The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-02-12
By Jos: Oil.

Distinctly more favorable are the chances
n the hin for INCREASED compensation
fDr fourth-class postmasters since The
Constitutions agitation in its behalf was
begun while the bill has not yet been
acted On by the house committee. Hon.
Amos Cummings. its author. believes he
will seem D. able Is get Il un. and that
when its provisions are clearly understood
D. cam secure a favorable report
This Is n"t yet certain. however. and
the reason IL s. not can be- found i'm the
opposition ~ some ~ the officials Of the
r,,~toiiice department. The fourth assist
amt postmaster general. Colonel Bristow.
iS against th.s passage Of the hill. and the
apartment officials seem disposed To
throw every obstacle i'm its way.
Iu the abesnce II some strong active
force In its favor. there was small chance
~ favorable action "a this session. There
was au uud"ubsed tendency On the part
~ many 81 the members 81 the postoffice
committees 10 let the measure sleep i'm
committee The active campaign which
THE Constitution has inaugurated has.
however. already assumed such far-reach-
ing proportions that a distinct awaken
ir. On behalf ~ the measure is manifest
Oth.r new spapcrs throughout the coun-
.-v have taken up the cause Of these ef-
r.ient but undergrad officials Of the gov
.rumsut. AMI members Of congress are
hearing from their constituents in large
rlmi,srs-
Must Reach Individual Congressman
Do is necessary that the members of
congress he reached in this way for the
trufrirudIiness 81 the department toward
rh. proposed legislation is manifested In
. number II ways. one way is shown in
ODD. following order which has been posted
az the department building AMI sent TO all
offices throughout the country;
ordered. That hereafter no postmaster.
n--fUfIire clerk. letter carrier railway
r..-far clerk. or other postal employee.
-frW visit Washington. whether on leave
with or without paw Tor the purpose OF
influencing legislation before S"na,I.;s.S.
Auv such smploye - the postal S,TNl."
v.f.r ,inIltes this order shall be- liable 10
removal"
r, 6 explained by the department Of
r-f,I- that this was called out by the re-
r.-t - q bobby being here I'm behalf az
-l,.. r,s,uastsrs' bill This lobby has OK
rs-.l only I'm tire Imagination The post
masters have No lobby and have had none
--..-s mas. and very naturally. been an
s-.-r e., SECURE cooperation among them
,-.,,-.. an are interested in the proposed
.t..,,z :. the existing laws. hut that
..- s,r as il has gone \ few postmas-
-.-s from Offices near To Washington may
law. Thought u run in here and consult
-r-sr ~.r.~-=autatfves about the prospects
.. -na hiu hat there has been no lobby
n tb.. hin proposed to take thou
nnanH ..rHH of NHH
treasury and give the money To- some biz
...rr..-.,tien ur e. a favored few inaivid-
- There. would De- a big lobby here and
r.l,.i,- would say anything about IL; bat
-r.. effort ~ the pus.masters - get justice
r.r. them creates howl ~ viriu"us IN
.7-.ra-rars The cry OF lobby Is raised
ami ..-,uasr.rs az. warned that they
r.-.- ..- ..u,a 20 washington under any
r.r.su.-.are,s-
Little Fellows Jumped On.
z. IS ,h. same tendency g" jump or tho
t-rl. fellows that g. manifested in other
.-sr- n.-.. ln Washington. The big ones
.- n. anything. They have the entree
---y. r.r. ard .yeryWhcre- Their att"r-
-.-s f.-F seats aa the floor ~ congress
and share legislation Co suit themselves;
INT OBJ. modest nostmaetcrs of the fourth
-..s offices. th. mon whom Amos cum
,r--r. characterize as .the poorest paid
Isl Soc rlblie servants they must Keep
s.r..
T.. whole attitts.l.. 80 the pnstoffice de-
-.--r..r seems ~ o. against this in
.-.t-. fu salaries for posJmastcrs- When
1.1 ask one 20 the officials why this =.
tr- fr,-,~5tl,l.. reply Is that eff they don't
...rnH H-lFHs
-.eru.usstiau. there are plenty ~ others
ready 90 take them" As il that were
conclusive There isn't one 81 these high
fv paid officials who wouldn't hurry UP
tr the appropriation committee rooms any
day ana pull for an increase in his own
salary and yet where there IS one man
who would be- a postmaster Of this de-
spissd class. there are a hundred-yes.
a thousaud-Who would jump at the
chance 10 nlI the shoes OF these highly
paid officials at the salary they are now
getting. and for less
Cummings Hopes for Success.
Members If congress who are working
earnestly for the Cummings bill find they
have this sort Of influence To combat. but
they are not dismayed at the outlook. In
deed. they are more hopeful now than
they have been At any time Il sincere
Il hope for success I'm this congress- said
Mr.. Cummings. in talking with me about
his bill The work which The Consti-
tion has been doing has been of great
assistance. We hear from il in all di-
rections There isn't day that do not
receive letters referring TO The Cons,i-
tutIon's good work for the bill, and these
letters come from all parts Of the country.
am sure the proposed legislation is on
the right line. There IS too much Of a
tendency here i'm Washington TO look
after the big fellows and let the little
ones take care Of themselves There IS
No class OF federal officials more worthy
81 substantial recognition than the men
Who run the little pOstofflces Of the coun-
try and know Of no public servants 50
Poorly paid
senator Clay. who is prominent MEM
trr Of the postofTice committee Of the
senate tells me that requests for the pas
sage ~ the bills come tn that committee
D. every mall lie Is active in his adj