St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-29

for the general improvement of the service, in
everything which expedites the mails and con-
duces to the convenience Of your friends the
public. late distinguished postmaster gen.
eral uttered a searching and far-reaching
truth, when he said that each employe of the
postoff1ce ought to feel and act as though he
were part proprietor Of big business estab-
iishment, with a competing establishment in
the same line, directly across the street. That
you do feel this interest, is manifest by your
accustomed courtesy to the public and zeal in
your work. But there is some proposed legis-
lation of more direct and peculiar interest
to you, which I may be pardoned for briefly
considering
One of these propositions is to make your
eight hours of daily work as nearly consec-
utive as possible. At present there is no
check on this point, except the sense Of justice
of the postmaster modified by the supervising
power at Washington. 1 think it would be
entirely fair to ordain by law that your eight
hours work should be done within ten con-
secutive hours. This might involve the neces-
sity for more carriers, but If it does they
should be employed and paid. The eght-hour
law can be made a delusion and mockery
by scattering your periods of service through
the whole day and half of the night.
Your request for increased pay has elements
of justice and elements of popularity, which
will make it ultimately prevail. 1t probably
will not prevail until the request of your wor-
thy coy workers, the postofice clerks, for classi
fication and increase, has preceded it, You
have the advantage of them in an older and
mere thorough organization, and in the more
direct, personal contact with all classes OF
people. to which have already alluded. You
are in advance of them in due acknowledgment
of your merits. Your demand should not an
tagonize theirs, for good policy demands har-
mony and cooperation. If you get into, an
tagonism both willelose. But you do right to
keep your bill before congress and keep up
the agitation in all reasonable, legitimate
lines. Only by so doing will success ever be
attained.
You have Just claim that the present rule
of the department, giving every carrier the
right to be heard in his own defense against
charges involving dismissal, be enacted into
law. That is measure of such manifest merit
that congress should have no hesitation in
passing it. 1t seems hardly possible that any
future administration would abrogate this
rule. But it is possible and will be until 1t
becomes statutory enactment.
By law or department rules your Sunday
work should be minimiZed and made uniform
in all Offices. Nature and religion demand for
you one day Of rest In seven and it should be
encroached on as little as possible think
fhst t6S ggel!s {aoYs has p0Es gEE
holidays and evenings; but it should be thus
accommodated by special workers from an in
creased force and not at the expense Of your
well-earned rest.
Do not push your demands too far Do not
cause a reaction of public favor. The govern
ment will probably never pay for your uni
forms unless 1t reduces your salary. It will
never increase your allowance for horse hire
to the extent of making the mounted service a
big private snap. There other things
which I see in the proceedings of your ma
tional association are proposed by thoughtless
agitators. that will not and should not be al
lowed. Fortunately the native common sense
and discretion Of the vast majority is fully
capable Of throwing down these schemes as
fast as they come up. Ask for only q few
things and those well considered. Cultivate
friendly feelings with the department authori-
ties and thus secure their cooperation. Then
persevere steadily, patiently, and the things
which justice approves will finally come your
way and come to remain.
One more urgent parting admonition. Each
OF you should be at all times jealous mis-
sionary OF the gospel Of political salvation
through civil service reform. To the civi,
service reform law most of you owe your ap-
pointments and all Of you owe your secure Of
hctal tenure. To the conscientious enforce
ment OF this law and the consequent divorce
of the postal service from partisan politics.
much Of its phenomenal efficiency is due. To
carry on its curre44 nwork would require at
least twice the numbsf Of men now employed