New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-01
GAYS HE OBEYED ORDERS.
crrR DAYTON DISCLAIMS RESPON-
s,p,11rY FOR PosToFFICE CHANGES.


,ox or THE CoMMIssIoN-AN INvEsTI-
-,o> or THE WHOLE AFFAIR PROBABLE.
,,a changes in the Postofhce force which have
nv ,,,oa for ever since the Special Commissioners
o,,oa their investigation have been made, and
r oder which reduced the salaries or NUMBER
- MON and dropped from the roster NUMBER OF
-, o,,r,oves caused stir among the clerks yester
cay. -. ,..,, soroa ,,o ,ho ros
.he clerks appointed committee OF five
-. ., Postmaster Dayton and enter protest
=, ,bsr discharge. The committee, consisting
ros Healy George Kemp, John Curran. Louis
81 and Walter J. Egan. called on the Post
80 Yesterday morning. They came, so Post
n,sster Dayton told Tribune reporter. TO ask what
adv there was under the Civil Service laws and
,o, redress there was for clerks who had been
discharged without having any charges preferred
.,,nst them Mr.. Dayton told the committee that
IN reducing he pay of some and dischargng others
~ the force he had simply followed the instruc-
,ons Of his superors. He explained 10 them. he
5,d later TO The Tribune reporter. that the changes
were the result Of the investigation on the part OF
the Special Commissioners Machen and shepherd
vho came empowered by the Postmaster-General
The changes which been made and sum-
married. by the Postmaster follows: About
forty men discharged. 125 mems pay is reduced at
an average OF 800 year and the salaries of about
elk hundred have been increased from 500 TO
500 a year each.
Notwithstanding the reduction in the salaries OF
same and the discharge Of others" said Mr. Day
ION the increase in The gross pay will be about
COZ ma in the wear 1895 The measures adopted" he
added were prompted by strictly business motives
and rhe men who suggested them are thorough bust
ness men, The clerks who came to see me had no
feeling against me in the matter and understand
fully the situation OF affairs
In speaking of the work OF the Commissioners. Mr.
DAYTON said: IF there has been any mistake made
on their part, II in the system under which
they worked. II is to class the work done in
the New-York Postofice with that done in other
offices. just 1t is wrong to grade New-York liv-
ing expenses by the of living in smaller towns
The conditions existing in this office should not be
COMPOUNDED with those existing elsewhere
The charge has been made that in making these
changes Republicans and c.. A. r. veterans have
been Disseminated against. The charge was indig-
nantly denied by the Postmaster, who said that
such Determinations would be in violation OF the
Civil Service laws
Many complaints have been made in regard 10 the
changes in the Postoffce force Among the letters
received by The Tribune is the following
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
headed Dismissed After Long Service surprised
very much As am woman not as c9 co
meni thought would ask you the following ques-
First-Are not all employees of the Postofice and
Custom House under the protection OF CIVIL Service
second-Can veterans Of the late war be removed
from Office unless for cause? BY cause mean IN
Third-Win it injure the efficiency OF our Post
ofhce If experienced men are dismissed and novices
Words fan me speak of the injustice inferred IN
youth to the defence If their native land in 1851
perhaps disabled in It's service then FOR twenty
age of these men and their prospects OF obtaining
oher b and ASK IN the name oi 6
what hsye hey 6fen dfshsrgRsd FORTY YEARS
New York Dec. q, 1894.
The Civil Service laws relate principally 10 the
appointment and promotion OF employees OF the
various departments of the United States Gov
eminent and not to minor changes in salary or to
removals such of those recently made in
the Postoffice. Veterans protected to some ex-
tent by the law, which provides that in making
any reduction OF force in any OF the Executive De-
par,ments the head of such department shall re-
tain those persons who may be equally qualified
who have been honorably discharged from the
military or naval service OF the United States and
the widows and orphans OF deceased soldiers and
sailors" 1t is difficult TO evade this Law.
me answer 20 tne 'hfe o S Srsn The
efficiency OF the postal service VIII not only be
and partial acts OF the Postoce officials continue.
The members OF the commission sent on from
the names OF the persons dismissed reduced in
grade whose salary has been affected through
their recommendation. with the facts justfying
such changes As n authority has been given by
fused Yesterday TO allow the names OF the
ployes and the facts concerning their record in the
Once to be made public Among the clerks them,
selves the action Of the commission is denounced
as unjust and instances OF discriminatory are
tisanship personal dislike by superiors for In
feriors in the office. The commission founded It's
action on information received from the superin-
tendents OF departments and the superintendents
ot stations Some Of the supsIf,n'enden,ts have
have been accredited TO political influence alont.
fu and efficient and had been IN Once for many
- The aSen on he &
quality OF the work done by the clerks An oppor-
officials TO assist their favorites and TO make
favorable reports respecting those POLITICALLY OPP
his opportunity can only be shown by lnvestl
CATION OF each particular case If the Washington
is widespread opinion among the clerks in the
Postohice that many Of the changes were made FOR
not the letter OF the civil service laws.
endeavored to give reasons for the removal Of some
Of the higher officers affected by the changes: In
but in regard 10 those clerks did receive
large salaries, instances OF gross Injustice exist,
Once for over twenty-five years: and had finally
10 a salary several hundred dollars smaller. Sew.
eral Clerks who had: after ten or twenty years or
salary OF $500. though mail matter worth thousands
o. dollars was each day under their charge. had
500 year deducted from their salaries No uni
form rule was followed in making these changes.
but the salaries OF some were reduced ana OF otneIs
raised without any reason founded on the good
Complaints have been so numerous mat the oVli
Service Commissioners will undoubtedly be asked
10 investigate the whole matter. Salaries In the
New-York Postoffce except among the few high
officials. have always been so low that even United
States Judges In passing sentence on dishonest
clerks have not hesitated TO severely blame the
Government for the parsimony which acted as an
almost irresistible temptation TO dishonesty. ~
70 the ineagreness OF the salary is TO be added un
just reduction for political or personal reasons
the Postoffice clerks will make their complaints so
loud that the heads OF departments In the
present Administration will be compelled to near
"a and heed them. Postmaster Dayton yesterday gave
~ as his official opinion that the clerks are al
present iDadequatefy paid. He has apparently not
mad sufficient influence with the Administration TO