Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-30
CUTTING DOWN SALARIES.
Postmaster General Payne Makes a Very
Sweeping Order
Many Offices Held That Had Not
Been Authorized by
Law,

Washington, May 2s.-As result of
the thorough oyerhauling Of the rosters
of the postohices throughout the coun-
try Postnaster-General Payne today
announced his approval of instructions
reducing the salaries of assistant post
masters Of II second class postofIices
To so per cent Of the salaries Of the
respective postmasters. Among these
are Ponce aid San Tuan Porto Rte"
and East st. Louis, Ill. He has found
80 officials In the potal service who
hold office urder designations not au-
thorized by law and directed that their
positions be changed to conform to the
law governing them. They were in
New York. Boston, Brooklyn. st. Louis.
Washington, Louisville, Los Angeles
and Chicago, and either other offices
Among those designations not au-
tho"izod by law are superintendent OF
stations" auditor OF stations, "in-
spector Of stations etc. Violations OF
the law which fixes the maximum
salary Of clerks In second class post
Offices at $1,000 a year, except IN the
case Of assistant postmasters, wfll be
corrected NJ Leadville, Colo, and three
other places,
THE investigation disclosed eightpost-
Offices at which in all were 10 clerks
receiving more than the salaries TO
which their designed position as as
sistant' entitled them, and in these
cases the postmaster general has d.
rected that the salaries be accordingly
reduced Most Of these excessive al
lowances were made during the admin
istration OF George Beavers, who sud
denly resigned as superintendent OF
salaries and allowances Immediately
after the Investigation Of the affairs
OF the pOstoiiice department began.
The rolls Of the third class postotiices
are now under investigation and the
authority for the compensation OF the
employees Of every third class postof-
fee In the country is being carefully
examined, Postma ster- General Payne
made the following statement regard
inF the changes announced today.
In the case o. the II offices where
the assistant postmaster Is paid in eX-
cess Of 80 per cent Of the salary OF the
postmaster. the action is taken TO Sc
cure uniformity and better administra-
ton, The law provides that In first
class postothces the assistant postmas-
ter's salary shalt be not TO exceed 80
per cent OF the salary OF the pOstmas-
ter. but this does not apply to assist
ant postmasters in offices OF the sec
end class II is believed the basis u
compensation should be uniform in all
OFFICES of the first and second class,
hence this order The total amount
saved 10 the government by this order
win be $3.50 a year. In seven offices
whore there appear to be eight per-
sons who We're receiving more than the
law allows for the positions which they
occupy there may be some eXplana-
ton OF this fact. but IN any event an
order has been issued reducing the
compensation 10 the amount authorized
0y law. In other Offices there are per-
sons employed under designations not
known 20 the law, There Is no doubt
o. the activity and the efficiency ot
these persons and they are properly
employed but wror gully classified on
the payrolls. and the postmasters have
been instructed 20 change their deslg-
nations TO the proper title"
samuel A. Groa. who was arrested
Wednesday for completely IN the Ma
chen bribery case, appeared today be-
fore United states Commissioner Tay-
Tor and renewed his bond OF 5000 for
his appearance June 9, when he aud
his brother will be- given a hearing.