The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-16
UP TO THE
COURTS
Decision lin the Big Railway
Mail Clerks Expected.
Six Thousand Are Anxious to Learn
Where Their Headquarters
Are.
EXPECT FAVORABLE DECISION

mat is question tnat Is AT present
agitating upward Of 5000 postal clerks
all over the United States. The man
per in which the matter first arose
came from the recognition Of q clause
in the law by some Of the shrswder
members Of the National Railway
Clerks association. This law is plain,
and says that when railway mail clerks
and railway postal CLERKS are away
from their designated headquarters,
on business of the government, they
shall be paid their legitimate or actual
expenses.
Railway mail clerks have been re-
ceiving this pay for some time, prac-
tioally ever since the enactment Of the
law. But with the railway postal
clerks IL 10 . different matter. The
latter have been paying their actual
expen sss out Of shsir personal funds.
Several months ago some Of the men,
hers of the Nationall Association Of
Railway clerks became acquainted
with that part Of the statutes apply
ing to them, and asked the depart
ment for q construction of tho law.
This was forthcoming, and was to the
effect that the headquarters Of the
postal clerks was wherever they were
ct work, either on their regular runs,
or on the railway postal car, or else
where, when on duty.
In the language Of the street, this
decision puts them all up in the sir.
II their headquarters were on the car,
or on the run, where then were their
homes, and when were they off duty.
Should they be paid for the time when
at headquarters, which the department
said were ON the car, or should they
be paid for the time they were not at
headquarters, which the department
says is when they are not in the cars
What time were they at work, and
where is what they have again asked.
Precedents set years ago say that
postal clerks headquarters are at the
end of the run where his home is, or
the division headquarters, and that
when at this point he is not on duty,
unless specially assigned, or given spe-
cial work.
The postal clerks contend that when
they go ont on run they leave head
quarters, being checked out by the
clerk OF the officer under whom they
are directly working, and that under
the law they are entitled to pay for
their actual necessary expense; but
that If their headquarters are on the
car, they should be paid for the time
at home, which would set up an en-
tirely new rule.
A short time ago claim Of 8 postal
clerk in Kansas City, No, was filed,
and ruled upon by the department and
not allowed. An appeal was taken
and the matter sent up to the United
States court Of claims, where it now is.
The law is very plain. 1t says that
railway mail clerks and railway pos
tai clerks shall be paid their legiti-
mate or actual expenses when away
from headquarters on business Of the
government. The most serious ques.
tion, apparently, before the depart
ment and the court of claims is:
Where is a railway postal clerks
headquarters? Law and precedent say
they are at one place, the department.
says they are at another. The de-
oision Of the court of claims is anxi-
ously awaited by postal clerks all over
the United States. Some Of them have
claims aggregating an amount equal
to their salaries for several years
many OF them are only Tor few hun
dred dollars.
The clerksiwho come into Paducsh
are getting. their claims in shape, and
when the test case is decided will file
them Immediately, should the de-
cision lie in their favor.
The government is alert, so are the
postal clerks. Both sides are ready
and eager to take advantage Of every
point TO win. The changes that would
be necessary should a great number
decide to quit the service would be
serious blow to the railway mail ser
vice.