The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-06
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE SCANDAL
Upheaval Expected as Result of Post
master-generaPs investigations.

4 Washington. Feb IA condition Of
I ineffieieney, characterization and mis-.
management has been developed in the
operation Of the railway mail service
that Is likely to result in an upheaval in
and perhaps in reorganization OF the
entire service Postmaster General
Hitchcock for some time has been con-
dueting personal investigation into
the operations of the railway mail serv-
ice His inquiry il not concluded vet,
but the facts thus far developed indi-
cate plainly that its results are likely to
be drastic.
Rumors reached Washington Saturday
from several points that changes in
prominent officers Of the service were
imminent; indeed. ii was reported that
the resignation OF the second assistant
postmaster general, Joseph Stewart. and
that Of the chief Of the railway mail
service. Alexander Grant, had been sub
mitted to Postmaster General Hitchcock.
II can be said on authority of Mr..
Hitchcock himself that neither Of the
officials has resigned and that their res
ignations have not been called for. Mr..
Hitchcock expressed himself Saturday
night as entirely satisfied with the adj.
minstrstion Of the office OF second as
sistant by Mr. Stewart, for whom. per-
sonally and officially. be entertains a
high regard bat he expressed himself as
much dissatisfied with the management
Of the railway mail service. particularly
as respects the personnel of the service.
His investigations, he indicated. dis
closed that orders had been issued BY
subordinate officers of the service placing
upon the employees unreasonable burdens,
in some instances humiliating burdens.
These orders were promulgated in the
name OF the postmaster general, although
he knew nothing about them until his
investigation brought them to light The
orders were issued. too, Mr.. Hitchcock
pointed out, Notwithstanding the fact
that had issued general instructions
that in the carrying out of proposed
improvements in the service, no addition
al burdens should be placed upon the
employees, as | believe that in the devel-
opment Of our efficiency system the
hearty good will Of the employees was
absolutely necessary"
Mr.. Hitchcock said that the only
change in the status of the railway
mail clerks was caused by an effort Of
the department to effect a reasonable
readjustment of hours of service so as
to equalize the hours throughout the
country. BY the operations of this sys-
tenn, the hours Of service of some clerks
were slightly increased. while those Of
others were reduced. The general pur-
pose was to have the maximum of EN-
ployment not to exceed BM hours a
day. In the working out Of this system,
Mr.. Hitchcock suggested that the rail-
way mail clerks were not denoted and
the service was in no respect eurtailed;
on the contrary, the departments ef-
forts were to obtain, through Congress,
improved physical and financial work
ing conditions, while il strove to keep
the service up to the desirable standard
The investigation instituted BY Mr..
Hitchcock probably will not be eoHclud-
ed for some days Il is not possible
60 foretelI accurately the precise results
but a thorough overhsuling Of the ex-
eeutive officials of the railway mail serv-
ice is possible, If not imminent.