The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-30
BIG CUTS MADE
 IN P !. SALARIES Payne Discovers Irregularities
 in Many Cities. MEN HOLD UNKNOWN JOBS Several Southern Cities Will Be Af- feoted by the Cut in Salaries and
 the Government Will Be
 Saved Money.
MEN HOLD UNKNOWN JOBS

Washington, May 29.-As a result of the thorough overhauling or the rosters of the postoffices throughout the coun- try, Postmaster General Payne today an- nounced his approval Of instructions re- ducing the salaries of assistant postmas- ters at the following seeond-elass post offices to 50 per cent of the salaries of the respective postmasters:
 Cairo, H.; Clarinda, Iowa; East St. Louis, Ill.,; Flushing Fredonia and Gen. eva. N. Y; Freehold, N. J.; Warren, Pa. Hagerstown, Md; Portsmouth, N. H. Stamford, Conn; Stevens Point, Miss, and Ponce and San Juan, Porto Rico.
 He has found thirty-six officials in the postal service who hold offices under designations not authorized by law, and directed that their positions be changed to conform to the law governing them. They were in the following cities;
 New Orleans, New York. Boston, Brooklyn. Buffalo. Cincinnati Detroit, St. Louis, Washington. Chester, Pa; Los Angeles, Louisville, Nashville, Newburg, N. r.; Utica and Chicago
 No Such Offices.
 Among these designations not author ized by law are superintendent of sta- tions (although there is superintendent for each separate station), auditor Of stations, inspector of stations etc. Violations of the law would fix the maxi mum salary of clerks in second-class postoffices at Sl000 a year. except In the cases of assistant postmaster which will be corrected at Leadville, Colo; New Brighton, N. Y.; Tarrytown, N. r., and San Juan, r. R.
 The investigation disclosed eight post offices at which, in all, thirteen clerks receive more than the salary to their designated positions as "assistant super intendent" entitle them, and in these cases the postmaster general has direct ed that the salaries he accordingly re- dueed. This order affects two positions in Louisville, two in New York City, one in Brooklyn, one in Philadelphia and Detroit, four in St. Louis and two in Boston The maximum salary of these po- sitions by law is stated percentage of the salary of the postmaster.
 Changes Take Effect Monday.
 The postmaster general has directed that such of these changes as involve cor reetions of the violation of the law shall take effect next Monday and changes made to conform to the rules and prac- tice of the department will be operative July l. the beginning of the new fiscal year. Most of these excessive allowances were made during the administration of George w. Beavers, who suddenly re- signed his position as superintendent Of salaries and allowances Immediately after the Investigation of affairs of the post office began Samuel A. Croft, who was arrested Wednesday for complicity in the Machen bribery case, appeared today be- fore United states Commissioner Taylor and renewed his bond of $5000 for his ap pearance June 9, when he and his brother will be given hearing Alvin w. Chapin went on his bond.
 Other investigations.
 The rolls of the third class postoffices, the lowest of the presidential grades, are now under investigation and the author ity for the compensation of the employees of every third class postofhce in the country is being carefully examined. Postmaster General Payne made the fol- lowing statement regarding the changes announced today:
 eIn the case of the fourteen offices where the assistant postmaster is paid in excess of 50 per cent of the salary ot the postmaster, the action was taken to secure uniformity and better administra- tion The law provides that in first class postoffices the assistant postmaster's sal ary shall not be to exceed 50 per cent of the salary of the postmaster, but this does net apply to assistant postmasters in offices of the second class.
 ''It Is believed that the basis of com pensation should be uniform in all of fees of the second class, hence this order The total amount saved to the govern ment by this order will be $2500 a year T, ha afA xub an IF tp be eight persons who are receiving more than the law allows for the positions they occupy, there may be some explana- tion of this fact, but in any event an or der has been issued reducing the compen- sation to the amount authorized by law In seventeen offices there are persons em- ployed under designations not known to the law. There Is no doubt of the activi- ty and efficiency of these persons and that they are properly employed, but were wrongly classified