The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-10
CARRIERS AT FAULT.

The Houston system Ralied over by
Postal Inspectors.
Washington, March 9-The post office
department has recently finished the cx-
animation of the reports made by special
examiners of the department in regard
to the letter carrier service In Houston
and Galveston, Texas. These special eA-
amners finished their work several weeks
ago and the department, after carefully
going over the reports, has written letters
to the posimasters complaining of the
false standard of the service. and also In
dvidualizIng tho charges made against
the carriers.
From the letter to the postmaster at
Houston. which must he in his hands.
the following facts are CLEANED: The in
vesiigation showed that many improve
Incnts could and should he made The
mounted carriers, particularly. are re-
ported as being extremely slow. and in
many cases 1t is shown that the use of
horses by the carriers has been made
an excuse for consuming a great deal of
unnecessary time. Some of the carriers
are making over time and a. lack of discip-
line is apparent.
In the opinion of the agents, who allege
they carefully examined the service, going
over each route ana giving to the same at
least ono day attention, there Is not
the least sembance of an excuse for any
carrier making overtime. On the CON
trary. they md that II tho carriers were
required 10 properly perform their duties
they could cover their. routes in consd-
etahly less time. and many OF them
could materially extend their districts and
the number of the collections and deliv-
cries.
The indifference and carelcssness exhib-
tied by mounted carriers was found to be
surprising. Their practice Of throwing
mail into the yards and leaving IL on the
fences and other improper places and of
requiring patrons to come to the gate
or the middle of the street to receive their
mail is IA most pcrnicious one and should
be stopped,
The postmaster has been instructed to
organize and extend his service and to re-
quirc the carriers to work according to
the schedule. and four carriers have been
asked to give satisfactory explanation
of the charges against them or else sun or
dismissal.
|, weston, where the examination was con
cluded February ), one Of the principal
charges Is that tho two trip carre RS,
with one or two exceptions. arc allowed
to go home while on duty without re-
porting to the post office 1t IL evident.
the inspectors say. that this causes many
of the discrepancies reported N the deliv-
ciy q letters by carriers. II causes u
fals!hcation OF trip reports and is, IN
fac, positive violation of letter carrier
orders ~ carriers are never allowed TO
carry mail matter to their homes. Many
of the carriers are said 70 be very caro-
less with their sttchcls, which they leave
exposed In public places. 1t is also
charged that they deliver the mail very
carelessly, throwing 1t on steps, in door
yards or anywhere convenient without
dismountins. Many Of them are said To
openly violate positive regulations by
smoking on duty.
Others absolutely fail I, follow the
schedule set down Tor the carrier service.
The carriers, who have four trips a day
to make, it l. said, leave the Office on
their third trip an hour late. and CA the
fourth trip two hours earlier than the
schedule provides. Carriers are also
found delivering their mail without the
use Of the sOtchei. which Is also positive
violation.
The collection OF mall, It is stated to
the postmaster Is very fatty ana tNo
extra collections are recommended. All
mounted carriers. except No ., are 20
he required 10 dsmount aud deliver their
mail, as they are not mounted under the
discretion of the department, aud are eN,
pectcd 70 deliver the mail on loot, Man
boxes are ordered painted and new collec-
,iop cards prOVitcI for.