Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01

made, it is said in 1896, and the old people
who were then in the shops were retained
without being required to pass the civil
service examination.
1t was further stated today that owing
to the large amount of work on hand at
the shops it will be necessary to fill the
vacancies caused by the dismissals from
the civil service lists.
Some of those dismissed are inclined to
the belief that the discharge came as a
sequence to the resignation of Second AS
sistant- Postmaster General Shallenberger,
who was known to be a friend of the ven-
cradle workmen and workwomen of the
shops, which We're under his immediate
charge, being a part of the division of the
second assistant. One aged man said pa
thetically:
This would not have occurred if Gen.
Shallenberger had retained his place. He
has the greatest sympathy for the aged
and afflicted and he would not have found
the necessity for diScharging us, especially
as our long experience would have weighed
In the balance against the stiffness Of our
joints as the result of advancing years
have been a good citizen of the District
for forty years and my dismissal leaves
me in a sad plight"
Others said owing to the smallnesS Of
the salaries they received they had not
been able to lay aside any money "for a
rainy day" and are, therefore, in distress.
Organizations to Act.
The matter of the dismissals of the wild
ows of soldiers and of veterans themselves
as alleged, has been called to the atten-
ton of the Grand Army of the Republic
and the United Spanish War Veterans, and
it is said 1t is probable immediate action
Will be taken in the premises.
An officer of the G. A. r. said this after
noon that there appears to be developing
tendency to remove from Office the aged
soldiers Of the republic and their widows,
and 1t is proposed to carry the matter to
President Roosevelt, If necessary, in order
that a halt may be called.
Reference was made to the recent reduc-
ton of the force of women who have had
employment at the navy yard here max
ing cotton bags for the powder charges
for the big guns of the navy. 1t is said
the reduction of that force fell heavily upon
the widows and daughters of veterans of
the civil war;
Result Of Investigation.
The committee composed of Post Office
Department officials appointed by the Post
master General October 20, 1905, to inves-
tigate the mail bag repair shop has sub
mitted its report. Many changes have been
recommended both in the personnel and in
the method of conducting the business Of
that institution. Orders have been issued
today by the Postmaster General directing
a number of promotions, reductions and re-
mOvals to carry out the recommendations
of the committee. Steps will be at once
taken to change the existing methods, and
it is thought that such changes will result
in the saving of many thousands of dollars
each year. Arrangements have been almost
completed for the removal of the mail bag
shop to new quarters in a f1reproof struc-
ture located near the new railroad terminal.
The reconstruction of the mail beg re-
pair shop and its removal to safe and
suitable building his for number of years
formed the subject of many investiga tons
by the Post Office Department. but until
this time it has been impossible to secure
definite action
For some time it has been the plan of
the Post Office Department TO secure a
building near the railroad, in which to
conduct a portion of the postal business in
this city. 1t is desired to obyiate the neces-
sity of hauling the mail bags to and from
the station to the main Office at 18th street
and Pennsylvania avenue, which, it is stat
ed, is great waste of time It Is UNDER
stood that the mail bag repair shop is to
be quartered In the building secured for
this purpose.
No building has finally been determined
upon, but it Is expected that IL the money
Is forthcoming building owned by local
trust company in the vicinity of the union
station will be purchased by the depart