New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06

which 10 draw conclusions, many family secret
becomes known 10 the letter man.
Hand those square letters TO me on the quiet"
is the instruction given by some young man to the
carrier and when they finally cease to come and
the Young man is absent from his desk or counter
FOR short time the letter-carrer knows full we'll
that another contract for better or for worse has
been made.
THEIR EXPERIENCES NOT ALL HAPPY.
The carriers stories do not all end so happily
though" said a veteran in the service Il remem-
Der bringing letters 10 house for about two years
They were all addressed in the same hand always
the same envelope The postmark was Western
health resort A rotherly woman with anxiety
written in her face was always at the door when
brought the letters. and she seemed pleased with
them even before they were read One day letter
came from the same place in the same kind of en-
velope but with the address in another hand. Then
there no letter for week and then one came
which was also in a hand that was strange 10 me
Mex, time | saw the old lady she was dressed IN
black and her face would have told the story even
II she had not stopped TO say that her poor boy
had passed away and she was so thankful 10 me
for having brought all her letters. ! didn't know
the son. but can you wonder that was interested:
Every sixty days brought letter TO a house on
the East Side" said an observing carrier and IT'S
pos,msrk and the regularity with which the letters
came gave me pretty good reason TO DeheVe 'ha'
the writer was not away for his health. on busi'
ness or on pleasure. | was sure that ne had one Oh
those steady jobs which most people objec, 70 DE-
cause they are so combining. one day passed the
house. never thinking of the sixty-day letter. when
an,tle lad ran up TO and said: Say you needn't
come round any more; Mikes out
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
The letter-carriers although they play an i'm
portant part have been looked upon as the pri-
Yates In the service. but through their own enorts
they have advanced 10 higher level The Ma
tonal Association Of LetterCarriers was organized
a. Milwaukee in 1879. and has grown steadily since
then and al the present time about 1870 Of the
ZOO carriers are members Of the organization.
Before the formation of the National Association
The carriers had benefit societies and social organ-
za,ions but there was no arrangement for con-
cer,ed action and no method by which carriers as
bodies could communicate with one ano'hcr but
even In their disjon'ed way the letter-carrers So
cees had considerable influence. and the passage
Of the eighth hour law In 1883 was the result OF 'he
labors Of the various societies with the New-fork
Society in the lead. The statue to 5 $. Cox was
e-ec,ad nv the Iettercarriers 10 show their appre-
ea,lon Of his services In their behalf at that time
The organization of the carriers was at once
recognized step In the right direction and the
postal clerks and the railway mall employees soon
followed the example. In forming the ASSOCIATION
the carriers did not act in spirit of opposition 10
planned at was aim to cooperate win 'he
higher authorities and the association never mar
bored any spirit OF antaRonisn
In proof OF this statement the fact was men
toned that at the last National convention III
PHILADELPHIA Pos or General wilson was pres
snt and made the opening address, ana sai" '"f'
h heartily Endorsed and approved the aims and
objects Of the association. AT that session ~ W.
Machen superintendent Of the free delivery sys-
tem also spoke. and approved Of the organizations
work
AIMS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
Tho a,,,s n, ,bo association are: To better their
tenure OF office especially in such postoffices as
those in which the Civil Service laws did not Apply
There is an office in this country said carrier
where men were discharged right an" ''' vi
trivial trumped-up charges Everybody hie" '"''
the men were put out simply because OF 'he'r po,''
ical opinions ard the fact that one OF them De-
came valuable member OF newspaper ''""
showed tina, there must have been prejudice 10 say
the leas, To yuard against. such abuses Is one OF
the objects NJ the association. We want also ~
extend the Civil Service rules all postoices ana
not except the smaller ones. We beheVe tna' Nv
man should be discharged without cause or p.io'e I've
has had a chance 10 answer charges That par' Vi
our wishes" he added "is now In rorce' pu' '"
want an act OF Congress 10 cnch 1t. because IL
Bryan should be elected and II ne shouio name
General cox.y q. aster- General where would
We be at7
The let;er-carrier being human, wants an MT H
Of salary At present substitute receives shia'
Oft year and the pay OF the carrier whose "o worn \
he does II the SUB is lucky he may MAKE ''o'
year and although he always receives the rebu-
lar pay Of the carrier whose work ne oo's '"''0
Is no case on record where he received the u pro-
wded for by law.
After the ca rrier has been regularly appoH'eu u.
receives $3.50 the first year $3.50 the second year ana
1900 year after that. In towns OF less IMAM 'o"'
Inhabitants the highest salary Is <e0c
RETIREMENT AFTER LONG SERVICE.
The association also favors legislation looking "a
. law by which carriers may be retired after Ger
tain number OF years OF faithful service To Illus
trate the Justice Of this movement the case OF
Charles A. Tyler was cited He is the Oldest carrier
In the service and is now an employe AT the
Produce Exchange branch OF the New-York Post
Office He carried letters In oldcn times when the
etter-carrier received a penny for the letter which
he delivered. and nc became member OF the force
when the free delivery service was organized IN
NewYork Despite his long service. ne Is nope
essly n letter-carrier with no chance for promo
ton or pension. The only man who disputed SEN
iority with Tyler was Moses Church. OF worcester
Mass who died within year and whose son IL
serving In the Worcester Office at present.
The association has also directed It's attention tf
the special agent system which was Instituted
about year ago The duty OF the special agents