The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-25
GOOD TINES ARE Felt.
In the Postal Department, as
Everywhere Else.
REPORT ON THE SERVICE
Asks Increased Pay and Privi-
Ieges for Employees.

Postmaster General Perry >. hedNH mas
/ completed mis- annual report, except the
/ portions relating to military postoffices at
the army camps and in the Antilles and
Philippines and the rural free delivery
service. both of which await further ad-
vice. The general business of the de-
partment shows an increase of over 81, 900, =
600 during the fiscal year. In all depart
ments of the service the influence of
prosperous times has made itself appar-
/ ent. This year there were 27,79S,07S do
nestle money orders issued, against
/ ., 169O55 last year; the amount carried
was s191 ,354.l 21 against sl74, 4S2, 676 There
we're 235S new money order Offices estab-
/ lished.
The recommendation for congressional
action are numerous and interesting. Mr..
Heath recommends that clerks in post
offices be classified and placed upon a
fixed scale of salaries similar 10 that Of
letter carriers, 50 as to give fair pros
pect of advancement and certainty of
compensation. AT present there is no
rule or system for the grading of clerks
at postoffices. 1t is contended that an ef-
ficient postofice clerk is the peer of let
ter carrier, and that there should be no
discrimination in the pay or privileges to
either class. The hours of labor of a let
ter carrier are limited by law TO eight
hours a day, and he is allowed fifteen
days leave of absence per year. Postofice
clerks have no limitation on their hours
and no vacation without loss of salary.
An appropriation of $4,000 is requested
for the employment of substitute clerks 10
allow vacations. An appropriation of
81. 500. 900. an increase of 500. 600 over this
year, is recommended for the next fiscal
year for clerk hire. Congress having ap-
propriated 5000, 900 less than the depart
ment estimate for clerk hire during the
past fiscal year. considerable embarrass-
ment has ensued in meeting emergencies
incident to the great increase of public
business. The consolidation Of postoffices
is again recommended. Congress is asked
TO repeal the law forbidding the abolition
of a postoffice located at any county seat
by a consolidation Of postofficeS. The
abolition Of small postoffices contiguous
to a large office having free delivery, and
the establishment of stations and sub
stations in lieu thereof Mr.. Heath says
has been found to result not only in a
vastly improved public service, but in a
substantial saving in expenses. ard he de
sires authority TO continue this plan. Au-
thority is asked 70 make the clerk hire
appropriation apply to all classes Of post
Offices. At present an allowance for clerk
hire can only be given to first and sec
Ond-class postmasters. Many third-class
postof1ices which only escape by a few
hundred dollars OF receipts from being
included in the second-class have so much
business that it is impossible for any one
perOn to properly attend TO il and the
postmasters are constantly compelled to
pay for such clerical help as they need
out of their own calaries. There are 2910
third-clcss postoffices. 100 second-class
and 176 first-class. One result claimed is
that it would remove the temptation for
postmasters to pad their receipts or 20
fraUdulently Increase their apparent rev.
enues SO as to get into the second-claSs.
Free delivery was extended dR-ing the
fiscal year to 70 offices. Additional offices
entitled 70 free delivery number 10. Dur
ing the current fiscal year service has
been established at 81 of these offices,
leaving IS to await the consideration of
the department. The first assistant post
master general recommends a modifica-
tion of the eight hour law as applied to
letter carriers so as TO provide for the
eight hours for six days work and only
as many hours on Sunday within the
eight hour limit as are absolutely neces-
sary for the requirements of the service.
This recommendation is in accord with
the views expressed by the convention Of
Il is believed its adoption would meet the
approval Of the letter carriers themselves.
Mr.. Heath recommends an additional
grade Of carriers to ne known as carrier
serGeancs. in a llcities having fifty car
riers or more, and that these positions be
assigned by competitive examination
among carriers who have served FIVE
years or more. The duties OF these SER
geants would be to supervise the work
OF letter carriers on their routes and 20
investigate complaints. He asks an ap-
preparation for salaries of carriers at es-
tabHshed offices for the next fiscal year
of 81. $1,000: for the salaries of letter car
riers At new Offices $50 o00 for horse hire
allowance. $4,000; care fare and bicycles
$40. 600; all other incidentals. $4,000.
making grand total for this service of
Sl4.512200. He recommends a repeal Of the |
law requiring the use Of the present form /
of money order, in che interest of safety I
and simplicity. and also authorization for
The use of postal check payable TO I
bearer.
\ detailed report Of the operations Of /
the rural free delivery VIII he presented /
within few days. Congress increased /
the appropriation for this purpose from /
$4,000 to Sl5ooHo, and Mr.. Heath recon- !
mendS in view Of the success Of the ex- /
tension Of the service and the salisfac- (
ton II had given. that an appropriation /
Of $Soo@ be made FOR rural free delivery /
during tne next fiscal year
THE FUTURE OF PERSIA
A the present moment The world IS en-