Evening star., 1903-07-03
FATE OF MAP MAKERS
None to Be Reinstated on
Piece Work.
MR.. MACHEN'S SCHEME
HOW THE MAKING OF ROUTE
MAPS GREW.
Use OF Collection Indicators BY the
Postal Device and Improvement
Company Stopped.
MR.. MACHEN'S SCHEME

Company Stopped.
A woman left the office of Acting POST
| master General Wynne this morning in
tears. The cause of her distress forms
one OF the chapters of the post office in
vestigation.
She not only called upon Mr.. Wynne.
but also saw Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow She was one of the thir-
ty-five map makers employed for the rural
free delivery until deficit made 1t neces-
sary to discontinue that work two months
ago. At that time Superintendent Machen
recommended that the employment OF these
thirty-five men and women on piece work
be continued and that they be paid when
money became available July 1 from the
new appropriations. That course was not
in accordance with legal requirements and
so the work was stopped. There was.not
at that time enough money available to
pay those who had been making the maps
| for the rural free delivery.
Many of them today have accounts
| against the government from $lCo to taO0.
| 1t is said that although many of them are
| in the greatest need for this money TOR
! their current expenses the only way they
can get paid will be by special act Of Con-
gress. as there is no money in the hands
| of the department that could be used for
| for them to wait for more than year, for
money they have earned and for which they
have immediate necessities.
No Employment for Those Discharged.
The woman who today came to the de-
partment and left it in tears came with a
| good many other men and women to see
whether under the new appropriations the
work of making maps for the rural Sree
delivery would be continued. But Mr. Bris-
tow was obliged to tell all OF them that they
could not expect employment again. as
there were plenty Of clerks in the classined
service to perform that work, and that
there was no need of additional help un-
der the plan pursued by Superintendent
Machen.
SO overcrowded had the Post Office Depart
ment become with clerks that the services
of these thirty-five piece workers could be
dispensed with and no Inconvenience result
If 1t should develop that more map makers
are needed, they will be called for from
| the civil service commission.
But officials of the department say that
there will probably be no such necessity at
least for some time to come.
After Superintendent Machen got the
rural free delivery under way he decided
that for each route established there should
be a map a guide for carrying out the
service. 1t had been suggested by Repre-
sentative Loud that when applications are
made for new routes such applications
should be accompanied Dy maps whlcn cOulQ
readily be made by the people acquainted
with the desired routes. Such a course 1t
has been suggested would save the govern
ment the expense of making the maps,
which has amounted to thousands of dol
lars.
Growth Of the Map Making.
The first map making was a small az
fair. but year before last Superintendent
Machin had appropriated for that work
alaI
TEN for expending that sum of money in
way that would keep within his hands
| the large amount of patronage involved.
1t is understood that he conferred with
the topographer Of the department. Mr..
Won Haake, whose abilities in the direction
of such work as for all classes of map
making have for years been spoken OF In
the highest terms Mr. Won Haakc, 1t ts
said declined to enter into the arrange
ment in just the way that was agreeable
to Mr.. Machin and the plan fell through.
1t is said Mr.. Machen wanted to appoint
the map makers and send them to the Of
flee Of the topographer. Mr. Won Heake
said he wanted experienced people 10 90
the work and insisted that some method
be adopted by which only that class should
be appointed. Then the break In the ar
rangement came. and plan for doing the
work by the piece-so much per square inch
of work done-was made. By that method
1t has gone on ever since.
The people employed on this work are not
-
rule They learned the business after be-
ing designated for the duty. Then they
were kept at work. They made from 500
to as much as 500 a month. though tho
higher rate was earned by but few OF the
expert and rapid workers AS stated when
the fact of a deficit became known two
months ago the work was brought to Q
very sudden halt. h-l
Queer Condition Of This Work. !,
Now comes a very queer condition. This
work by the piece workers has been
stopped and the map needs Of the service,
are supplied by a dozen clerks OF the classf-
fed service, who were so employed while,
the piece work was being done. In other
words, twelve people are now satisfying q,
service of the Office on which formerly for+
ty-seven people were employed. In ordeFi
to explain this apparently mysterious.
change in the affairs of the office IL Is SAID
that there was an accumulation OF thdl
maps for routes which are only now beingl
established. But according to officials hav-,
ing this work done it is expected that the1
twelve classified employees will be sHnciene
for the needs OF the service lor an indennlts
time to come.
The methods of work in the rural free
delivery have not yet received that com~
plete overhauling which Mr.. Brfstow in-
tends to give them later on, when he has
more time to look after those matters.
When that time comes the question OF map
making will be one Of the problems to be
solved. Whether or not the suggestion of
Representative Loud that the maps should
be sent in with the applications will be fol-
lowed or whether they will be made In the
department, is not yet decided.
Letters Asking for Assistance.
Some of the representatives coming into
the city have reported the receipt Of let
ters from Mr.. Machen and Mr.. Beavers It
is said that these letters ask representa-
tives. who have been favored from time to
time by Messrs. Machen and Beavers, 70
help them now that they are likely to need
help 1t is stated that letters from Mr.
Machen ask for financial assistance
Rural Free Delivery Routes.
In connection with the proposed reorgan.
tzation of the rural free delivery 1t is said
that very few routes established by Mr..
Machen have been discontinued There are
now about 5000 OF such routes. and forty
new ones are being established daily After
an opportunity has been had for the fourth
assistant postmaster general to look into
the reorganization of this service IT is said
that the work being done on each route
will be scanned and in all cases in which