The morning times., 1895-12-09
AN ARBITRARY ORDER.

Postmaster General Wilson'S order for
bidding postal employees from lobbying in
favor of a bill to better their condition
under penalty Of dismissal is arbitrary, un-
just and entirely unnecessary. The order
reads:
That hereafter no postmaster, postof-
flee clerk. letter carrier, railway postal
clerk. or other postal euploye, shall visit
Washington, whether on leave with or
without pay, for the purpose of influeDc-
ing legislation before Congress- Any such
eiuiioyc who violates this order is liable
to removal.
"PoStniaSters and other employees of the
postal service are paid by the government
Tor attending TO the respective duties as
signed 1heiii, which do not include efforts
10 secure legislation. That duty is assigned
IL The representatives OF the people elected
for that purpose
IF bills are introduced in either branch
OF Congress affecting the postal service
upon which any information or reconmcn-
datien is desired, | am ready at all times
to submit sach as lies in my power and
proyince."
IfPGStmaster General Wilson is not under
pay as corpora ton counsel. or does not
enploy himself outside the duties of his
Office for z remuneration. he is the only
one OF the cabinet who does not do SO.
The same may be said of nine-tenths Of
Congress and of the principal admins
trailon officials, most OF whom take ad-
vantage OF every such opportunity. There
fore any attempt to prohibit government
cInpioyes from doing in a legitimate way
what their superiors make a practice of
is an uncailed for specimen OF official
tyranny.
!, r., The, only requirement the Postmaster
General can consistently demand of the
employees of his department is that they
shall discharge their duties faithfully and
we'll This task does not occupy all their
tine. and if in their opinion they are not
sufficiently remuncrated, or If their hours
or conditions of service are burdensonie
they have q perfect right to ask Congress
for relief. provided, of course such re-
quest does not interfere with the pcrfor1n-
ance of their several tasks.
Mr.. Wilson also arrogates to himself the
duty Of giving such information as Congress
may require concerning legislation on this
question, and according TO his order his
employees have no right TO be heard in
their own behalf. Most people will think
this part Of his order is at least an
assumption of entirely too much authority
IL the Postmaster General desires to
stop the abuse of lobbying let linn begin
on his own superior, the President, or give a
little wholesome advice to every depart
nent head and to such Congressman as
are either agents for corporations or the
tools of a coterie of paid lobbyists. His
postal employees are as much interested in
improving their circumstances as was the
President last year when, through friends,
he lObbied the Fifty-third Congress, or as
the many trusts and corporations who
persistenly control legislation in their
own interests. or. as the heads of depart
nients who are continually asking farors
of Congress.
1t is the glorious privilege OF every
American to hustle for himself and Post
master General Wilson is wrong when he
attempts to deprive his employees of that
right.