The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-11-29
TALKED TO THE STATE
LETTER CARRIERS
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
POSTMASTER HAHN AT ORE.
CON CONVENTION,

dress delivered az the Oregon State
IConveutiou, by Postmaster Hahn, oi
Astoria, Oregon;
Friends and Co-WorkerS;- Ii is q
pleasure to meet and welcome the
Letter Carriers Association et Ore
gone here, in our city by the sea
| AS letter carriers you are members
of a great family; as such members
greet you, as men that have come
together TO consult with one another
for the advancement OF the best inter
ests OF the postal service, TO exchange
views and ideas as to the best mode
OF improving the service, and last
but not least, about the possibility ot
bettering your own condition,
The mail carrier who delivers the
mail daily to the patrons Of the post
Office is somewhat like a soldier in
the army OF the United States, Be
fore he may enter such service he
must pass through a medical eSami-
nation, he must learn to obey orders,
without asking questions as TO the
ACCESSIBILITY OF such orders; in fact
he must get the necessary discipline
OF obeying orders from his superior
in office.
But while it is the privilege Of the
soldier to complain after performing
certain work, the carrier has no such
recourse; he has no right to complain
after he has performed the work in
trusted to him
| Rain or shine, he has to deliver
/ the mail; there is no shrinking on &C
count OF bad weather, and woe to
the carrier that, in making mistake,
delivers letter or paper an hour la
ter than usual, or 10 the wrong par
lty; not only viii the wrath OF the
party overtake him. but he also may
get checked by the Department,
through the postmaster, who will adj
monish a severe rebuke or eensure
upon the head Of the unfortunate car
rier.
| The carrier also differs from the
soldier. that for him it is not enough
TO obey orders, but he must use com
mon sense in delivering the mail; he
is supposed TO use good judgment
in expediting mail matter; he may be
excused in arriving a minute too ear
Ily, but never a minute too late, from
| his trip at the postoffice, For him tc
work early and late, so as to get his
work done, is strictly prohibited; he
is supposed to work eight hours a
day and no more.
/ The railroad is often called the ad
vance agent Of civilization. If this ]:
true, then the mail carrier should bs
| rightly named the distributor Of civ
Eilization, because without carriers to
distribute the mail, where would our
boasted civilization be, and what
would it amount to?
! Now, what compensation does q
carrier receive for the work that he
! is supposed to perform punctually
and faithfully?
A young man, healthy and strong
with average ability, passes the civil
service examination, and If in good
luck, gets the appointment as regular
carrier, and as compensation, receives
the sum Of 5000 year If fortunate
he can rise in a frst-class Office un
til after a number OF years he viii
receive $1,000 a year, but being in Z
small town, he can only obtain sal
ary Of $1,000 a year,
The question that presents itselt
lis: How long and what number o.
years is a sound, healthy man able
to stand his physical and menta
strain, day after day and year aftel
Year, And what becomes Of the mai
when he gets old and no more abl'
to perform his duty? Does the Gov
ernment pension him, after giving th'
best years Of his life in the perfor
nance of his duty; the man that ha.
passed the meridian of his life, anC
now seeks rest? Where can he go tc
find such rest? |tr
In European monarchies such is no
the case. There all officials, after hav
ing served the Government certain
number Of years, will be relieved AM
will receive a pension, but as it i
said, republics are not grateful TIL
carriers and others in the same boa
with then viii have to wait unit
Congress will see fit to pass law t.
take care of the Government ser
wants who have passed the meridian
Of life and given the best part Of thei
life to the service Of their country.
Another matter that your associa
ton should look into is this: Suppos
ing that a carrier who has passed tn
civil service examination, perform
the duty as carrier, is accused b.
some patron Of the office of some ne
glect, and such complaint reaches tn
Department in Washington, and sue
complaint is returned to the post
master for his opinion. Now, if tn
postmaster is not particularly friend
ly, or if as it sometimes happens tina
he has another party in view for tn
position, it all depends on the post
rnaster ,uhether the carrier or cler