Evening journal., 1896-04-30
POSTAL CLERKS BILL.
What it Is Designed to Accom-
plish for the Service.
CLASSIFICATION AND JUSTICE


The Advantages which the Carriers
Possess and of which the CLERKS Are
Deprlved-A Few Facts Relative TO
Uncle SANS Boys Gathered From One
who Knows.
The bill for the rehabilitation of post
Office clerks In first and second class
offices, which ls now before the national
House OF Representatives, has ieir
chance to reaoh passage II has been
approved by the department.. favorsbly
reported by the Committee on Post Offices
and placed on tho calender j. e.
Monaghan, secretary OF the Wilmington
branch, No. 1876 OF the National Assocla-
tlod OF Post Office Clerks has secured a
large number Of letters from Influential
citizens. business aud professional men.
urging favorable action at an early date
To an EVENING Jo0RNAL reporter who
asked him relative to the bill Mr.. Mon
Afghan said: THE bill has as lts object
the re classification OF the clerks. and
carries with it no appropriation. it only
asks that the existing laws be changed
80 as 10 give 10 the clerks, few OF the
benefits which the carriers have secured
through the efforts OF their good friends
'In the first place the clerks handle
the mail first and prepare II for trans
portRtion, and handle it last after It's
arrival At fhe post ihc'. preparing It for
the carrier, so that all he has TO do is to
lAy the mall for his route and then
deliver 10 Wilmington Is a first class
post office In all but the pay, and 1t Is a
fact that IN other Off ses Of a similar
grade IS ours, the clerks get some $500
more than here, yet do scarcely half the
work.
"The carrier has regularly dxed sal
airy, aud he knows iust what that salary
will be from one years end to the other
The clerks have no stated salary. but
lump sum is appropriated for clerk hire,
and by the way, it is always the minimum
figure. and then the postmaster has to do
the best no can. run the Office rs econ
omically as possible, and II be rams behind
docks the clerks salary TO make up. 1t
Is true they have nominal salary, but II
Is only for the purpose OF Jumping the
appropriation Now the bill asks for the
de6nite fixing OF salaries, making the
minimum 5000 aud the maximum 81 600,
with a premium for long tenure OF
service
"At present the carriers sre far better
cared for than the clerks The clerk Is
required TO have a good education, while
the ordinary carrier can do his work we'll
on much less The clerk Is confined to
his frequently dingy qulrters for from
ten TO fourteen hours each day, while the
carrier has the benefit OF outdoor exer-
elsa, aud when he has worked eight hours
Ia doue aud can 20 where be peAses Oa
holidays the carrier Is At liberty 10
enily himself but the clerk must
toll. Not sven on Sundays Il the clerk
free, and Fourth OF July and Christmas vs.
as any other day TO hin. When It comes
TO ths hot days OF summer and the
mercury seeks the nlnetles. the carrier
takes his little two weeks vacation and
bis pay goes on Just the same. The clerk
has 70 arrange with his fellow clerks TO
double up and do his work or else lose his
pay, and perhaps his job This blu Is
designed 10 give him a vacation and
shorten bis hours a little.
In the Wilmington Office there are
eleven clerks three at $500 year five
at $500 aud three at 500. total Of
$8. 800, or an average OF $500 year per
clerk There ARE % carriers. each Of
whom get 1850 a year So much for the
pay. The figures speak for themselves.
The movem snt In favor Of tue bill is
being agltated IN every city in the land
aud I believe II will pass and this
branch OF Uncle Sans service be made
still more efficient"