The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-27
CLOSE ON SUNDAY
POstOffice Clerks Will Be Given
a Rest.
General Delivery Window Only
Be Kept Open.
SMALL FORCE THERE.
Not More Than 10 or IL En-
pl0yees Will Be Required.
New Order Will Go Into Effect
on May 2.

Commencing May Z. the Topeka post
office will be closed Sunday, except for
general delivery. This action was au-
thorized in a. letter received today by
A. K. Rodgers. postmaster, who recent
ly took the matter up with c. P. Cans
field, first assistant postmaster gen.
eral.
For months Topeka ministers and re-
Hgious organizations have pleaded for
the Sunday closing of the local office
Their action went no further. The
matter furnished an excellent topic for
numerous Sunday morning sermons and
religious organizations framed many
glaring resolutions. But the noise was
never heard in Washington.
Not until two weeks ago when Post
master Rodgers wrote the first assist
ant postmaster general, was action
taken. Rodgers declared on numerous
occaions that he would welcome an or
der to close the office Sundays, but he
held no authority to act on the steps
taken by the Ministerial union.
Under the provisions of the new rui-
ing, none Of the AZ Topeka carriers will
be compelled to work Sundays. Only a
erdl delivery window. Deliveries will
be made to the boxes as usual and
street collections of mail will be made
The few clerks required to work Sun
day will alternate their holidays and
the create per cent of the employees
will be allowed a day off
The present plan has made necessary
the employment of one-half of the en-
ployees each Sunday, who alternate the
following week with the remaining
clerks and carriers. In his instructions
the postmaster general states that per-
lest f1e ali rf ir1zsln nrf a 11t
mail matter, may be served upon the
payment of the customary special de-
livery service-ten cents.
In order to prevent delays of the
early Monday morning delivery, the
clerks will be required to report earlier
than usual on these days in order to
assemble their mail and prepare the
routings. AL of the AZ carriers will be
given a vacation each Sunday. Prob
ably not more than 10 or IL employees
will be required to handle the Sunday
office work and the new schedules will
be so arranged that the clerks can al
ternate and will probably not be re-
quired to work more than one Sunday
each month
Replying to the letter from Mr.
Rodgers. which set in operation the new
plan the first assistant postmaster
general said:
"I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
| your letter of the 18th inst. which l
| have read with a great deal of interest.
In view of the fact that local sentiment
seems to be in favor of such a course.
| you are authorized tc curtail the sun
day service at your office in accord
| ance with the enclosed letter which de-
scribes the plan adopted with success
at number of the larger offices. The
| change may take effect Sunday, May q.
| 1911, as you suggest. Please report
how the innovation is received by tha
public
VERY truly yours,
&c. P. GRANFIE1D,
First Assistant Postmaster General
The operation of the new plan will be
watched by Mr.. Rodgers with a great
| deal of interest While there have been
numerous appeals for this policy from
| the pulpit there has been no protest
| from commercial organizations, which
| would be the greater affected by the
| change. Should protests arise, it is
| possible that the old system would be
! restored While it is the intention. or
the department to establish Sunday
closing in as many offices as practical
BILE, yet the department Is also very
| susceptible to protests.
In order, more to obtain generai
| pub1ic sentiment on the question, than
to establish a new policy in the Topeka
office. the department consented to try
the plan Then the postal department {
will await expressions from patrons or
the office