The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-22
POSTOFFlCB CLERKS.
AND ELECTS
 OFFICERS

OFFICERS
 Also Vote to Accord the National oni-
 cers Their Hearty Support in the
 Furtheranoc of the Plan to Secure
 Re-CIassIfication of PostOIce Clerks
 and for the Regulation of the HourS
 of Labor-various Other Reportes
 Acted On
 The New Haven Postoffice Clerks association met in Red Mems hall Sat- urday night and elected the following ofticers:
 Presdent-Francls T. Wade.
 Vice. president-Charles Wilhelm.
 secretary-John Nj, Ryan,
 Treasurer-Michae J. Murphy.
 Trustees--s. F. Hughes, w. P. Me- Manus and L. ". Sullivan.
 Press ommittee-Captain W. B. Spencer, J. c. Madden and w. H. Moak- ley.
 An entertainment committee to take charge of the annual dance was ap- pointed, consisting of Frank P. Reilly. chairman; M. J. Murphy, J. M. Ryan, c. A. Wilhelm and W, F, McManus
 Among the matters discussed was tbe question of. endorsing the action of the national convention in adopting inc present classification bill to be present. ed to congress at the next session. If was voted to accord the national officers the hearty support of the association in the furtherance of the plan to secure the re- classification of postoffice clerks and the regulation of the hours of labor. It was the meetings sentiment that the new draft of the salary bill is bound 10 find favor in the eyes of the powers that be, because 1t contains a provision that prevents undeservng clerks from obtaining an annual promotion. Previ- ous bills have called for a mandatory annual increase of $1OO to every clerk below the grade of S1,20O, regardless of their records or behavior. In the new bill, styled the Wilson bill, because fathered by Congressman w. w. Will son, of Illinois, 1t is provided that the postoff1ce department may withhold the annual promotion of q clerk on the written objection of the postmaster, the clerk so objected to to be supplied with copy of the samel
 It was stated that for fifteen years the clerks have been striving to have their worth recognized and at one time the senate passed salary bill, but when it reached the house 1t was pig eonholed owing to the immense deficit occurring at that time. The first thought of the legislative body in the past when seeking retrenchment in the postottfce department was to pare the appropriation asked for clerk hire, thereby causing great disappointment Tn that branch of the service, with the resultant effect of lowering the etilcien- cy of the clerical force and causing wholesale resignations. The department has already taken cognizance of exist ing conditions and is pursuing an in- vestigatlon to ascertain where the stoppage can be effected. Agents are paying visits to the various offices, sev eral having been in this vicinity re- gently and the results cannot but be beneficial.
 It was reported at the meeting Sat- urday night that the Postmasters asso- ! ciation at it's convention held at St. | Louis early in the month, endorsed the classification bill, and a committee of five, with Postmaster Wilcox. of New York, as chairman, was appointed to appear before the committee on post offices and postroads at the next ses- sion of congress to plead for the pass age of the bill. This action, in contunc- tion with the fact that an investigation Is being carried on and that business and professional men are becoming inc terested in the welfare of the men be- hind the letter-cases, realizing that they are entitled to the same recognition en- joyed by their co-workers. the carriers and railway mail clerks, who are now classified with graded salaries, causes hope to spring up in the breasts of the overworked postoffice clerks that their needs will soon be attended to.
 Various reports were submitted and acted upon. Resolutions were adopted the loyalty of the clerks to the department in the movement to better the service, and resolutions were also adopted thanking the press for it's aid In publishing the conditions under which the clerks work A committee was appointed to endeavor to secure the active support of the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Mems asso- ,iation, these organizations recognizing he value of an efficient service and whose enlistment in the cause of the Jerks will have great weight This is me method pursued by clerks associa ions throughout the country, direct ap- ,eals to members of congress being for ,idden and visitations to Washington