The evening times., 1898-11-24
MAILBAG SERVICE
Of THE COUNTRY
Report of Assistant POStmaS-
ter General Heath.
AN INCREASE OF BUSINESS
Points of Interest to Clerks and
Letter Carriers.
An INCREASE OF BUSINESS
Suggestions Concerning a Modifica-
tion of the Eight-Hour Law in
Regard to Route Men.

First Assistant Postmaster General
Perry :. Heath has submitted 10 Post
master General Smith those portions of
his annual report which relate TO all the
branches of the service committed 10 his
charge except the unusual service render
ed i'm connection with military postoffices
at the army camps and in the Antilles
and Philippines. and the rural free de-
livery service both of which await fur
tber advices. The report on the military
postal service is DELAYED until reports can
be received from the Philippine Islands
The rural free delivery service will be
treated quite at length and some informa-
ton with regard to recent extensions of
the service Is still awaited.
The general business Of the department
shows an increase of over $6.0oO,0eO dur
ing the fiscal year. In all departments of
the service the influence of prosperous
times has made itself apparent. The num-
her of domestic money orders issued dur
ing the year was 27,7sS,07S. as against Z9,-
lS9. .G55 in the previous year; the amount
carried was sl9l, ,$5i, ,121, as against sl74,-
4S2 sc of the previous year. There has
been an increase i'll the number of new
money order offices established during the
year of 2,35S.
The recommendations for Congressional
action included in the report are numerous
and interesting. One Of them relates 10
the salaries of clerks in postofiices. Mr.
Heath recommends that they should be
classified and placed upon fixed scale OF
salaries similar to that now in operation
lafr
there is no rule or system for the grad
ing of clerks at postoffices. Their status
and salaries are determined by the First
Assistant Postmaster General, and in his
action he is of course controlled by the
amount of the appropriation placed at ms
disposal. He asks Congress to relieve
him of this discretionary power and to
provide some scale of salaries which VIII
give to the clerks fair prospects of ad-
vancement and certainty of compensation.
II is contended that an efficient postot-
flee clerk is the peer of letter carrier,
and that there should be no discrimina-
ton in the pay or privileges accorded to
either class. The hours of labor of let
ter carrier are limited by law to eight
hours a day. and he is allowed fifteen
days leave of absence per year. Postof-
flee clerks have no limitation placed upon
their hours of labor and are permitted no
vacation without loss of salary. An ap-
propriation of $50000 is requested for the
employment of substitute clerks to permit
of vacations being given. For the fiscal
year covered by this report the regular
appropriation for clerk hire was SIC. 600 000.
The appropriation for clerk hire for the
present fiscal year is s11, 100000. An apro-
priation of S1l, 600 is recommended for
the fiscal year commencing on the 1st of
July next. Congress having appropriated
5000 less than the department estimate
for clerk hire during the past fiscal year,
the Assistant Postmaster General has
found himself considerably embarrassed In
meeting emergencies incident to the great
increase of public business.
The consolidation of postoffices is again
recomr lended in the interests of an i'm
proved service and economy. Congress is
asked to repeal the law forbidding the
abolition of the postoffice located at any
county seat by a consolidation of post
offices. The abolition of small postof-
fees contiguous to large Office having
free delivery and the establishment OF
stations and sub-stations in lieu threof
not only in a vastly improved public
service, but in a substantial saving In
expenses, and he desires authority ia
continue this plan.
With renewed and increased empha-
sis. Mr.. Heath asks Congress for author