Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-04
PAY FOR POSTAL CLERKS
Remedy for Poor Service Now Given the
Public Is Easy
POSTMASTER PALMER ON LOCAL SITUATION
Emcient Employees win Not Remain
In the service at Present Rate
of Pay and with Uncer-
tainty of Advance.

Postmaster Palmer is endeavoring in
practical way to secure increased efficiency
in the management of the Omaha post
ONCE and its service to the public. lie
wants clerks salaries placed at such a
figure as will induce competent men to re-
main in the service of Uncle Sam, and
thereby achieve a remedy for a situation
that now EXISTS, and for which no other
way out is apparent. Goods clerks
needed ana good clerks will not remain
in the service for the wages paid and with
the uncertainty of getting any advance
In an interview Mr.. Palmer discusses this
matter ss follows:
Yes we have kicks and meritorious
ones. too. LAS a matter of fact, the gen
eral public,B through the Commercial club
or any other organization for the upbuild-
ing Of Onalfe, should make good strong
kick. one that would reach congress. and
POSSIBLY cause an awakening among the
men who are supposed to legislate for the
best interests OF the country at large
The situation In. the Omaha postoffice is
not unlike that In nearly every frst-class
office in the country. We cannot give eff
cient service and cannot avoid the pre-
sentation of complaints for the reason that
we cannot give efficient service with in
efficient and inexperienced clerks. During
-''s fASit III washing AOIl lttNtHilttI last, 4
made complaint relative to this matter to
the first assistant postmaster general. He
asked me to put it in writing, and did
so. l said TO him that:
Having assumed the responsibility and
the trust s postmas ter. | feel that I am
4 ander opllgation to render TO the Postoffice
possible, and that the main service to the
credit of the department is TO give to the
patrons of the Omaha office the very best
treatment possible To that end. it is, /
believe, my duty to keep the depa rtment
fully informed as to the diffcuities to Ice
surmounted to enable me to give satisfac-
When left Omaha December last
riers, all actively at work. or the lOa
clerks. including four iaborers and one
psr npum esc drawing only
500 fourteen at $500. aftesn at ,'ef n.oc @,
1880, two at 81, 400 and three at $l,7O0
1t may be that the Omaha postoffice.
month stamp sales se and grand gran '' Total o of
about f,500,O00 business last year. has as
large an average pay roll for the number
doing the same amount of business; but
think not
Troubles of the Service
90 Considering the fact that rents are fully
the year 1904, cost OF living has increased
in rents. grocery account, help account and
everything pertaining to living expenses to
fully Is per cent above last year.
within the past year and a half twenty
four clerks have left the service at Omaha
postoffice: not all. but think the majority
were voluntary designations to better their
--~oondition. Many had resigned because
had discovered that they were incompetent
could not learn the work, and acknowledg-
ing their shortcomings with the excuse
that there was no inducement to stimulate
them apply themselves seriously. to the
"A man working for $500 or 500 a year
in the postoffice, required to work mentally
as we'll as physically. could get job driv-
ing an express wagon at $50 or $50 a month
with nothing 10 think of except to guide
his team. Carpenters are receiving 60 cents
to 30 cents per hour, brick layers nearly as
good wages In fact wages in Omaha will
average for aii classes fully So per month
forced to-resign have been replaced with
new. inexperienced men. To get valuable
instances seek employment in the govern.
1nent service under the impression that II
is only play and no work. our best clerks
must do. A short trial and a mar
must be taken in, and so the teachins
work in the once must be done by tn,
loyal few, and / must require the clerks
to work overtime, until the best ones
drawing only living pay Will become dis
Clerks cannot support themselves to-
either with ,s Wfe ana soS Shd . and
In Omaha and keen clea" of debt. II they
get in debt while in the service, they must
either pay up or resign.
No Encouragement for Clerks.
80 the clerk is between the devil and
the deep sea, There is no encouragement
and very little prospect for the future
He may get an advance in one year. after
serving year at SEQ, and he may not
He is more liable TO be advised that the
appropriation has been exhausted and NJ
mora increases can be made in salaries
II Is the same with the 500 and the $50
meny who have been working faithfully TO
three .or four years. They have no as
surance of an advance each year
AS. a. matter of fact. there can be NJ
question but what they should be treated
rs fairly as the carriers are treated. I
requires special ability together with
good education for man to become
clerk and he should have absolute assur
1 ance of increase in salary if he perform
his duty faithfully as have the carriers
A carrier begins at S000 n wear The neN