The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-13
FRICTION AT THE 20.
SOME OF THE LETTER CARRIERS
Dissatisfied WITH ACTING
SUPT. HADLICH
APPEAL TO THE POSTMASTER
Mr.. Smith Takes the Ground That
Capt. Hardacre's Position Is Not
Yet Vacant, Besides the Commit
tee That Waited ON Him Stated
No Grievance Want superin-
tendent From the Ranks.

The Mail and Letter Carriers associa-
ton, through a committee. have asked
that Acting Superintendent of Carriers
Henry j. Hadlich be replaced by a meru-
Der of the association, and number Of
conferences have been held on the sub
ject between the representatives. of the
carriers and Postmaster Smith, who has
withheld his decision. Considerable feel
ing has been aroused at the postotice
over the matter.
George w. Hardacre, who formerly was
superintendent of the no carriers who
travel out from the St. Paul postoffice,
was detailed on special duty to Porto
Rico shortly after the occupation of that
island by the American forces, and is at
present at his temporary post, assisting
in putting the mail service in the West
Indies In shape. Upon his departure
Henry ]. Hadlich an assistant, took up
the duties of superintendent and now
holds the office. His administration has
been strict one, according to the men,
and there has been some friction over
the enforcement of the rules.
At any rate, the Letter Carriers asso-
citation, which includes all of the men en-
ployed in that capacity, began an agita-
ton some time ago to have Mr.. Hadlich
relegated to his former position and for
the appointment of mail carrier to fill
the vacancy. To this end a committee of
fourteen members was appointed last
Saturday and held a meeting last Tues
day evening in parlor c at the Windsor
to discuss the situation Close secrecy
OH -
was decided to ask for conference with
Postmaster Smith.
The conference took place in the post
masters office last Wednesday night, and
proved to be an interesting one. The
men presented their side of the case and
Postmaster Smith was taken by surprise.
He pointed out that Mr.. Hardacre Is still
superintendent de jure, in spite of his
temporary absence in Porto Rico,s and
further that even If there were a vacancy
in the Office Mr. Hadlich,- under the civil
service rules and ever other considera-
ton, was entitled to the appointment
The committee failed to specify any
grievances against the. acting superin-
tendent and persisted in their demand.
The conference closed without any de-
cisive answer having been given. The
men did not ask for the appointment of
any, particular one of the carriers, but
only that the superintendent might be
appointed from among their number. A
number of the fourteen members of the
committee are candidates.
After the netting Postmaster Smith
admitted that the carriers had a griev-
ance, but declined to state the nature CT
the trouble. The carriers themselves were
equally reticent, and no one could te
found who was willing to talk on the
subject.
Postmaster Smith has not been at the
Office for two days on account of a severe
cold
1.-THE superintendent of carriers draws
a salary of $1,700 and the carriers Of ST.
000," said one of the officials yesterday.
1.-The superintendent has direct charge of
the men, He lays out the routes and, of
course. is in position to render himself
unpopular If he Is strict in enforcing the
rules of the department. 1 have never
heard of Mr. Hadlich being arbitrary, and
do not believe the men have any specific
grievance against him or the conduct of
his Office"
The letter carriers have decided to ask
for assistance from Senator Davis and
Congressman Stevens in securing their
demands, and it was stated yesterday
thatsconferences have been arranged with
both gentlemen.