The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-22
DAY
How 1t Affects Distribution
of Letters.
The Carriers Now Stop on the
Stroke of the Hour.
Because Uncle Sam Will Not Settle
Claims for Overtime.

Newark, with a population a little In
excess of Providence, has 122 letter carri-
ers. This city has t6, or one in every
2275 Inhabitants. Something Is the mat
ter with Hannah or the postotfice depart
ent at Washington sure enough in this
particular respect.
Now comes big kick from the New
Jersey city. According TO recent advices
from Washington there is to be cut
down in the letter carrying force OF New
ark. This movement Is met by claims
against tine government for $4,000 by the
Newark carriers for overtime work, and it
is intended TO accentuate the necessity
OF increasing rather than diminishing
the force. Sixty of the carriers have claims
ranging all the way from $50 to $3.50 for
overtime.
Under the law operating the employ
ment OF carrier eight hours constitutes
a days work and they are supposed to
knock off work in that time even IL they
are on the front steps OF a house where a
letter Is to be delivered. That letter, IL
the carrier sees fit, need not be delivered
until the next day.
The Providence letter carriers used TO
work overtime little more than Il year
ago, but they never do any more. Cause
why? The government kicked about the
pay.
In 1894 the local letter carriers had a
claim for twenty-five thousand dollars
worth OF overtime ana the Government
had to settle. 1t didn't intend to in the
beginning but the Letter Carriers Asso-
cation In another city carried the ques-
tion before a high tribunal and the
Supreme Court said that the men would
have to be paid SO the Providence men
came in for their share. Following this
just decision the Government declared
there would be no further recognition
OF overtime and the Providence postofiice
officials were notified to that effect in
conjunction with postofice officials of
other cities.
The citizens of Providence of course
suffer to a considerable extent because of
this cast iron order which was promul-
gated Jan /, 1896. THE News will pro-
ceed 10 show where the suffering comes
In. Everyone Will agree that Provi dence
Is growing city, that 1t is more of
municipality than 1t was three years ago,
and that its mail has increased accord
ingly. Well, three wears ago the town
had 66 letter carriers, and 1t has no more
at the present time. Then they were
allowed to work overtime and all the
mail was delivered In a easonahle time
Now they quit on the stroke OF the eight
hours and the letters that are iD their
possession and that might be delivered
within the space of 10 or 10 minutes more,
all 60 back to the postoffjce to be de-
iiScred next day If time will permit.
Postmaster Haywsri doesn't say it is
an outrage, but be looks serious when te
says that the business OF the Office Is in
creasirg at the rate OF sl6, 900 year and
there 10 no encouraging outlook for an
increase in the delivering force. Provi-
dence ought 10 have letter service and
It would have it, to, II 1t had what be-
Ion Is to it.
Assistant Postmaster Walker said that
there was horse delivery for the Wan
skuck and northern sctions OF the city
anu MI euOTt ndu Deen Inhue 10 deliver all
letters in that outlaying district daily.
The carrier was ordered TO cover the
district but was found that the
work took more than eight hours.
The carrier worked overtime
and charged for 1t. The account
was sent to Washington and the Provi-
dence postmaster got a "sassy" letter
back, saying that overtime was not on
the books. Now the northern limit tax
payers are in luck IL they get their let
ters as hours after they are received AT the
government building on Wey bosset street.
An effort was made TO get the govern
ment to supply another horse and wagon
delivery, but the government replied
through its official that II was too poor.
The ratio % letter carriers, according to
the government estimate, is supposed TO
be one to every 1000 inha bitsnts, and
Pro sidence has one in every 2275. 1t is
plain to be seen that the city need s more
letter carriers and according to the facts
In the case The NEWS assertion that the
public suffers from the stingy policy is
borne out.