The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-05
PLEA OF POSTAL CLERKS.
Their Argument in support of Bill
Before Congress.

The railway postal clerks are using
every effort to secure the passage of the
bill which is designed to tighten their la
bors. 1t was introduced in congress by
Mr.. Tawney 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 to SO
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 con
tinuously. The strain OF body and brain
on every trip is very exhaustlng. Trains
run at a high speed and to maintain
an upright position while devoting every
energy TO his work is very difficult, and
lifting heavy mail sacks taxes his
strength to the utmost He is allowed lay
offs as an absolute matter OF necessity two
or three days in week at intervals to re-
cuperate but even when off duty he must
study and keep posted on changes in time
tables aud schemes of distribution of
mails. He must keep himself fully advised
MS to the condition of his run, keep the
chief clerks advised as TO his address and
not put himself out of reach without spe-
cial permission.
The magnitude of the railway postal
service in this country, by far the great
est in the world, may be gathered from
the report OF the general superintendent
of the railway mail service. On June &c.
1898, there were 1868 postofhce lines of
all kinds-ralroad. electric. cable and
steamboat--n the United States, manned
by S07i clerks appointed to the service.
These clerks covered 2S5. 565, 343 miles in
the year, using 3649 cars and steamer
apartments. They distributed 1857 1885,
III pieces Of mail, besides 1T077,70S pack
ages, cases. and sacks OF registered mat
ter. In handling this enormous quantity
OF mail there were only LIE, 43a errors
in distribution.
The work Of the posts, clerk is per-
formed under hazardous conditions Dur
ing the last year there were 597 casualties,
seven OF which were fatal. Congress mas
made no provision for families OF railroad
clerks who are killed or permanently M
jured while on duty. but as far back as
1880 the United States Railway Man Ser
vice Benefit association was organized Its
object being to provide pecuniary relief
to the widows. orphans or other beneii-
Charles of Its deceased members.
ANY person not over 40 years Of age
and connected with the railway branch or
the service, either by commission or APP
pointment, is eligible TO become a member.
The membership numbers more than 1906,
and beneiiciaries are paid $4,000 The
National Association Of Railway Clerks
has also recently created an accident In
surance department, which pays SIS a
week for injury that incapacitates a mem
Der for service, and $4,000 in case Of death
by accident
"The working system OF the railway
postal service has not been changed since
1882 the date OF its organization being in
I the early seventies-but each year has
seen the service grow and extend its linz
! It's TO the edges OF new settlements until II
now covers the whole country. Salaries
are long since so inadequate for the labor
I required and for the modern expenses OF
Z living that the postal clerk of today is
said to be not only the hardest worked
but the poorest paid employe OF the gov
4 eminent
1.-THE postal service antedated its actual
Organization. its beginning being an in
yention OF the civil war through the gov
eminent undertaking TO deliver mail from
railroad trains and steamboats, to soldiers
in camp and on the march"