New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
LETTER-CARRIERS ON TOP.
THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE UNIFORM
CONTRACTS BECOMING EFFECTIVE.

THEY WON'T HAVE To BUY NEW CLOTHES THIS
SPRING If THE OLD ONES ARE GOOD
ENoUGH-oTHER CONCESSIONS MADE BY
THE PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The letter-carrers in New-York City, who have
been considerably stirred up recently account
OF the unusual method adopted BY the Postoffics
Department for supplying the with uniforms.
have gained a point in their favor. The Tribune
published Friday a substantial statement OF the
facts in the This TO the effect that hith-
erto the postmasters in the larger cities have. after
inviting proposals from local manufacturers Of
clothing. awarded the contracts to those establish
which supplied the best standard garments at
the lowest cost. Under this system employment
given operatives living in the communities
where the uniforms
The cloth used for number OF years by the
carriers Of New-York, Boston and several other
cities what is known the Standard Indigo
Cadet Cloth CT the MddieseX Company, at Lynn.
Mass. This year the department ct Washington
sorted TO the extraordinary OF taking the
matter out of the hands OF local postmasters and
giving the contracts for the entire work TO two
firms. in Baltimore and the other in Cincinnati
at prices tor summer Uniforms 81 4j above the high
est bids OF the New-York and Boston clothiers
who have supplied the uniforms for about fifteen
years in cities The successful firms finding 1t
Is said. that because they lacked the facilities for
manufacturing possessed b. the older firms. they
must. even at the advance the highest BIDS,
secure a cheaper cloth. this provided by mill
at Dover, y. II. The bids covered contracts for
both summer and winter uniforms the former to
be supplied now. and the others at the beginning
OF the colder season of the current year. f
1t is alleged that in beginning the manufacture
OF the clothing for summer wear the Baltimore
and Cincinnati firms insisted that ALL the in
the different Offices must take full suit wnether
they needed it The carriers appealed to the
depa rtment this last proposition, under para
graph section 6l3 Postal Laws and Regua-
The postmasters at free delivery Offices. will
cause a careful inspection Of carriers uniforms
TO be made as often as twice year before order
Ing new ones and will not require new suit or
any article OF It to BE- procured when that In use
may be found to be in reasonably good condition
or capable Of repair for longer service
In response 10 this it Is understood that ietter
effect thar this regulation is sil in force. and
consequently the bulldozng methods OF the con. con,
tractors have met a sharp setback 1t Is also said
that. in view OF the opposition made by the car
erS quiet haye informs rom amy
source they choose provided the clothing Is Of stand
pe thc Wnirr suits being made By the oson and
New-YorE manufacturers. Ii Is alleged. too. that
mt,ing the Ietter-carrers in Newark ~ j.. to pat
ronize clothers in that city who have heretofore
An Inspection Of uniforms OF the men connected
with the Newly ork Postofiice will begin tomorrow
dispensatlon have reached the Postoihce mere.
but their quality cannot be tested until Sne new
The Baltimore and Cincinnati firms OF clothiers
evidently believed they had strong pull, on the
scheme Il is said, has been tried before. but un-
successfully. The action Of the carriers this year
has been 50 pronounced and 50 concerted that the
coercion sought he practised has not borne good
fruit The belief exists thai after the present UNI
happy experience OF the department the former mel,
practice Of distributing the orders for clothing VIII
be restored: that the firms which. being possessed
OF facilities for handling these large orders. have
been able provide better goods at less cost VIII
resume this function and that the policy OF fayort-
ism in the massing Of contracts in the hands OF two
sets of curing firms will be defeated without
any attempt at repetition.