The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-05
NEW LAW in DISFAVOR
LETTER CARRIERS PREFER THE
EIGHT-HoUR WORK DAY ACT.


DETROIT, Mich, Sept 4.-That the new
law providing forty-eight hours work per
week for letter carriers is III disfavor with
a majority of the letter carriers was shown
to-day i'm the eleventh annual convention of
the National Association of Letter Car
riers In a brief speech I'M the convention
this afternoon. Delegate William Coombs.
OIL New York. after pointing to the loyalty
to the service and willingness of the car
rier to conform to regulations under all
circumstances. declared that ''ninety-nine
hundredths of the carriers of the United
States deplore the forty-eIght-hour act and
know that any law which is an infringe
ment on our old eight-hour law will never
be satisfactory to the letter carriers
Eight hours" shouted Mr. COombs,
fought to continue to be the limit of a.
days work. and the remark was greeted
with storm of applause. 1T WILL
Coombs continued. "be happy day for the
carriers when the old eight-hour law shall
be given back to US. and when Congress
shall appropriate enough to pay for men
enough TO continue the eight-hour work.
day"
Some time previous to this demonstra-
ton the forty-eight hour workings had
been deliberately explained by Superintend-
ent Machen, OF the free delivery service.
On the other hand. Washington claims
agent had made an address in which the
value of the forty-eight hour law had in
cidentally been questioned. Most of to-
days session were taken up with the re-
ports of officers and standing committees
and a night session was held to close up
that part OF the work The credentials
committee reported total of $50 delegates
and proxies present.
President Parsons read his annual re-
port The Philadelphia case. ia which the
carriers complaint OF unnecessary hard
ships was sustained by the department
as against the postmaster, was indirectly
referred 20 in the presidents treatment
of those questions. He referred TO isolated
Instances IL which postmasters set up their
personal Judgment against authority. Gus
TOM" etc President Parsons advised
bringing such before the depart
ment, and. III necessary, before the Pres
ident Of the United States. since he is held
largely responsible by the people for the
conduct OF his appointees.
Other points made In President Parsons
report were the statement that the Asso-
citation is. for the first time, entirely united
on what legislation Is deemed to be In the
interests of letter carriers: that the in
come OF the Association from the $1.50 an
nual dues and from other sources is in
sufficient to cover all expenses, and that
a law should be enacted similar in terms
20 the Grout BILL allowing substitute
carriers regular annual salary of
500 The president suggested that any
bill encouraging pensions for letter carriers
would meet considerable opposition in Con-
gress. but he favored bill providing for
the handling by department officer of a
pension fund raised by retaining a percent
age out OF the earnings of each carrier
The president urged that the Association
place itself I'm the front rank in the line
OF a civil service reform. the benefits of
which. he averred. applies more TO the pos
tai service than any other. He called at
tention 10 the present lukewarmness of DO
ltical parties toward this question and
said: Neither Of the great parties now
contending for control OF the government
have seen nj 10 make more than passing