The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-21

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were appointed and at fourthclass Of
fees 9,42S postmasters were appointed.
The net increase in the expenditure
for postoffice clerks during the year
was $2,917000 making the total ex-
pendttures $31,583,587; for letter car
riers the net increase was $3.50, S25,
resulting in an aggregate cost of $780,
892,597, which was $16,047 less in 1910
than In the previous fiscal year.
The policy of the department to
make no changes in postmasters so
long as their services were satisfactory
was followed uniformly throughout the
country during the year.
An urgent recommendation is made
that the department be given author
ity properly to adjust the salaries of
assistant postmasters. Under the
present system 1t frequently happens
that an assistant receives a smaller
salary than some of the clerks whose
work he supervises. The department
has estimated appropriations to adjust
this anomalous condition.
1t also is urged i'm the report that
somewhat increased salaries be pro-
vided for supervisory employees, in
Guiding superintendent, assistant su-
perintendents and foremen, some of
whom now receive less in salary than
is received by some clerks and let
ter carriers. 1t is pointed out that
many efficient supervisory officers
have received no promotion since their
appointment although they are sub
tected to greater responsibilities than
the subordinate employees, greater ex-
penses and longer working hours. The
entire amount requested is about
SIS, 0O0
1t is recommended, too, that pro-
vision be made for the promotion to
higher grades and increased salaries
of expert distributors of mail in var
ious offices. 1t is pointed out that
the services of these men are invalua-
BILE and that they are difficult to re-
place when they leave the service.
An urgent recommendation is made
that in the event of the death of a
postoffice clerk in the line of his duty
provision be made for the payment
of a reasonable sum to his heirs, pre-
cisely as now is done i'm the event of
the death of railway postal clerk in
| the line of duty. 1t is shown that the
| increasing use of labor saving ma
chinery in the modern city postoffice
makes greater the liability to acct
| dents. In the Office at New York
alone four employees have been killed
and sixty-four incapacitated since
| 1908 as the result of injuries received
| i'm the performance of their duty, yet
| it has not been possible for the de-
partment to afford them or their fam
lilies any assistance.
| 1t is earnestly recommended that
an appropriation of $4,000 be made
| to reward postal employees who pre-
sent to the department patented de-
vices or processes that. may prove of
value to the service.
| The difficulty of obtaining competent
postal employees in remote sections of
| the United States postoffice territory
is urgently called to the attention of
congress. 1t is often impossible to
obtain efficient clerks for the salaries
fixed by law and it is urged that the
postmaster general be authorized to
use the regular appropriation for
clerks and letter carriers in the pay
ment of higher salaries in such places,
for instance as the postoffices in
Alaska.
carrier forces of the postal service It
is shown by figures presented in the
report that no part of the reduction
in the deficit as a whole was due to
any discrimination against clerks and
carriers. AS a fact, the average sal
aries of clerks and carriers during the
year 1910 was higher than at any time
in the previous history Of the depart
ment.
1t is the policy of the department. as
shown by the report, not to require
any more work in postoffices on Sun
days and holidays than is absolutely
necessary. To this end an endeavor
is being made to bring amout a greater
degree of uniformity in the amount of
Sunday work in postoffices and to pro-
vide one day of rest in seven for each
OF the employees. Doctor Grandfield
says:
There Is very strong sentiment
throughout the country in favor of the
discontinuance of the delivery of mail
On Sundays and this sentiment should
be respected. If the plan of discon-
tinuing entirely Sunday service by let
ter carriers which is now being tried
in a number of the larger cities, where
the sentiment of the communities is
in favor of Sunday closing,
proves practicable, it would seem that
the desired result may be attained
without legislation
A renewal of the recommendation