The Washington times., 1906-08-12
DRUGGISTS KICK
ON REDUCED PAY
FROM POSTOFFICE
SubStation Officials Claim
Remuneration Is Al
ready Too Low.
NO HELP IN SIGHT
Postmaster General Thinks
Advertisement for Store
Is Big Consideration.

ID DIX OOLlolAAC aAAOlAs
Drug store proprietOrs who are like
wise sunerintendents Of contract or
substations of the City Postomce. are
protesting against the reduction OF their
salaries. IL is likely that a meeting Of
the druggists Will be held this week. at
which time resolutions viii probably be
adoDted asking that the Postoitice De
partment arrange a schedule OF sal
aries in reasonable proportion TO the
business done, and that this schedule
be made known TO all OF the contract
superintendents so that they may know
when the business In their station has
picked up sufficiently 10 warrant a
raise.
Acting Postmaster General Hitchcock
stated yesterday that the reduction OF
salaries was due 10 the fact that Con-
gress has a~oropriated only $4,000 for
the contract superintendents throughout
the United States Therefore each one
viii have a slice taken out of his sti-
pend. Congress allowed $4,000 for the
superintendeuts, whose salaries ranged
from 81 20 $500 per ann an and S225. 600
for those who received fIom $500 60 SlOO0
per annum.
Barnes Sends Notification.
Several days ago Postmaster Barnes
sent out a notice to all Of the druggists
who have charge of substauions In this
CITY In which 70 was stated that as
Congress has appropriated a smaller
amount This year for the maintenance
of substatious throughout the country
81 reduction In the remuneration OF the
ruDerintendents would be necessary in
almost every instance.
Following this notice the postal Off
Cials sent another I'm which they stated
that If the druggists could not handle
the business for the reduced pay their
designations would be accepted and the
stations established elsewhere. Mr.
Hitchcock says that in view Of the fact
that q substatiOn of the postot5ce draws
customers 20 mans place Of business
designations are few and far between
Salaries on Percentage Plan.
He explains that the salaries Of the
contract superintendeuts are regulated
bv The showing made by the various
substatIous. The amount Of money or
der registration. special delivery. stamp
and postal card business governs the
size of the stipend. The superintendent
gre paid on the general principle Of
percentage scale, although in almost ev-
cry instance the pharmacists declare the
remuneration is wholly inadequate. Mr..
Hitchcock says that when the business
Of a substation, which has been taking
in $500 "a year. is doubled the superin-
tendent will be graduated 10 higher
class and receive more pay. As long as
the gross receipts are the same or when
they begin 10 dwindle no increase viii
be made. The druggists are under con
tract 10 transact pOstOftIce business and
in some Instances the gross receipts are
so small that the department can only
pay 81 per annum, and that amount is
simply 10 make the contract legal. In
other cases the amount of business is so
great that the druggists receive $1,000 or
more a year. Instances OF this kind are
rare. especially south of New York
city. where a great howl is now being
made by the druggists who have just
been informed by Postmaster Wilcox
that their salaries would take tumble
According TO Mr.. Hitchcock but little
of the work Of the substations falls upon
the druggists. They usually employ
girl or young man 10 keep the books
and sell stamps. pay them a small sal
arv and have some velvet left over.
In addition 20 this the substatlOns serve
10 bring trade to the store.
Must Figure Closely.
The druggists say they have to figure
closely to keep from going in the hole
on the deal. When they employ anyone
to attend TO the substation they have 10
pay a fixed sum each month. and then
run the chance Of the office doing suffi-
cient business for them 10 break even
with the game. There is a certainty
about the clerk getting his or her salary.
but there IS none regarding the business
of the substation. because today il
might be $50 worth and tomorrow. 2
cents. The pharmacists says the only
thing that recommends the substatiOn
business 10 them is the fact that now
and then a United States customer viii
leave some of his coin OF the realm in
the cash register in exchange for soda
water or toilet articles. When the clerk
IN the substatiOn is absent the druggist
has to let his own business stand stiu
while ne attends 10 the Government
work. thereby injuring his own trade
and getting but little if anything IN re-
turn for the damage
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