The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-03
Cannot Now Receive More
Than $1,000 a Year.
WHY THEY DESERVE MORE
Salaries Stop When They Are Sick or
DisaDled-Required to Be of a High
Order Of Intelligence and to Have a
Good Education-Labors Arduous

THE letter carriers salary bill, intro
duced by Congressman William Alden
Smith Of Michigan is one Of the most
popular measures pending in Congress-
said a member OF the House today 1T
provides that the pay of letter carriers
employed in cities OF IS 900 population OF
over shall be $500 for the hrst year OF
regular service, $500 for> the second year,
$1,000 for the third year, and 81 200 for
the fourth year Of service and thereafter.
In cities Of the second class. The maximum
salay provided is 81 eco a year.
Many persons are under the itapres-
sion that the carriers receive a salary OF
800 month, that the Government makes
provision for them in case OF sickness or
disability, and retires them on a pension
IN old age. but the actual facts are that.
no matter how many years a letter car
rier may serve the Government. OF how
efficiently and faithfully he may perform
his duties, he can receive no promotion
in the Postofiee Department beyond
salary OF $1,000 year.
Pay Stops When Most Eeeded.
pay Immediately ceases, or rather goes
to the substitute. carrier who takes his
place When he becomes too old to per-
form his duties he is left to depend on
the charity OF relatives or others, as no
man in his station Of life can maintain
a family retaining a decent standard Of
living. and provide for age and infrmity
from so small a salary.
Before receiving an appointment ne
must pass civil service examination.
which requires Of him a high order Of in
teIIigence and good education. He must
furnish a bond in a security company at
his own expense He must also secure j
supply Of summer and winter uniforms,
which are more expensive than the aver
age business suit, and. which do not wear
as well. because Oftthe rough weather IN
which they are worn and the hard work
performed by the wEaTer.
Before receiving a regular appointment
the substitute must spend from two TO
FIVE years living from hand TO mouth on
the Fay Of the regular carrier who may
be absent through sickness OF other
causes. The carrier only works eight
hours a day. but as these hours are not
consecutive. il generally takes him from
ten 70 fourteen hours 20 complete the
days work.
Their Expenses High.
1T is 70 be hopedzthat the present Con
gress will recognizes the demands Of this
intelligent Efficient and faithful. body u
public servants. Their calling compeis
them TO live in the centres OF population.
where rents and living expenses are high.
and as a general rule they are married
men. with families to support and chill
dTen TO educate, and their proper stand
ing in The community to maintain in a
manner betting trusted employees OF the
United States Government
Perhaps no better argument in favor
OF the letter carriers salary bill can be
advanced than the following extract from
the report Of the Postmaster General.
" In the five years just passed the
number Of carriers al the free delivery
Offices has increased from i. S34 to 1888
or q per cent. and the gross receipts al
the free delivery Offices have increased
from $32 567 ,6O4 10 $74 295 1874. The re
Ceipts at the free delivery Offices for the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1901, showed an
increase CT 11-25 per cent over the pre-
ceding year. and the total cost per annuun
TO the department Tor the maintenance Of
the city service is at the rate Of only
50 cents for each person enjoying its con-
venience and facilities
The House Committee on Claims has
reported favorabiy a bill appropTiating
$2S2. g44 for overtime service Of numerous
carriers. whose claims have been allowed
in the Court Of Claims.