The Washington herald., 1906-10-24

The increased cost of living and the in
ability of postal employees to live OF the
salaries now paid them has induced the
present administration Of the Post-office
Department to decide TO recommend in
creased compensation for the postal clerks
and carriers throughout the country.
If recommendations to be made by
First Assistant Postmaster General Hitch
cock are put into the form of law by Con-
gress. the salaries Of the great majority
of the clerks in first and second class
pOst-offices viii be increased the next
year Mr.. Hitchcock yesterday made pub
lie a statement in explanation Of his esti-
mates covering the COMPENSATION Of pos
tai clerks for the next fiscal year.
The sum recommended viii permit the
promotion Of about Is per cent OF clerks
in the grades below $500. about 30 per
cent of clerks receiving $3.50 and Sl.O0g.
about 40 per cent Of those receiving from
Sl.l00 to $1,000 and about 30 per cent Of
those receiving over Sl80
An appropriation Of $500 coo urged for
the compensation Of clerks In first and
second-class Offices IS an increase Of 81
the 100000 increase. Sl.370.o00 is for the
employment OF additional clerks and 81
$4,000 for the promotion Of clerks now in
the service. the latter being more than
three times that provided for the current
year. There are at present $500 clerks IN
first and sec0nd-Class post-Ofiices As the
es mates provide FOR 1890 promotions. It
viii be possible 20 raise the salaries OF
clerks in the lower grades in order 20
establish a more liberal scale of c0mpen-
satiOu for the great army Of pnst-Office
employees throughout the country. the ap-
preparation viii be ample 40 promote also
the most efficient clerks I'm the higher
grades.
Explains Ills Purpose.
First Assistant Postmaster Hitchcock
has had under consideration for several
months the plan proposing an Increase
OF salaries for postal clerks In explain
Ing his purpose yesterday. he said:
The large increases carried by the
present estimate was decided upon OILY
after a careful inquiry regarding the aGe-
quocy Of ti,e salaries paid post-ofhce en-
ploves. For several months the De
partmcut has been accommodating evidence
on this subject. and The information OBJ
tanned showed clearly the necessity OF a
radical advance in compensation.
Large numbers Of pOst-office clerks have
resigned TO accept more rcmuuerativs
positions elsewhere. The salaries paid in
post-ofices have not been high enough
TO induce competent men 20 take the
examinations for the service, and there
fore the Civil Service Commission has
found Ereat difficulty Ia maintaining lists
OF eligibles.
"The frequent resignation Of trained
clerks and the appointments In their
places OF inexperienced men has seriously
tempered the service The Department
s. convinced that 60 higher scale Of sala-
riee must be paid post-ofiice employees in
order 90 insure the efficient conduct II
the postal business
The Department also had under con-
sidcratiou an amendment 10 the present
law covering the salaries of letter car
rieTs that VIII permit the payment OF
higher rate Of compensation This is
matter now regulated by statute. and
relief can be had only by securing from
Congress the necessary amendment to ex-
istinE law