The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-12-29
HAVE LONGER HOURS TO WORK
Senator La Toilette TO Offer Resolution
for IN Investigation of Conditions
and Clerks viii be Permitted to Tes-
tify in Their Own Behalf.

Railway mail clerks all over the I'm
Sted States are up in arms against Post
master General Frank A. Hitchcock
and the regulations which he is enforc-
ing in the federal postoffice department.
They are preparing to place before the
public statements of the wrongs under
which they allege they are suffering.
The principal grievances which are al
1eged by the railway employers are:
!. Reducing the number Of men on
runs, thus shortening the layoffs Of
crews both as TO rest spaces between
trains at terminals when in actual ser
vice and also as to the length of the
rest spells between the actual service
period.
g. Reduction in pay in some instan-
Ces by reducing the classification of
men because of changes in runs.
.. Laying off of men by reducing
them from runs to the extra list.
4. Adding to the burden of the cleri-
cal work of men on trains by reducing
the crews ON long through runs for the
handling of mail in transit.
5. Enforcement of fines in such
manner as to impose hardship by not
taking into account reasons for alleg-
ed negligence for which fine is imposed
and not making careful investigation
before the imposition of the fine.
The railway mail clerks say they
have to be very careful in making
statements in regard to their alleged
wrongs which may in any way reach
the public ears, as they say that any
hint by an employee of dissatisfaction
which may reach the public, is cause
for instant discharge of the complain
ing employee. The clerks are also bar
red by the government rules and the
civil service from organizing or making
complaint to any member Of congress
in regard to the alleged wrongs.
Despite these obstacles, however, it
is said information has reached Senator
LaFollette of the grievances of the rail
way mail employees, and it is said he
viii shortly offer in the United States
senate resolution asking for an inves-
LEGATION of the grievances and provid-
ing that immunity from discharge shall
be granted all postal employees who may
be called before the investigating com
mittee to testify in regard to the
wrongs under which the clerks are
suffering.
Informal meetings are also being held
by the railway mail clerks in number
of cities to discuss the matter and to
devise ways and means for reaching the
public with statements as to the trou-
bles Of the employees.
The greatest objection of the men
is to the way their time in actual SER
vice is being heightened. Thus it is
claimed that now crews which had for
merly had from ten to twelve hour rests
terminals between trains are now
.{etting only six and eight hour layoffs,
the actual running time of the employees
being SO increased that many men are
now on trains fourteen hours out of
twenty-four of the weeks in which thew
are In actual service. These changes, of
course, only affect the men ON through
runs such as that between Chicago and
st. Paul. The men on daily runs in
ana out of terminal are, however.
having their hours increased in another
way by having the time of their rest
periods reduced, it is claimed. Thus
men who have until the present time
had one week on and one week OFF are
now being compelled to stand two
weeks Of service with only rest per-
iod once in three weeks.