Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-04-04
Has Received Letter from
Washington About schsdule.

In arranging a new Sunday work
ing schedule at the post office, Post
master George H Iice is carrying
out the wishes Of his superior. c. P
Granfeld, first assistant postmaster
general, regarding an act granting
clerks and carriers compensatory
time of for Sunday work, be made
effective. Two weeks ago, Mr.. Tice
received, as did all other postmast.
ers in the United States, letter from
Mr.. Granfleld, informing him that as
Postmaster General Hitchcock is in.
terested In the welfare of postal EN-.
ployes, he is very anxious to give the
employees the immediate benefit OF
legislation lettering their working
conditions.
In concluding, Mr.. Granfeld
writes that the postal department
requests earnest cooperation on the
part Of the postmaster to bring
about Sunday closing and suggests
that If there is any doubt as to the
attitude OF the public on the sub
ject, the postmaster take the matter
up with the press Of this city, with
the ministers and religious organ
izations. The letter follows:
The Letter in Full.
Washington. D. c., March 81, 1911.
Ny Dear Sir: As you know the
Postmaster General is deeply inter
ested in the welfare OF postal en-
ployes; believing iberality with re-
spect to compensation and other con-
ditions Of employment to be the best
noIIov ba hoe rannnopoaoRaJ xon.a.
edly that a law be enacted authoriz-
Ing him to extend the annual leave
of absence with pay for post Office
clerks and city letter carriers from
fifteen TO thirty days. Although pro-
vision to this end was made In the
appropriation act for the next fiscal
year as passed by the Senate, this
section of the bill failed in confer
ence. Section 3 of the act, however,
provides for allowing clerks and
carriers compensatory time off for
Sunday work as follows: That
hereafter for services required on
Sundays of supervisory officers,
clerks in first and second class post
Offices, and city letter carriers, com
pensatory time of during the work
ing days in amount equal to that cf
the Sunday employment may be al
lowed, under such regulations as
the Postmaster General may pre-
scribe, but this provision shall not
apply to auxiliary or substitute en-
ployes." The Postmaster General is
very anxious to give the employees
the beneft of this legislation imme-
diately, believing that they sre en-
titled to one days rest in seven and
that their efficiency will be increased
thereby. At present, however,
nearly one-half of the carriers report
every Sunday to make deliveries
their windows, their aver
age service being about three hours,
although the amount of mail deliv-
cred is very small. As practically all
Of the carriers are scheduled for for
ty-eight hours work during the re-
six days of the week. II is
to allow them eompensa-
tory time for this Sunday work un-
Ter present conditions. 1t becomes
necessary. therefore, to change the
practice with reference to delivery
,f mail on Sunday. There ia very
strong sentiment throughout the
country In favor OF closing post tf-
ices on Sunday ~ shown By petitions
received from religious orEAniLa-
ions, and commercial bodies. by nu-
{Cortinued on page \.