Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-27
POSTAL CLERKS CLAIM,
Their Bill Nov in Congress---Asks
for Redistribution.
They Want the Same Rights As Enjoyed BY
Government Clerks.


they do not receive a proper conpensa-
ton for the amount of work that they
do. To voice the claims Of these CLERKS,
a bill is now on the calendar in Con
gress.
Edward p. Lincoln, treasurer Of the
National Association of Post Office
Clerks, who had been in the city to
attend the meeting of the special com
mittee on this legislation. held. Friday.
said to Journal reporter, in answer to
inquiries as to what 1t demanded:
THE bill is known as II. r. 1878. 1t
is for the equalization of the rights and
opportunities of postal clerks with
those of government clerks. 1t asks
for a classification Of clerks In the first
and second class post Offices dividing
the clerks into a number Of classes. the
work of each to be clearly specified.
and paid for accordingly 1t also asks
that, after July |, 1896, all salaries of
clerks amounting to 5000, or less. shall
be increased. at the rate of 800 year.
when efficient work has been offered by
the clerk. no greater salary than $1e0o
to be paid to any one of this class of
clerks.
we maintaip that 5000 should be the
lowest salary which should be paid any
kind of clerk: and that he should have
the opportunity of lettering himself
by his work. and not have To depend
upon any other influence
In other words, our bill provides
that promotions shall be solely based
upon efficiency, as the postmaster gen
eral shall prescribe. and that there
shall be no reduction in salary, EXCEPT
in such cases as inefliciency or inability
may demand
THE claim is made on a point OF JUS
tice. We maintain that we are rot
only underpaid, but overworked. FoI
the latter we see no alternative, as the
work is irregular to such an extent
that we expect more or less hard woi X
The clerks do claim. however. thaj
they should be better paid. and that foi
the class of work they do. they should
receive a Just compensation
For instance, the roster sent in by
the several postmasters for the salarie!
of clerks, have such names as assert
ers.' separators' and distributor
These names not only have different
meaning in different sections of tn,
country. but. to add to the confusion
have different salaries attached. This
is a sample presented in our claim foi
a more consistent definition and a
iustment of compensation.
AS it is now. the post office clerks
are clerks of the postmasters. w
want to be government officials. as arr
the letter carriers.
In the bill is enumerated long llsl
of offices. the adoption of which VII
adjust matters with equality to al
What was the result of the meeting
of the special committee, as far o,
Maine is concerned?" was asked
Maine is Speaker Reeds State. ar5
the feeling among the clerks at larGf
is that Maine clerks should use all til |
proper recognition of the bill through |
him. They feel that he is very CLOSELY |
in touch with the clerks best inter
ests.'
How do the postmasters regard TIL. |
move?"
"Of course the postmasters nave II, |
hand in the matter. But / know tha
they are for US. They feel that we are
worked hard, and poorly paid. l thin |
they are with us. to a man.
Why, it is for the best interests of
the work that man should be suffi |
GENTLY paid. An equitable adjustment |
and civil service recognition of the
work which we do. is, at least. what w
should have. The passing public little |
knows what the postal service means. |
They come in with a letter. buy :; |
stamp. and that's the end OF it. foi |
them, except sticking the stamp in its
place-and this they do not always ac- |
cept with good grace What goes on
inside, they know little about We only |
wish they did. and they would under
stand some of these things.
"As matters now stand there Is
nothing to prevent our being called
upon to work 23 hours of the a. If we |
must do any of this sort of business, |
we should get better compensation |
than we now do. And, what is even
more, we should have some assurance
that our work is receiving some direct |
recognition, and that each man has Il !
chance to make a future for himself |
in it,
Exceptions Sustained.