The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-23
THEY WANT A HUNDRED A YEAR
FOURTH CLASS POSTM ASTERS
LOOKING FOR MORE PAY.

They viii Establish II strong Lobby
To Work COngress-7O,O0O of Them
Paid by the Present Plan of Conn
pensatiOn-ScN eraI Have Already
Lost Their Positions Through Ad-
VOcating the ChHnge-Publish
Paper in Their Interest.
Washington, Aug. 22.-(speciaD. One Of
the strongest and best organized lobbies
preparing to knock at the door of Con-
gress during the coming winter is the pos
tai lobby. 1t is an organization supposed
to include almost every fourth class post
master in the United States. Its object
is to secure legislation to fix the compen-
sation of fourth class postmasters at the
rate of 500 per annum, instead of the pres
ent rate of payment, which is based upon
the number of stamps sold by each post
master.
The subject was brought to the attention
of Postmaster General Smith to-day, and
he frankly admitted that the department
is powerless TO prevent such organizations
so long as they avoid a violation of the
postal regulations. He holds that fourth
| Class postmasteIs have the same right to
| organize for their own protection as have
the postal clerks and the letter carriers,
provided they keep within the rules LAID
down IN the postal regulations. 1t is not
the use of these protective organizations
which occasion complaint, but the abuse
of them by designing persons.
1t has been known 10 the department
for some time past that the fourth class
postmastors are organizing to make a
/ combined appeal 60 Congress for increased
compensation, including allowance for Of
flee rent, stationery, etc. One OF The orig
| inal promoters of the scheme was a
| fourth class postmaster out in Missouri
named Thompson. He came on to Wash
| ington some time ago, and announced
| boldly that his mission was to perfect an
Organization of fourth class postmasters
| FOR the purpose Of influencing Congress 10
! give these poorly paid officials an increase
| In compensation.
| At the postoffice department his atten-
| ton was directed to article 50 of the pos
tai regulations, which provides; Here
| after no postmaster, postofiice clerk, let
ter carrier railway postal clerk, or other
| postal employe shall visit Washington,
| whether on leave with or without pay,
| for the purpose of influencing legislation
before Congress. Any such employe OF
| the postal service who violates this order
| shah be liable to removal Postmasterf
| and other employees OF the postal service
| are paid by the government for attending
the respective duties assigned them which
do not include efforts to secure legisla'
ton That duty Is ass gned to the repre-
sentatives of the people elected for thai
purpose"
Notwithstanding this admonition. Post
fg InIa ff
organize his fourth class associates, and
the result was his removal from the ser
vice. one or two other pOstmasters who
were associated with him In the movement
upon Washington also suffered dismissal
1t is going TO be very troublesome prob
lem for the department. Postmaster Gen
eral Smith fully appreciates that an or
ganizaton composed of the 10000 fourth
class postmasters might exert a power
| ful influence upon Congress for either
good or bad. They have undoubtedly tn,
| right 10 organize and employ attorneys
to come TO Washington to look after the
interest. and the only thing the depart
ment can do is to enforce the regulation
quoted While the postmaster general Is
an advocate of the most liberal compen
sation to postal employees and a gener
Gus extension of mail facilities, he Is no
prepared 10 commit himself in favor of the
proposed increase to fourth class postmas
ters under organized pressure.
The representa- tlves of the lobby hav,
already established themselves in Wash
ington and are publishing a newspaper
called "The Fourth Class Postmaster
and former Postmaster Thompson, whC
was removed from office, is an activ,
member Of the lobby. The paper has
wide circulation all over the United State
and Is regarded as very valuable plec'
Of property. II devotes It's best effort
to advocating the proposed Increase anC
keeps interest in the fight among th'
postmasters by assuring them that sue
cess must come to them during the mex
Congress