The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-27

at the loss we have sustained. The
matter can we'll be left in the hands
OF the Committee on Resolutions.
FOLLOWING the example OF my prede-
cessor In office, l made the personna,
OF the committees as representative
OF the various states as possible. and
i have been pleased and encouraged by
the nearly cooperation received III
all that have done toward making the
convention a success. An excellent
program containing subjects that can.
not fall to be Of interest has been pre-
pared by the committee on topics and
good list of speakers has been Sc.
lected to lead the discussions.
careful attention on the part or the
members is therefore assured and az
the result Of our deliberations none
there will be prepared a set of reso.
lutions that will adequately express
the views and wishes of the association
regarding the matters that have been
the subject OF debate.
Bctter sun,in, Observance.
Il also nope that some action viii
be taken to put this convention on
record as being In favor OF legislation
that VIII give to every post-onice clerk
and every letter carrier one full day
IN each week to spend with his family
"a w WIN do ne plcdSeS. Inc Ideal
Legislative measure would be the one
that would relieve every employe fror,
duty on Sundays. That of course. Il
impossible in these days of fast trans
portation, with mail trains flying from
city to city, and mail boats shutting
pack and forth across the ocean; bu.
no condltlon OF our modern life should
be allowed to deprive the workers OF
the postal service from sharing in that
privilege granted ages ago in the form
of command to all the sons of toll,
the privilege that on the seventh day
they shall rest.
"On behalf Of the association I Wish
informally to tender to the Governor
OF this great State and to the Mayor
OF the city, to the postmaster. to the
city officials. and to the citizens gem
orally, our best thanks for the cordial
welcome that has been accorded us and
the preparations that have been made
Tor our comfort and entertainment. I,
Is matter of regret that the Post.
master-General will not be with us th1s
morning. Important official matters
detain him in Washington; but be-
cause of his great interest in our
association ard its proceedings he has
arranged to be here "Wednesday. when
he will receive the welcome that is duo
to the association'c best friend.
TO the distinguished members Of
his staff who are attending, as we'll as
to General Black. the president of the
United States Civil Service Commits
sion, we extend hearty welcome
Efficiency Record System.
Yesterday afternoons session was
taken up with debate and conference
on matters of special rather than OF
general interest. An extended confer
ence was held on the workings of the
efficiency record system for rating
the work of employees and advancing
the grade of clerks and carriers Pre-
pared papers were read by E. C. Mans.
field, postmaster at Boston. and by w.
Hall Harris, postmaster at Baltimore,
after which the discussion became gen
eral.
Mr. Mansfield stated that the system
was aimed 20 weed out the drones OF
the service. and for the systematic
promotion Of efficient men. Mr.. Harris
thought well of the system as a whole
but thought 1t needed to be perfected
in some details. One of these. he said.
was lack of a definite manual of
postal laws, referring to the present
volume of Postal Laws and Regula-
lions. issued by the department as an
'ill-digested and worse indexed mass.
baptized with the name of Postal Laws