Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-12
RECORDSO OF EMPLOYEES
Those in Free Delivery to Be
Gone Over Carefully.
CHICAGO POST OFFICE
THE POSTMASTER THERE WANTS
AN INCREASE OF CLERKS.
Also Desires the Prompt Completion
Of Federal Euilding-Clerks at
Substations.
CHICAGO POST OFFICE

The announcement in The Evening Star
of Saturday of the alleged purpose of the
Pest Office Department to weed out the
divisions of salaries and allowances and
free delivery that were presided over re-
spectively by George w. Beavers and
August w. Machen produced condition
among the employees of those divisions
bordering on a panic.
Expansion of the rural free delivery ser
vice II ade it necessary to take on a large
number of clerks. Many of these. it is
said received their appointments through
the personal influence of Machen 1t is
understood to be the purpose of the Post
Office Department to go over carefully the
records of every employe who came into
the service through Machens influence.
1t is probable that. within the next few
months the personnel of the rural free de-
livery employees here in Washington will
be much changed. Just what the changes
contemplated are the department officials
will not divulge at this time.
The Chicago Post Office.
Postmaster F. E. Coyne and Representa-
tive H S. Bouteu Of Chicago called today
on Postmaster General Payne and Assist
ants Wynne and Shallenberger in the in
terest OF a betterment of the postal facili-
ties in that city.
Postmaster Coyne urged that three down.
town postal stations be combined and
moved TO the new post office building at an
early date. TO accomplish this he urged
the immediate completion of the southeast
wing Of the new federal building and the
use of this space for carrying on the work
row divided among the Monadnock, Grill
ly and board of trade stations. Mr.. Coyne
expressed the belief that this part of the
structure might
pCrary use in a few months.
Another matter that was taken up with
the Post Office Department officials was
that of the pressing need for additional
clerks in the Chicago post office. Mr. Coyne
said his present force of clerks was having
difficulty in handling the increased volume
of mail, which is at present greater than
during the holiday season year ago. He
also discussed with the officials the ques-
ton of increased pay for clerks in charge
of substations. 1t is likely that an extra
allowance will be granted for promotions
which were held up last June.
Clerks at Substations.
The Post Office Department, it is un-
derstood, will insist hereafter that the
compensation for clerks In charge of
substations in Chicago and all other
cities shall be governed by the actual
business transacted; that is. the clerical
work performed, such as money order
and registered business, and not alone on
the sale of stamps
AS rule the substations are located in
drug stores or groceries. In number of
cases throughout the country the de-
partment has found, 1t is understood
that the clerks, In payment for bills Of
goods for their stores, paid the same in
stamps purchased from the government
and credited to the substations, thereby
running up their postal receipts and
making their salaries larger.
Postmaster Merritt was with Postmas-
ter General Payne hour this morn
ing. Mr. Merritt said that he called to
discuss the general affairs of the city
post Office and that 1t had nothing to do
with the investigation.
Mr. L. c. Whitney of Milwaukee, father
of Mr.. f. c. Whitney Postmaster Cen
eral Payne's private secretary, is spend
ing few days in Washington.
MI Robb Goes to Cincinnati.
Assistant Attorney General Charles II.
Robb has gone TO Cincinnati to be present
at the trial of D. V. Miller, formerly an
attorney in the Office of the assistant at
torney general for the Post Office Depart
nent, and who was removed because of
alleged connection with the Ryan Turf In
Vestment Company. Miller was indicted by
the federal grand jury at Cincinnati last
week.