carriers).