The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-17

way mail clerks and railway postal
clerks are away from their designated
headquarters, on business Of the gov.
eminent they shall be paid their le-
ultimate or actual expenses.
Railway mail clerks have been re-
ceiying this pay for some time, prac-
hcany ever since the enactment of
the law. But with the railway postal
clerks il is a different matter The
latter have been paying their actual
expenses out of their personal funds,
and have never seemed to realize that
one particular clause in the law ap,
piled ia themselves. Several months
ago some of the members of the Ma
tional association of Railway Clerks
became acquainted with that part of
the statutes applying to them, and
asked the department for a construc.
ton of the law This was forthcom-
ing. and was to the effect that the
headquarters of the postal clerks was
wherever they We're at work. either
on their regular runs. or on the rail.
way postal car. or elsewhere, when on
duty.
The postal clerks contend that
when they 90 ont on run they leave
headquarters, being checked out 10y
the clerk or the officer under whom
they are directly working. and that
under the law they are entitled to pay
for their actual necessary expenses,
but that if their headquarters are on
the car. they should be paid for the
time at home, which would set up an
entirely new rule.
A short time ago claim of pos
tai clerk of Kansas City, Mo, was
lied. and ruled upon by the depart
ment and not allowed An appeal was
taken and the matter sent mp TO the
United States court of claims, where
Il now u.s. This case set the depart
nent to work. and a special attorney
was appointed to take dispositions in
the cases pending This attorney has
been at work in different parts of the
country, and has gotten considerable
evidence in this state Assistant At
torney General Pradt of the court Of
claims says that it is likely that of
the hundred or more cases before the
court, one will be taken up and made
test case, and il the decision of the
court is for the postal clerks, all may
file their claims, and they will be tax
en- up and paid. Mr.. Pradt says, in
his statement of the case, that it is
merely a question Of law. If it Is a
mere question of law a number OF
attorneys who have cases of the pos
tai clerks in charge say that the pos
tai clerks had best begin to get their
claims ready for filing, that the de-
cision can only be one way--for the
clerks
The law is very plain. Il says that
ailway mail clerks and railway pos
al clerks shall be paid their legttl'
nate or actual expenses when away
from headquarters on business of the
government The most serious ques-
ion. apparently, before the depart
nent and the court of claims is.
Where is a railway postal clerks
headquarters? Law and precedent
ay they are at one place the depart
ment says they are at another. The
lecision of the court of claims is anx
lously awaited by postal clerks all
lver the United States. Some of them
have claims aggresating an amount
equal to their salaries for several
years. many of them are only for a
lew hundred dollars.
In Memphis the men interested arc
letting their claims in shape, and
when The test case is decided will file
hem Immediately, should the deci
sion be in their favor.