The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-03
IT HITS CARRIERS
Roosevelt's Anti-Lobby Order May
Affect Local Association.
BUT WORK MAY BE CONTINUED
Influence May Be Used Upon NJ. CTS
at Home or Through
Agents.

President Roosevelt's order, prohibiting
federal employees, through associations or
otherwise. from lobbying in their own
interests, is being read with varying
interest to-day by government employees
in Minneapolis. It is regarded as a clean
acut, direct declaration meaning exactly
what it says. Yet members Of the three
organizations particularly active in influ-
encing legislation are sure that the order
is not directed at them.
The National Associations of Postal
Clerks, of Letter Carriers and of Post
Office Clerks have directed much effort to
reform abuses in the service. The first
is now endeavoring to secure g, reclassiti-
cation of postal clerks, the third has been
especially energetic in it's efforts to secure
more pay for carriers. At present the
rural free delivery men are anxiously
awaiting an order bringing their compen-
sation up to the limit of reason as they
see it.
Until recent years regulation that pro-
hlbited organizations of any sort stood
on the books. A way was found to over
come this, and now the three bodies men
toned are strong and active. It is be-
lieved that the associations can also ''get
around" the new regulation If its spirit
is complied with.
Government employees have been poster
ing the congressman and others to the
evident neglect Of duties. The members
Of congress have made complaint. To stop
this nuisance, it is believed, the order
was promulgated by the president.
" 1t will be dangerous thing under the
circumstances to send delegations to
Washington, but it will probably be done
under cover. One method will be a con
certed movement upon the congressman
individually at their homes. Another will
be to have lobby whose connection with
the association is intangible. A third
will be to have some officer OF the organ
ization appear" before the postoffice
committee when requested to give infor-
nation. He will be loaded with facts and
figures, and perhaps do more effective
work than strong lobby.
1t is said that members Of the carriers
association have been especially persist
ent in their demands for more pay. They
want $1,000 for foot carriers and 81, 400
for mounted men. government employe
said to-day that while a carrier was as
sured of $1,000 at the end of three years,
a postoftice clerk starts at $500 and never
knows when he will receive an advance.
The carriers have position at good pay,
which any one of intelligence can fill,
while clerks, both postal and postofflce,
who must study constantly to keep their
positions, serve. at inferior pay. What
ever the merit Of the complaint, the clerks
seem to feel that the pertinacity Of the
carriers association was the cause Of the
presidents executive order.
It is a well-known fact that some heads
of departments at Washington do not
grasp the situation, especially in the
northwest Many abuses have crept into
the service which the clerks are just as
anxious to see righted as they are to OBJ
tain proper compensation for work Thew
have made concerted effort for years to
right these wrongs. Some recognition has
been given and it is the purpose especially
of these three organizations to keep at it
until their insistent appeals are heard,
They do not believe that the president s
order is directed against any proper effort
to gain recognition. However it Is pro-
posed to continue in entire harmony with
the new regulation. ...-.