The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-11
THE TENURE OF OFFICE.
An important Reform Measure Intro
duced in Congress.
How the Bm VIII Affect Local Letter
Carricrs-.I'ress and People Emphat-
tcalIy In Favor Of Its Passage.

Ths recent action of the House of Rep
sosentatives in instrtucting the Rhode
Ysland Congressman TO vote and work for
che passage OF the tenure OF Office
bill has brought that important piece
of protective legislation to the attention
of the people OF this State. While it
is the letter carriers who are most directly
interested in the bill every cit izen who is
anxious TO aid in the enforcement to the
letter of the civil service law will be as
anxious for the adoption OF the law when
II Is once properly understood.
AT the annual convention of the
National Association of Letter Carriers,
which was held at Kansas City in 1893, a
resolution was adopted in favor OF an act
OF Congress to secure tenure OF oifice
tor letter carriers during good behavior,
and to require that the removal of carriers
should be only for misconduct or in
efficiency The bill, which has now been
drafted and sent TO Congress, is in accord
ance with this resolution.
Experience has shown that the removal
OF carriers on i'll lfoundod charges by post
masters has not been prevented by the
civil service law. At various cities during
the past few years carriers have been re-
moved for political reasons only and al
though in some instances they have been
reappointed, the association has realized
that the evil of improper removals cannot
be controlled unless protection Is given
the carriers by law and a regular public
trial Is guaranteed.
The object of the association is to place
the letter carriers upon the same footing
rs that occupied by the officers OF the
army and navy. In instances where
charges are brought against an officer OF
either branch of the war depart
ment court-martial is held and
the sentence must meet the approval
of the President. Similar provisions exist
s.. norIxt Gtat. Ia. laNf he
police and fire departments, and it has
been considered as nothing more than just
that the same protection should be given
the letter carriers.
In presenting the bill the association
has no desire to secure the carriers from
punishment for wrong doing. The bill
does not define the offenses for which
they can be removed but simply gives the
accused man an opportunity TO defend
himself in n proper manner.
The advantages to be derived from such
bill have already been recognized by
citizens who are not directly interested in
the matter as carriers. These friends of
the bill are of the opinion that
by securing the tenure TO letter carriers
better men will be led to apply for posi-
tions in the service, the tenure being OF as
great Importance as salary. As the value
of carrier increases with his years OF
service the public generally must feel
some concern about the fate of this re-
form measure.
Since the bill was introduced many
papers in various parts of the country
have urged its passage. Harper's Weekly,
for instance, says, at is a sound bill and
ought to pass. III this bill becomes "a
law no postmaster can secure
the dismissal OF carriers for personal or
political reasons on charges that will not
bear the light of day. . o The proposed
bill gives adequate means to carry out the
pirit ND Of 4 aiv loxsr
and, as we have said, it ought to pass"
Good Government says: "fhe bill TO
regulate the mode of removal OF letter
carriers is a very reasonable measure, +" and
the carriers bill has the approval OF the
Civil Service Commission, modified only
by the demand that the same principles
shall be made applicable to all persons in
the classified civil service"
Other papers have spoken their opinions
tust as freely, and there can be no doubt
but that the bill will receive the hearty
approval of both branches OF the National
Legislature.