Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-29
MEN IN RAILWAY POSTAL SER.
VICE MAY TIE UP BUS.
INEss.
WILL QUIT THEIR JOBS
IF NEW ORDER IS ENFORCED
hitehosek's Proposal For Increased
Hours at Same Pay Expected to Be
Put Into Effect Now That Holiday
Rush 10 ovsr-Msn Say They Are
Already ovsrworksd.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs. Dec. 29.-Men in the
railway mail service living here and
elsewhere turnout the country are ex-
pectantly watching every mail from
Washington. anticipating a renewal of
an order issued before the opening of
the holiday rush Of mail and with
drawn after a vigorous protest had been
made. That appeal to the country thru
a strike IL such order is renewed, Is not
outside the possibilities. declare nu-
merous men in the service who say that
conditions under the present regime
are becoming almost intolerable.
Postmaster General Hitchcock is
blamed for much Of the present dis
content in the service and the men do
not hesitate to say that much of the
showing mad by him as a reduction
in the postal deficit has been made
thru the enforcement OF rules which
greatly wrong the men in the service.
Despite the rule which forbids men in
the postal service from airing their
grievances. there are many here who
are openly defying the federal govern
ment to discharge them from the SER
vice and are appealing to the public
for sympathy.
Longer Hours ut Same Pay.
The obnoxious order which is de-
clared may result in a tieup Of the
service II enforced, increases the hours
or service for railway mail clerks with
out q compromising increase in pay,
and it is generally believed that the
department tends or expects to in
crease the length of time served all
along the line. AS it is now on most
Of the heavy lines, clerks serve six
days and rest six days. The new dis
pensation contemplates twelve days
service with six days lay-off. Where
four crews now handle the work, it is
expected that three will do it.
The most vigorous kind of protest
was filed when the order was issued and
1t was withdrawn, but it is believed
that the department only did so be-
cause the holiday rush was about to
being re-issued any time now. The
clerks affirm that they are now earn
ing their salaries and that the work
is hard and the cost Of living high
because Of their enforced absence from
home SO much of the time. Moreover,
they say that the lay-off now is really
not a lay-off. but a change of work.
Clerks are expected to put in most Of
the lime when not handling mail, in
forming themselves N changes of
routes and in changes of offices. Each
clerk must know his district and be
able to pass an examination when re-
quired. A district includes several
states. enough to occupy most Of the
time Of the clerks While not actually
on the road, in learning.
Wholesale designations Expected.
Opposition to the rule If issued and
enforced. may take the form of whole
sale designations from the service. Or
it might take the form Of concerted
action, the effect of which would be
kin to a strike. Many assertions from
the service in this section have al
ready resulted, it is declared, from the
onerous conditions imposed by the de-
partment, which, it is said, have grown
steadily more severe.
I'VE are now giving full value for
our work." said one of a group Of rail-
way mail clerks who were discussing
the matter. land we should not be
asked to give more. If an impartial
investigation Is made l am sure that
this order will not be issued. 1t will
show that the increase in hours is not
justified. Many clerks will leave the
service II it is done. There will be no
disposition to remain If these addition
al hardships are enforced"
Small Allowance For Board.
Frank Motherseau, a railway mail
clerk who is not afraid to nave his
name used, spoke of the matter of road
expenses, which has caused much i'll
feeling In the service. He says: For
the first twelve hours after leaving
home we are permitted to draw up
the belt at u waist line one or two
holes, II it is not to cost the depart
ment anything: then al each meal
hour after the twelve ours ave
elapsed we may partake Of a bounteous
feed just SO we don't eat more than 8
cents worth, and at the end of the
run Gotten twelve to eighteen hours
continuous labor). we may spend I
consideration that every government
employe when away from home is al
lowed actual expenses or a fiat "a per
day, in what other light than a farce
can you look upon the railway postal
SAO1A 0 V-SSAAS AS"A9 ~AN oSNs
Are Now o~vsrworksd.
Men in the service are asking why
the fines against the railways for de-
layed mails have not been collected.
and aver that annual fines amounting
to ST. 900, 90 are not being enforced. and
charge that Postmaster General Hitch
cock has shown strong favoritism in
his acts. Insufficient car space and
other lack of facilities which the rail-
roads should be compelled to provide.
are charged as contributing to de-
lays to the mails. complaints of which
have been greater in lumber and Sc
we're the past year than ever before
The men all say that they are over
worked now and that II the new order
is made there will be nothing left for
them to do but to resign. Deep NUT
terings are heard daily and there Is