New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-16
THE CASE OF THE LETTER CARRIERS.
Reasons for Justice to Faithful and Dsssrv.
ing Public Servants
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The COMMITTEES on Postofices and PoSs
Roads OF thu House OF Representatives has
before It from the letter carriers OF the Cnitsd
States memorial asking for increased salary.
THIS memorial the Postmaster General has COM
msuded 70 the consideration Of Congress. ard q
public hearing viii be given 70 the carriers repre-
sentativss IN few days. II is to be hoped tina.
Justice viii finally be dona to this faithful and
deserving class OF public servants.
As a uniformed body Of msn their treatment IS IN
striking contrast to that Of other uniformed forces
New-York policemen and hremen receive 500
year more. are paid whils sick. and after twenty
years service are pensl0ned Letter carriers re-
ceivs no pay whatever during sickness even though
that sickness may be. and frequently is. the IN
avoi1abls result OF exposure IN the Inc OF duty.
Neither do they receive any pension or annuity
after they have become permanently disabled ~
reason OF long continued service.
Many corporations. prompted By business as wei
as humanitarian motives. have instituted pension
systems for their superannuated employees. Inc
Postofnce Department has not as yet sstaoisned
anything OF this kind. although Il has dsunetV
recognized the necessity for and justice OF soias
such provision and has repeatedly called the aisn-
ton OF Congress to the subject with We" -
remedial legislation -,
The carriers themselves. through tler n@4o-
organization are endeavoring 20 solve THIS PRIV
lem and have instituted a scheme Of rsoISaSSrs
on annultfes maintained BY voluntary asses5us...,i
II the increase Of wages asked for were - ~
the success OF this scheme would be assure. --s-r
present insufficient wages are absorbed oy 900,
demands and are Inadequate Tor old age ~ rsr-
The present salary OF the carriers Is noI =. svsf
mOuy with the present cost OF living. II Wds -
BY law over twenty live years ago. since 80 s1I
the cost OF living has admittedly lncIedS5o-t, .o-rt
this statement IS borne out by the statiscA t~-
OF the Department Of Labor and Commerce =, "a
thermOre. the tendency Is steadily upNILlu' listen
also the standard OF living and comfort oy "s;tis5
the lIv1lrles Of to-day viii become the ue-c.-4s-
OF a few years hence. and these ilueAlolo , ~ or
tons compel q corresponding dram wv"
pockets. -. - -
Letter carriers hold position OF trust sn lIa.t-
spousibflity and their duties are onerous an ard
ing They are on duty nearly every Sull ey,-,r,sis
on all HOLIDAYS The nature OF their duties S{ 3 =
them 20 rise at an hour when the aNeIds5 - tberl
sound asleep and midnight hndS nl.thJ oL..,ii,--
atm on du-v A glance at table or tls " ..-,-,fs
rofe ~ WAGES viii show that most wor sns pe1 ,-
are sharing IN the present prosperity OF ~ sss
trv and the letter carriers not unre 80
80 s-1-,IttaJ 40 a common Share IN that pLos5,
nrrffy -Four dollars a day is the ralillLii .sIrsI
- ,,ocbapics With the moderate HlS Istss 80
- or5 after ma king the necessary 0eoueetII 81
sickness cost OF uniform. etc. a o. 1919,
r.rsi,a loss than the average % Eva
f,,-,rrss u~opOses TO increase me siIai 49, ,ris
I 80 6sifvsrv carriers By SID ysaT W ~ 49,. 80
fior AGAINST the carriers or "a c.,-i
-ts- 49, ros. ~ living Is recessar tr,ff,-
W yIfgtSts Vbv not give these latte5 t,,-1
- - $3.50 por more than qIaFt % a -So--ss5
~ s,r,rfss Of these men IA 80 ,-SC.-, trls
- t- - other class OF workneri OF VIZ. ~ =
L4leiy "a advances IN wages nave , 3sel -
- tba letter. carrier has been the one soiIly
ception II IS high time 20 e ST1,, ' 9SRPTFP
Nsw.vors. March IS. 1904