Evening star., 1896-01-20
GRIEVANCES OF SEEMING WOMEN.
complainf- Growing 6at 81 a Change
Ii Mt tire Mail Bag Repair ShOD

Complaint has been made by EMPLOYEES
In the government mail equipment shop on
c street northwest of a change made in
the manner Of paying for,sthe work of re-
pairing the mail sacks sent there to be re-
Paired. The assertion has been made that
1t Is impossible for woman to make under
the new system more than 81 per day. while
many of the 15Q employed there are said
to make much less than that sum.
In consequence of this dissatisfaction a
committee. representing the employees a
few days ago called on Second Assistant
postmaster General Nelson and urged him
to increase the rates now paid.
Mr. Nelson declined to do SO on the
ground that justice to the government de-
mands that the present schedule shall be
continued for some time at least. Refer
ring to this matter Mr.. Nelson today said
10 star reporter Certain changes of an
important nature have during the last few
months been made in the machinery used
In the work of repairing mail bags and the
manner Of their inspection. These changes
very materially reduced the amount of
time and work required to repair the aver
age sack.
Inc government has been at great ex-
pense In putting in large number Of sew
ing machines and also incurred additional
expense in renewing lot Of cid worn-out
equipment, and the Post Office Department
thought 1t was a proper thing to readjust
the wages upon basis that would require
the same amount of work for the same
amount Of money that had been previously
paid.
The sewing machines to which objection
mas been made do very much better work
,han can be done by hand, while the closer
inspection threw out large quantity of
oid and very-hard-to-repair sacks.
-, II the change had Lot been made and
the former rates continued to be paid, the
wages would have amounted to at least
one-half higher than was ever contem-
plated or considered proper for such work.
we are actuated In this upon the prin-
ciple that as sack with two holes in 1t to
darn or patch can be repaired in very
!. ,iucn less time than one having five holes,
IL snould be repaired at less expense to the
government than the one with five holes.
rms principle also applies to the rates that
were formerly paid to the hand sewers
op 70 iew months ago there were but few
n1achines IN the shop, and those who oper-
o.su .sI tneHa were paid by the month.
II was very soon found after we put in
the large number Of machines that the
sood operators preferred to work by hand
pecause tney could make more money per
montn, while the poorer operators. who
were inclined to take 1t very easy, worked
o;9 80 Slowly mat the average of sacks re-
pared Dy them was so much reduced as to
make the machines an absolute failure. and
10 impress the department with the neces-
srey Mor, OF putting the entffe force on piece
The effort was then piadg to fix a fair
rue .a Ior the work: There eiwas no desire on
the part Of Maj. Tyler, chiefesof the eouin-
ment bureau, or any on6eelsg to he nnins4
70 any employe. However,, it is quite nat
ural tnat IN the effort to reduce such mat
,ers to a fair basis a sertafn amount of
oao 1eenng should be developed"