The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-17
POSTAL WORK.
Postmaster Greene Returns
from Convention.

Saturday evening from the convention
of first class postmasters which was
held recently at Detroit. Since the close
of the convention he has been enjoying
a much needed rest at Lake Mohonk IN
the Catskin mountains in New York
state
As a result Of this convention and the
work Of the postal investigating COM
mission appointed at the last session Of
congress- the country is to be benefited
shortly by the Introduction of many
new and improved methods Of postal
transmission and organization,
The primal object of the convention
was to better acquaint the pOStmaSters
from all over the country with the more
minute details of the postal service,
and as result of their deliberations 1t
was decided to recommend to congress-
among other things. the establishment
of a 4S-hour week for carriers, which
will enable them to put in twelve hours
on busy days and deduct the overtime
on days when there is no rush. The
convention decided to ask congress to
empower the postmaster general to
substitute some other system of money
orders for the one at present in use,
which is called the zigzag method.
On the last day of the convention, q
resolution was adopted declaring that
the convention pledges its support to
any legislation looking to the reform Of
the present abuses in the second and
other classes of mail matter, and which
shall establish fair and equal rates Of
postage for the public. 1t also recon-
mended that a vote of thanks be sent
to Senator Loud, chairman of the house
committee on postoffices and postroads,
for his efforts looking to the improve
ment and reform in the postal rates,
transportation, and general improve
ments in the service of the department.
1t was decided that the membership of
the association should be limited to the
| first class pOstmasters of the country,
| and that chiefs of divisions heads of
| bureaus and the postmaster general
should be made honorary members.
In connection with the work discussed
| at this convention, it is interesting to
note the efforts Of the postal invesdga-
| ting commission which has been at
work for many months on the trouble
some problem Of the postal deficit. The
| first recommendation after organization
was on the line of the 4S-hour week $
work, in place of the 8-hour day as now
in force. The latter occasions great in
convenience, and the rigid require
ment that not more than eight hours
work shall be called for each day re-
!
| time The work on some particular days
| is always greater than on others. In
the past there has been a rigid adher-
ence to what may be termed specialties.
A carrier, for instance, is not expected
to utilize his spare moments by help
I ing out sorter who may be over
worked at the time, and this, with the
S-hour q day requirement, results in
having much energy go to waste. The
sar4rf
OF time and have already expressed a
preference for the weekly limit instead
OF the daily. The commission has also
investigated some of the questions in
| volved in the Loud bill, which has long
been before congress. Tt seems probable
that the commission will recommend
the provisions of the bin in regard to
serial novels. If they are to be classed
as books, then the ordinary book
| charges should be paid for their trans
mission through the mails.
| The most noticeable thing that has
come to the attention of the commits
/ sion, however, is the great diversity OF
postal needs in different parts of the
country 1t seems almost impossible to
| formulate set of laws and regulations
which will be just and wise alike for
Boston and San Francisco. Even in the
matter of salaries great embarrassment
/
/ which was adopted some time ago by
the department. The pay allowed officc
| clerks in some sections is so small that
! it is next to impossible to get the right
| KIND OF help. In some of the southern
states, the pay of an ordinary grocery
clerk is about SIS month, while in
many western states $75 is allowed for
the same service. In commercial life,
these great disparities adjust them
l1y
ment schedule such a thing is mpos-
sible. Almost the same thing is true in
| the matter Of transportation. A major
ity Of the newspaper publishers in the
| eastern states use the express COM
panies for the distribution of news
papers, while in the west the mails are
used exclusively for the same purpose.
In the matter of frequent deliveries
| in the larger cities, though Chicago has
a population of a million and half and
Boston a little more than one-third OF
that number the latter city needs more
/ deliveries a day to expedite business
/ than does the former on account of the
congestion Of the small down town dis
trict. The principle of uniformity in the
postal system which, in some cases,
seems wise and necessary, is being car
ried about as far as it ought to go In
the event of the extension of our terr;-
tory in the Philippines and Hawaii, it
doubtless will be found necessary to
empower the secretary for the colonies
to modify the postal regulations to meet
local needs.
The question of pensioning old and
faithful employees has been settled in a
way by providing easy places for the
old and infrm. This method has it's
difficulties, as there are not enough
places to go the rounds. There is also
an injustice in giving carriers salary
to a man who is detailed to run an ele-
vator, In many cases it is claimed that
the service is being materially crippled
by the retention in office of these old
employees.
Aside from these cases of misnanage-
ment. the commission finds that the
classified postal service is working ad-
mirahly. The business of the postofice
is much like any other, in that expert
ence and training count for much to-
ward making the service efficient. Even
the worst spoilsmen say little now
about the change in any department Of
the service with the change of admin
istration. They recognize that substan-
tial permanency for this class of EN-
ployees, so far as they prove competent
and faithful is simply fair and business
like.
CONCERT AT LAUREL STREET.
The Sunday school of Laurel Street
Methodist Church held harvest con-