The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-11
FAvORS POST CHECKS.
Postmaster General Makes Pub
lie His Annual Report.


Washington. Jan. 1.-THE annual re
Don of the postoffice department for
ths fiscal year ended June 80, 1903, was
msde public today.
An Increase in the deficit over the
pevious year of 81, 622, 1892, is shown.
mis- is, however, s1,042, 1873 less than the
estimated deficit for the year.
The postmaster general says: AS
ttated in my last annual report, the
department had been endeavoring dur
hng the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902,
to better wherever possible, the condi-
lions of the postal employees, especially
so in the cases of clerks in postoHices,
there having been, in my opinion, very
great inequalities and injustice in the
COMPENSATION of this class of employees.
To remedy this inequality more than
II, 900 clerks were promoted during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1902, nearly
all of whom were receiving less than
81 900 per year compensation, ana IL
was the intention of the department to
continue this equalization and promo
ton in the lower grades of clerks dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903,
but for the reasons hereinafter stated
it was found impossible to do so, much
TO nv regret. In order to enable the
department to deal in a practical way
with this subject, 1 earnestly recon-
mend that congress make a lump
sum" appropriation for clerks in first
and second class postoffices, instead of
appropriating for clerks by grades as
at present.
The acts of congress making appro-
priations for the service of the post
office departent for the fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1900 and subsequent years,
have defined and specified the number
of CLERKS in each grade in first and sec
ond class postoffices from 800 to 81, 200
Prior 10 July /, 1899 the appropriations
for Clerks had been made in q lump
sum The present plan originated in
congress, and is in line with the method
of making appropriations for the eX-
ecutNe departments Although this
segregated appropriation became effec-
tive July 1, 1899. it was not put IN OPP
erahon until July l, 1903. Apparently
the departent found it impracticable to
ft1the number of clerks in first and
second class offices to the number fixed
ireach grade in the appropriation, and
tie law was therefore construed to
1Iean that so long as the total appro-
Ifiation was not exceeded it made no
1articular difference whether there
we're more clerks in one grade than ap-
bropriated for by congress. The RECORDS
show that on July l, 1899, the NUMBER
of clerks in certain grades exceeded
the number defined in the appropria-
ton, and no attempt to comply strict
ly with the law was made until the be
ginning of the present fiscal year.
APPLICATION OF THE LAW.
A proper construction of the law haC
been requested of the comptroller Of the
treasury. who decided that the depart
rnent was not authorized to allow q
greater number of clerks in any one
grade than specified in the appropria-
ffon law, increased by per cent.
It then became necessary to fit the
number of clerks in first and second
class postoffices into the grades fxe6
by congress, and our experience ha.
clearly demonstrated that this method
of appropriating for the general posta
service is cumbersome and unSatisfac
tory if not wholly impracticable. While
no clerk was actually reduced in salary
it was necessary to cancel more thar
8 400 promotions previously authorized
In certain grades all promotions recon-
Inended by postmasterS were allowed; il
other grades very few, thus causing
great dissatisfaction among the clerks
1t was difficult to explain to the clerk:
why promotions from 5000 to 81, 900 wer'
allowed. and promotions from $500 Il
$500 refused. In some instances we wer,
compelled to jump grades. allowing 500
promotions, and many of the additiona
clerks were allowed at higher salarie.
than recommended by the postmasters-
g seeming extravaganza. We are nov
paying out of the appropriations fo
temporary clerks and for substitutes il
place of clerks on vacation; $50 regular
clerks at $500 each, an unsatisfactory
method, but absolutely necessary undel
present conditions, in order not to Grip
pie the postal service. However aftel
taking advantage of the 8 per CEN
transfer clause in the law, the number