The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-18
THE MAIL SERVICE.
Scarcity of Men for the Position OF
Postal Clerk.

AS a general thing government posi-
ltions are in great demand, but the po-
Isition Of railway mail clerk is an *
tception. A few years 6 this position
was much sought after. but there are
$50 few who stood the civil service ex-
plantations at the present time for his
position that it is extremely hard to
keep the runS on the different roads
Supplied with men. This state OF af-
fairs has been brought about by sew
leral different things, the chief one be-
ling the low salaries. Another reason
is the great danger that a mail clerk
lis exposed to when on duty. During
the past year the death rate among
postal clerks, by reason Of railroad aC-
lcidentS, was fearful. The postal clerks
have an association known as the ma
ltiOnal Association of Railway clerks
lin which nearly all Of them carry in
ISurrance. The death rate among the
clerks for the last few years was so
great that the order to which they
belong was forced time and again to
levy extra assessments and at one
time it was thought that the aSsoci2-
ltion Woul nave to so out Of business.
Many think that after getting ap-
lpolnted and into the erVice that eX-
IdllIllldlIoIlo "AS oNNl H4Ni' DoN NAAA1
Idea is absolutely incorrect, as the ex-
Iaminations have just begun and as
long as a man remains in the service
he has got to study continually TO
keep up with the change Of offices.
Postal clerks are away from home
most of their time n they are now
making an effort to get an allowance
lof a. stated sum per day for expenses.
All other government employees ale
ALLOWED expense money when away
from their respective headquarters in
the interest of the department which
They represent and the postal clerks
Iclaim that it is nothing more than
right that they should be placed on an
|equal footing with other government
employees.
Congress passed a bill several years
ago which said that postal clerks
should be allowed expense money
when away from their respective head
Quarters in the interest of the depart
Iment. The law to the average mn
would seem to mean That the clerks
would be allowed expense money
when away from their headquarters
Iand on their respective runs but the
department at Washington decided dir
%ferently. They say a clerks head
Quarters is on his run and not the
lplace where he leaves. The clerks DO
not believe t hat the department il.
ICoi1 ~ III NIl1o llGIN(Nl ollo N4ANy * =
carried the law into the court of
claims for a proper construction. The
lcourt Of claims will probably make
known their decision in the matter
this winter.
The above conditions are responsible
for the scarcity Of applicants for the
position of postal clerks and unless tie
department increases the salary or Of
!fers other inducements, the number
applicants will continue to decrease.
There are very few people who a
any idea Of how hard a postal clerk Is
compelled to work. or what a physical
strain ne is continually kept in when
on duty. There are q number of runs
where clerks are on duty from twelve
20 eighteen hours. To sit at a desk
land work for eighteen hours IS not 80
I~fatiguing, but to be compelled to stand
lup for eighteen hours on a rapid NOV
ing train is something fearful. The
work IS SO severe that an applicant is
Icompelled to fill certain physical re-
IquIrements before he is allowed TO
stand the civil service examination
for the position Of postal clerk.
No department Of the Fedora! govern
lment comes in as close contact with
levery American citizen as the mail SER
lvice and there is possibly No depart
Iment of the government which is known
less about.
Certain orders have been issued by
the department at Washington which
take away from the clerks many OF
their rights as citizens. They dare not
TASK their representative in congress-, TO
Iespouse any law that would aid them
ieither directly or indirectly.
The clerks in a quiet way have been
trying for several years 10 get the post
loffice department TO require he rail-
roads to use steel frame mail cars, 50
las TO give them some protection in
wrecks, but so far the department has
refused to take any action in the mat
tier. This would be expensive TO the
railroads and the department officials
Iseem afraid to do anything that the
railroads would not like although the
government pays the railroad cOmpa-
Inies Of the country thousands upon
thousands Of dollars for carrying the
mails.