The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-24
THE POSTOFFICE JUDGE.
He Is the land lie Passes on
Charges Against EMPLOYEES.

"We have 1914 clerks and 1869 carriers
in the postal service in New York. and
the small percentage of them that come
before me for trial from time TO time Is
remarkable, said Postmaster Van Cott
recently In referring to his judicial exper-
ience. Mr.. Van Cott holds court daily
for the trial OF violators OF the rules and
regulations OF the postoilice department.
No postoilice employe is fined. dismissed.
or otherwise punished without having
had a full and fair hearing, says the New
York Sun. Ihe charges must bs mad, in
writing upon blank provided for tte,pur-
pose, and attached To it is a TO ord of the
character and services OF the accused,
which, If good, initiates considerably In
his favor
When an employe is accused Of viola
tlon Of the regulations the written
charges ara sent by his imm ediate super
intenoent to the general superintendent
OF the division To which he Is attached,
who in turn forwards them to the post
master. AS rule trial follows within
twenty -four hours and the accused has
tho privilege Of having representative of
the Clerks or Carriers association to
which be belongs present at the hearing.
After the charges and speuiflcati ons
have been read to him, the accused makes
his statement and calls such witnesses as
he may have. The postmaster rarely has
occasion to postpono decision. as the mer-
It's Of the cases. enc way or the other, are
usually very plain.
Punisbments range from reprimand
or fine Of few days pay to temporary
SUSPENSION from d1ty or dismissal. The
postmaster may fine or suspend clerks,
as they are his own appontees, without
reporting % the department at Washing.
ton, but in cases Of removal the charges
and recommendations for discharge must
be forwarded to the postmaster generals
Office. In the case Of carriers, however.
any punishment inflicted, even repri-
mand, must be reported to the department.
for approval, for the reason that they hre
oppointod by the postmaster general.
The principal offences for which carriers
are tried arc failure to deliver mail prop
srly, discourtesy, entering saloon and
drinking while in uniform, or ,on duty.
drunkenness failure TO record their time
ut the conclusion of each trip, neglect to
note removal notices sent to the office to
facilitate the delivery of mails aud q
peculiar offence to which they are espeo
Tally prone, working overtime. As they
recieve no extra compensation for work
Ing over the eight hours prescribed ty the
regulations, but ore, on the contrary,
punished for SO doing, IL ia credit to
them that in nine cases out of ten 10 In
discovered that thcir offence arose from
their real to complete the delivery on
their routes, In which for various reaso Is
they were DELAYED beyond the prescribed
eight hours As may te supposed the
penalty Of this Is not made over. heavy, but
10 they persist in their.zeal thov art,trans-
fered from the delivery to the collection
service, In which ,hey cannot "do over.
time" as IL is termed. The offence for
which clerks arc tried include reporting
or duty under the influence of lieu r.
tardiness, failure TO handle ana d.spatch
mail promptly. frequent absences from.
duty, putting rail i'm wrong boxes and
characterization.
The percentages Of ,trials for intoxica-
ton IL very small, and here peculiar
physiological fact, which can hardly foil
to be OF interest 10 physicians and scien.
lists generally, Is to DO noted Letter
carriers. and postal clerks TOO ore es-
pecisliy subject u "cr1mps D" "chills. 4"
auu sudden werIutsses such of thent
as nprear ttf.rs he postmaster by reason
~ their -upi oad yielding to the uttfr..
ments of the st,amiug howl almost IN.
yariably tell story Of sudden illness and