New-York tribune., 1902-02-19
POSTAL CLERKS AND SALARIES.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir AS postofice clerk I would respectfully, call
your attention TO a number OF misstatements you
make in editorial Of your paper the Ith
inst. reader unacquainted with our condition
class Of public servants would be led believe
that our measure vas salary grab and that we
a pampered favorites spoiled by an
indugent government. When you state that
tried to budoze. openly covertly Congress
men 10 give us favors Of support you mistaken.
YOU will find if YOU take the trouble to investi-
gate. We ask favors OF 10 one: all have asked
Is simple justice. You also wrong when you
state that we have pronounced the recent order OF
President Roosevelt forJdding government en-
Iloyes agitatng FOR Increase OF salary unconsti-
tutional and violation OF right 10 petition,
though we do feel that If ne only knew plight
the order would not have been issued.
Our measure. which you attack, Is not so much
"a salary as it is classification bill, it does
not increase the present maximum salary under
which we are now working. A clerk enters the ser
VICE substitute and serves as such for several
months for mere pittance before he is appointed
ere graded from $500 to Sl.46O but there is no
estapSheq system lot obtaining an increase unless
may desire it, As result there is a large class
oI clerks who have been in the service many years
as 10 whose efficiency and department there is no
question. who receive salary OF $500 a year while
there are others who have entered the service but
recentiy-n comparison-who receive salaries ra ang-
afi,e an ntrsf IN | oo,itt tits rom takIng as
Zens II is dead letter and IS enforced. To
remedy these abuses our measure has been So
regular clerk (Which includes his probation period
Of six montPf shall receive an increase Of 500 and
receives A31s We recognize The truth Of your
liberty 10 leave This is Just what a great many
do for there are more designations from the cIeri-
FEDERAL Man enter fbe seryice r. nG tdIe or
postoffice the government is anything but a model
employer; that they are compelled TO work without
extra compensation from one TO hours ever
b fbs as Sson fss c may d regTe spd d If as result
' a. = . -. 20 a"seill mem
may be away is deducted. PETER WYNNE.
New-York Feb 13, 1902
THE Tribune did not attack the measure re-
adjusting the salaries Of postoffice employees II
sympathizes with any organization of the en-
ployes to remedy hardships under which they
may suffer II merely insists that the rule is
right requiring them to work through regular
official channels, just army and navy men
are required 10 40. Its comments were founded
on statements made at a meeting of employees
If all Of them do not sympathize with those
statements, much the better.l
THE LEGAL RATE OF SPEED FOR VEHICLES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In your to-day's editorial entitled The
Automobile Again you are. no doubt uninten-
tionally, somewhat unjust 10 the unfortunate
driver Of the automobile concerned in the accident
which resulted in the death OF boy as think
Eight miles an hour is equivalent 10 two and
tTo-thirds short city blocks 70 the minute
ffTrenty blocks the mile. II YOU will oo,nt Tho
blocks passed In a n-inute between stops by
tas next streetcar you ride in this city where
the street is fairly clear Of vehicles YOU will find
that three or four blocks minute mine TO twelve
nlies an hour is an ordinary speed and I have
timed cars running fast as FIVE blocks a min
ete thfteen miles an hour The legal limit is in
fact. exceeded at times by almost every kind Of
vehicle which plies streets
Some time ago / had occasion to make q sertas
OF tests OF the speed Of streetcars bv means NJ a
taohoneter connected 20 their axles and was much
surprised to md how slow eight even ten miles
n hour was The fact of the matter is that eight
Hlies an hour is ridiculously slow as a legal limit
Z speed In London. where the traffic is gerar
Nisy more congested than here the legal I,,,,,
Wnen last knew it, fourteen miles an hour -
ne police here do enforce this layv s,s
ltooapiy lew, II any. Of them can Judge sneed
ot etsht miles an hour. II IL were enforced our
street trahic would be entirely demoralized since
s,reelcars could not make their schedule time and
almost ali other vehcular traffic both bustnase
eno pleasure. would be intolerably hammered 37
Allow me TO conclude by saying that I hava No
oHect personal interest in this matter except the