The evening times., 1900-01-24
PLEA OF POSTAL CLERKS
Their Argument in Support Of a
Bill Before Congress.
Reasons Given In Advocacy of the
Proposition TO Tighten Their In
ture of the Service They Are Re
quired To Perform-SOme statistics.

The railway postal clerks are using ev-
cry effort TO secure the passage Of the
bill which is designed 10 Tighten their la
bors. Il was introduced in Congress by
Mr. Tawuey OF Minnesota. They have is
sued a statement OF the work performed
by them. and they earnestly hope that
this will be instrumental In helping 10 Sc
cure for them the desired measure Of re-
lief.
The statement IS in part as follows:
The labors OF the railway mail
clerk are so arduous that he can
not work continuously The strain Of body
and brain on every trip is very exhausting-
Trains run al a high speed and TO main
tain an upright position while devoung ev-
/ cry energy 10 his work is very difficult,
and lifting heavy mail sacks taxes his
strength 10 the utmost. He is allowed lay
I offs as an absolute matter OF necessity two
I or three days in a week al intervals 10 re-
| cuperate. but even when of duty he must
study and keep posted on changes in time
tables and schemes of distribution OF mails.
/ lie must keep himself fully advised as TO
/ the condition OF his run. keep the chief
I put himself out Of reach without special
permission.
The magnitude OF the railway postal
/ service in this country by far the great
! est in the world. may be gathered from
I the report Of the General Superintendent
/ OF the Railway Mail Service. On June 30.
| 1898. there we're I .26S postoffice lines Of
1 all kinds-railroad electric. cable. and
/ stramb0at-in the United States. manned
/ by SOFA clerks appointed 70 the service
/ These clerks covered .343 miles In
! the year, using ? $40 cars and steamer
/ apartments. They distributed l2.Sl7I9S.-
| Il pieces Of mail. besides 17.077.70S pack
. ages. cases, and sacks OF registered mat
ter. In handling this enormous quantity
Of mail there were only l.l,2, ,433 errcrs
. in distribution.
The work Of the postal clerk is per-
I formed under hazardous conditions. Dur
/ ing the last year there were 5S7 casualties
seven Of which were fatal Congress has
I made no provision for families of railroad
| clerks who are killed or permanently in
I jured while on duty. but as far back as
1850 the United States Railway Mail Ser
vice Benefit Association was organized. its
object being to provide pecuniary reiiet
to the widows. orphans or other bene-
fciaries OF It's deceased members.
Any person not over forty years Of agt
and connected Nth the railway branch o.
the service. eithN by commission or ap-
poIntment. Is eligible 70 become member
Inc membership numbers more than 1900
and benefciaries are paid $1,000 Th,
National Association Of Railway Clerks ha
/ also recently created an accident Insurance
department which pays Sl5 week for in
jury that incaPacitates a member for ser
vice. and s., ,OtO in case OF death by 2cci
| dent
The working system OF the railway pos
tai service has not been changed sine
1SS2-the date of its organization being il
the early seventies-but each year ha- seel
the service grow and extend its limits {
the edges Of new settlements until it nov
covers the whole country. Salaries ar
| long since so inadequate for the labor re
ouired and for the modern expenses OF liv
ing that the postal clerk OF today IS sal
to be not only the hardest worked but IN
poorest paid employe OF the Government
The postal service antedated its actua
, organization It's beginning being an inven
! ton OF the civil war through the Govern
ment undertaking TO deliver mail froT
. | railroad trains and steamboats, 10 soldier
: | in camp and ON the march