The herald., 1894-03-19
ABOUT POSTAL CLERKS.
INEQUALITIES IN THE POST
OFFICE WORK POINTED OUT.
A Bill Before Congress to Classify the
Lsbor-Oompensation to Be Fixed
In Accordance with the SER
vices Performed.

For number of years past the post
office clerks OF the country have been
struggling to have their pay regulated
in an established manner, 60 that this
essential matter should no longer be at
the whim OF fourth grade clerk in the
department at Washington. A national
organization has been perfected, and
number OF the heads of the postoffice de-
pRrtmsnt are giving the matter excellent
assistance. A number OF congressmen
also are rendering every assistance pos.
| sible. Before the Hon. 3. S. Cox, q
member OF congress from New York,
died, he made a full and searching in
vestigAtion OF all mattera relating 30
classification and compensation of all
classes in the mail service, and he there
| upon became the recognized leader in
all movements locking to bettering the
service Had he lived the end aimed
at would have been reached long ago,
and the vast and rapidly increasing
postal service of the country would have
been taken out of the domain OF chance,
which in too many instances 10 mixed
up where reasonable business ideas
should prevail.
.. 1t seems strange that in progressive
age and the wonderful expansion of the
country, that the postoffice department,
the most sensitive of all and the nearest
in touch with the people everywhere,
| ehould cling to the methods and forme
OF 60 years ago, and in some respects
run still in the ruts of century. So
Mr.. Cox found thinss and he undertook
to bring about change. He found and
declared that "postoffice clerks receive
less pay. work more hours and perform
more onerous and Indispensable duties
than perhaps any other official in the
government service"
A bsttering Of the conditions has been
urged by every postmaster-gensral for
the last 20 years. The present post
master-general, Bissell, in his last an
nual report, says on this point: In
this connection / desire to record my
opinion that certain classes of clerks in
first and second-class postofices are in
adequately compensated"
A bill is now before congress known as
/ H. r. 56, which has been carefully pre-
pared go as to cover all points, and it has
been unanimously reported upon favor
ably by the house com mittee on post
offices and post roads, and if the meas
ure receives the moral support of those
| who have direct interest in it, together
4 with sufficient congressional influence,
! it will probably become q law at this
session.
The clerks affected by the proposed
| legislation number about 10, 000-quite q
respectable little army-and they seem
| to be pushing with considerable energy.
While it is an undieputed fact that
some parts OF the great machinery OF the
/ ofcl Il orfr mt If hn nOu ant hoc
been managed with skill by men OF ad-
vancement and ideas. men alive to every
change that will reduce the labor and
increase the advantageous results of the
service under them, there are etili
some branches where there is rigid
/ clinging to old forms, almost a reverent
regard for early traditions when services
were graded and pay allotted as in the
days Of the post chaise and stage coach.
Business of every kind has been un-
| dergoing a constant revolution since
then, but the evolution has stopped
short where it ought to have had its
most thorough demonstration in its
bureau OF salaries and allowances in the
past office department. There are many
! things indefinite and uncertain in this
department and the matter Of gross inc.
qualities of salary is what the bill pro-
poses to cure, and i5 by no means de-
mand for greater appropriations and
consequently higher pay all along the
line.
AS strange as the statement may ap-
pear, it ia nevertheless fact that under
the law as it new stands, and in its old
/ age palsy appears attimes, single clerk
in tha postmaster generals department
has the entire cay in the allowances for
4 l. 1 4 H. &c.
postoffice in the country. Postmaster
General Villas called this guess work."
as there is absolutely no law or legal
representative classifying clerks and rat
| ing Balariee according to services rem
dered. Caprice alone rules and
aH always in such cases the
high a Rsalaries go to the places
where the least service ID REQ ulred-and
! inefficiency is recognized while those
who do the hardest work and where the
responsibility is greatest, get the least
pay. The millions appropriated an
nually by congress go this way, distribu-
ton being made by fourth-class clerk
in the Office of the first assistant post
master general.
In every department of the govern.
ment, and it is commanded by law, ex-
cept with poBtoffice clerks, days work
is eight hours for six days, with from 10
to 80 days vacation each year, with pay.
No such privilege is allowed a post
Office clerk; seven days a week, of from
9 to 10 hours each, excepting Sunday,
four hours; ii ''lay-off'' ia taken, the
clerk must pay for sub. The salaries
of these clerks range from $40 to $50 per
month, the dasy constant and RESPONSE
BILE and the public exacting. A fiction
OF law allows each clerk a vacation Of 10
days annually, with pay. The reality is
they got no lsy-off whatever with out
paying for it.
There certainly would seem to be
reasonable degree of merit in the re.
quest of these clerks which would re-
ceive the attention of congress.