The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-07
City News
PAY IN POSTOFFICE
VITAL TO BUSINESS
CLERKS SALARIES MUST BE IN
CREASED, SAYS MAJOR HALE.
Good Men Quit or Are Kept Away as
Result of Governments Meager AL
lowance for Important Work-Impor-
tunities of Postmasters Failing, BUSH
ness Men Should Demand Improve
ment.

business interests are seriously aI-
fected by the inadequate compensation
given postal clerks and should, for their
own protection, appeal to congress to
| remedy this evil. The low salaries and
| uncertain promotion given the men who
sort the mail, and are responsible for
it's quick dispatch and sure delivery,
are driving the best men out Of the
service and keeping some of the best
| men from entering. This is a serious
are largely dependent upon the postal
service and they should, according to
Major W. D. Hale, postmaster Of Min
neapolis, take steps to see that the stu
| alton is improved.
| cit is unfortunately true that within
the last few months many Of our older
and more experienced clerks have re-
signed" says Major Hale. "The in
jury this does to the service is obvious.
| It needs no argument to back up the
assertion that the work of experienced
Hand thoroly educated clerks is an abso-
lutte necessity in the current daily bust
! ness of a postoffice-just as in any
other line Of business. For instance,
how could Wyman, Partridge & Co.,
Peavey & Co., Janney, Semple & Co.,
the city treasurer or the county auditor,
business with inexperienced men taking
the place Of old clerks in a haphazard
sort of way? They can, just as we'll as
new men can rapidly and correctly sep
arate the tons Of letters and papers
coming into this office to carriers for
! delivery in their respective districts
or can separate, tie out, place in proper
bags, and dispatch without grievous err
rors, the avalanche Of outgoing mail de-
posted here between and 6 O'Clock
every evening, addressed to every point
| in the civilized world. y
Inexperience Chief Trouble.
EEOf course old clerks make mistakes
l-brain and eye become weary toward
the close Of long days workout it
is reasonable to expect and safe to say
that nine-tenths Of the wrong handling
!, Of mail and the consequent causes Of
losses come from the newly appointed
and inexperienced clerks. ]
} "The cause Of this difficulty is not
, far to seek. It is a long and weari-
} some task to get into the postal service
) thru civil service channels, because, af
ter successfully passing the examina
ton, there is sure to be a long wait
applicant may be appointed, and wher
it does como it is that of substitute
clerk. AS such he has only very I'm
!. certain opportunity Of work when {
- regular clerk is off duty for any cause
|, nevertheless, he must hold himself il
|, readiness to respond for an hour or :
/; day, whenever the occasion calls, ant
l. job in any other line where steady dut,
!, is required. .s~ ~.-
: "When permanent appointment
e comes, it is always at the minimum sal
,. airy Of 5000 year Promotion abov
that salary is neither certain nor sure
It and herein lies the trouble. The ad
s vance in salary depends upon congress
,, each year and the postmaster genera
t can, only pay the amounts appropri
Only Regular Promotions.
:In compensation clerks are certain
ly not better paid, if as well, as equs
4 ability is paid for in other lines, bu
III if they were accorded the same consi(
u" Grafton as carriers, a very grave ii
d equality and injustice would be IT
moved. In an office Of this rank ca
IS riers are by law paid 5000 for the!
le first year Of service $500 for their SCI
ond and $1,000 for their third and sui
sequent years. They know what the
y are to receive and the promotion neve
IL, fails to come. & p: <. r..
1ee "By the enactment Of this law in f
aI vor Of the carriers, the governme1
7o seems to have committed itself to tt
principle that the service Of an efficie1
employee after two years education
worth $1,000 a year. But congress h:
rs so far failed to extend the princip
us to the salaries Of clerks, despite II
RS iterated and reiterated recommend
a. tions of postmasters general, assista1
~ postmasters general, and Of postmas
he ers whenever they have had an oppo
he tunity to express opinions.
:'The advance in pay Of the clerk
ay in strong contrast thereto, depen
as wholly upon the appropriation made a
of nually by congress for the postal S S
= with nth every other department. for t
support Of which appropriations a
- made annually. This might be W,
=, enough if the country had got
III growth, but the congress is yet to
II elected that can fully grasp the a
~ nual increase in the requirements
IS the postal service for this great
ri 1|The rural free delivery servi
~ alone, starting with an appropriate
% of $40 900 for it's inauguration in 49,
. requires for. this years support So
l. 100000. It thus happens that there.
: clerks in this office who are work.
r. their second year at 5000, there E
O. year on 800; others still who are wo1
+ ing their fourth year on $500, and
ID certainty when they will receive f
Their advance. That they should
re dissatisfied with such result, compa1
- with the advance Of competent men
, business houses, mills, factories, n
3 chine shops, and should be on the lo'
e out for other openings, is not surpl
III ing.
III sit cannot be otherwise than tt
the business interests Of the city m