The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-31
Salaries of Post Office Employees
To Be Affected by Manner in
Which Work Is Done
PROVIDE FOR DEMERlT MARKS
Work of Clerks in the Kenosha Post
Office VIII be Closely Watched
and Salaries Regulated in
Accordance With Work

Copies of the recent rules adopted by
The post Office department for checking
the efficiency and conduct of the
clerks of the postoffces have been re-
ceived at the local Office. The rules
are very strict in some things, but al
low a margin for the discretion of the
checking official in other ways.
Four factors are taken into account
in the ratings. These are the speed
with which the work is done, the ac-
curacy with which it is done, the faith
fulness of the employe in observing the
postal regulations and office rules and
their familiarity with the rules and
instructions pertaining to their work
| The clerk and carrier ha. ing the
| highest record on quality of work viii
be marked 100 and, the others will be
rated in comparison with the leader,
The rating on accuracy and faithful
ness will be based on a scale of de-
merits in which 1 per cent is to be de-
Quoted from the standing for ten de-
merits. The scale Of dement's is fixed
by the department. and while the num-
Der of dement's is high for those things
that are easily avoidable, it is light for
the things that are difficult to be avoid
ed. Every error and offense must be
reported to the person making it, that
he may enter a reason, il he can, why
no dement's should be attached to that
special case. Repetition of offenses
increases the demerits.
The employe who receives 500 de-
merits or whose standing is less than
so when his record is called for, will
be reduced to the next lower grade,
thus having his salary decreased 800
a year IF at any time he has 700
dement's, or if his rating is less than
I 80, his case is to be submitted to the
department with a recommendation in
regard to his removal or retention In
The service An employee may be re-
stored to his grade after three months,
making the penalty of his offense the
losing of $25 salary.
The rules go into effect in all first,
second and third-cIass Offices with the
beginning Of 1909.
The list of ofenses and the dement's
attached to each ofense is given in
the rules. The greatest penalties come
to those who are guilty of acts of
wrong while outside the building and
where the general public would have
an opportunity Of noting them. A
few Of the fines which are to be inn
posed in the way of dement, marks are
here given:
For disobedience, INSTRUMENTATION,
disrespect to superiors, making false
statements, falsifying trip report of
time record, giving information to the
public relative to patrons of office OF
mail matter, returning mail to patrons
without authority after it has been de-
posted in box, registering for another
employe and intoxication on duty, 500
for each ofense. Reporting for duty
under influence of liquor, drinking
while on duty, 400 each; becoming in
toxicated when off duty, 200; drinking
in public places In uniform though off
duty and smoking while on duty, 100
each; discourtesy to patron, alteration
with fellow employee, disorderly con-
duct in Office, lettering in Office, loiter-
ing on route, untidiness of person OF
desk, 10 to 200 points each, at the dis
cretion Of the marker; losing mail, 100;
failing to reply to official communica-
ton, 5 to 100; working overtime con-
trary to instructions, 10; failing to
register, 2. For the carriers there are
a. number of rules which apply to
failure to collect from box, failing to
lock box, losing letter box key, delay
ing delivery Of letter, holding mail for
a trip changing route. The penalties
are from to 500 points