The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-01-04
LETTER CARRIERS.
CONDITION WAS NEVER BETTER
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY.
High Standard Of Efficiency They
Have Attained Is the Result
of Rigid Rules at the
Headquarters.


Headquarters.
The army of about $4,000 men in
gray who daily hand out mail to city
people," remarked a competent Wash
ington letter carrier to a Star man who
asked the carrier how the service this
year compared with former years as to
efficiency and general standing, was
never in better shape than at present,
and 1t is remarkable how expert privates
become in the performance Of their by
no means easy duties.
"One reason for this high standard OF
efficiency is the determination Of our su-
periors to frown upon intoxication and
to give short shift to our men who are
weak enough to yield 10 the temptation
of drink. While this has always been
a serious offense during the is years
have been on the force in the capital. II
was about FIVE years ago that the au-
thorities decided to enforce more rig
idly the rules against H. A great many
removals we're made all over the coun-
try upon this charge. and the carriers
were impressed with the idea that
drinking and holding down their posi-
tions were not concomitants There NAV
be some positions in which men can
drink and still perform their duties. but
the position of letter carrier is not one
of them. The temptation to indulge is
open to us more literally than in many
occupations. for the reason that our du-
ties take us into place where liquor is
sold many times during the day. and the
invitation to partake is extended. often
thoughtlcssly and In good fellowship.
These invitations. to say nothing OF the
opportunities Of purchase, mean trouble
for the carrier.
what has Been accomplished for the
betterment OF both the men and the
service in this regard is shown by the
fact that last year there were only 55 dis
charges Of carriers for intoxication out OF
the entire army of both carriers and sub
stitutes, or IA less than the preceding
year, indicating a very small percentage
Of discharges for this ordinarily com
mon offense in other pursuits.
Our delivery service is superior to
that of other countries as regards per-
sonnel and efficiency The removals for
cause show this very markedly, as they
have decreased in the past ten years
from four per cent to less than one per
cent Carriers violate the various rules
of the postal laws and regulations as do
men in other branches, and the strict
ness of the department in making dis
mssals for these offenses. as well as for
lntoXication. is shown by the increase
last year of a considerable number OF
this class of removals over preceding
years. II has gone a little hard with
some of the boys in this respect, but upon
the whole the service has been improved.
The carrier service is one in which
there Is larger percentage of separa-
tions from the service by reason of resig-
nations than in some of the other
branches Of the civil service of Uncle
Sam. No less than 335 of our men last
year shook the uniform Of gray for 9TH
er callings. The life is a hard one, neces.
stating going out in all weathers. and
as the minimum yearly pay is very small
and the maximum salary is only moder-
ate, and that reached only after some
years Of effort, our men are not slow in
accepting other occupations when an
opportunity presents itself. II the high
er grades could be reached more quick
ly there would be more inducement TO
stick it out.
Yes, we have the 'deadwood' they are
talking so much about in our service,
too. IL is called with us physical dis.
ability which means in other words
that when a carrier has given up the
best years of his life in tramping abou.
city's streets delivering mail and nat.
urally becomes incapacitated for the full
performance Of his duties, the charge OF
physical disability separates him from
the service and his means Of livelihood.
To the credit Of our superiors. however.
they.are loath TO apply the rule to good
and faithful men, and they endeavor n
find a place for them in some branch OF
the service where they can perform
other and less exacting duties. But II
this can't be found, there is no alterna.
tive but for the incapacitated chaps
TO go
There are several remedial acts be.
fore congress for the betterment Of our
condition which ought to receive the
attention at this session OF that body
of lawmakers. The claims of the carri-
ers are the result Of years of practical
experience, are just and considerate
and their enactment should not be post.
poned from year to year as has beer
done In the past II is to be regretted
that there seems TO be so much oppo.
sition 10 us in some quarters, and thai
the rule of summary dismissals should
have been so often applied to our com
panions who have sought to assist the
force In general throughout the
country"
Knew His Man.
You seem depressed"