The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-29
Post Office Department Chal-
lenged by Senator LaFollette
and Congressman Lloyd.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
DENIED TO EMPLOYEES
Hearings Before House Committee
on Reform in Civil Service
Already Begun.

WASHINGTON April 26.-When
the postoffice department commenced
it's present efforts to deny the men
employed in the railway mail SER
vice the right to organize by Of
ficial orders, public and secret. dis
elimination, coercion. discharge. re-
duction in rank and pay, and by these
reprehensible methods forcing them
out of the service, it evidently did
not anticipate that much opposition
would be encountered. Contrary to-
expectation the men in this branch
of the service almost unanimously re-
sented any attempt on the part or
the department depriving them the
right of association, as an Invasion
of their constitutional rights. AS a
silent answer to the department for
bidding organiza ton, several unions
have been formed, and with rapidly
increasing membership. Four char
ters have been issued from headquar-
ters this week. From many sections
come the report that local unions
are in the process of formation.
Railway Mail Clerks.
Senator LaFollette congressionally
took up the cause of the railway
mail clerks by issuing a letter and
enclosing a blank containing a list
of questions. This letter and blank
was mailed to the clerks. The sena-
tor assured the clerks receiving his
communication that all answers would
be considered confidential. AS a re-
suit replies have been coming in at
the rate of approximately 400 per
day, and from present indications
fully 30 per cent will respond. The
letters from the clerks clearly prove
that the department has gone: the
full length to- attain its end
f. ~,-rfReforn Bills in Congress.
A few days ago two bills were in
I troduced in congress, one by Senator
! LaFollette, S. 1862, and one by Con-
gresham Lloyd, H. r. 1910. The
! latter bill was referred to the house
committee on reform in the civil SER
vice. The senate bill has been re-
! ferred to the committee on civil SER
| vice and retrenchment. Following
this comes bill introduced by Con-
gresham Howard Of Georgia, house;
| resolution 1O2, which demands a.
Thorough and searching inquiry in
| to operation and conduct Of the
| postoffice department. Among sere-
! raj subjecth specifically designated to
be inquired into are the following:
First: If un-American practices
| of intimidation and coercion of postal
employees exist.
| Second: If employees in the rail-
| way mail service, under threat OF
! suspension, have been denied the
right to organize for mutual protec-
ton and to affiliate with the Amer
| lean Federation of Labor
Labors Position Defined.
! Upon the introduction of these bills
effort was Immediately made to get
a hearing before the house commit
| tee to which had been referred the
! Lloyd bill; AS result hearing was
had on Thursday, April 20, and Presi-
| dent Gompers and Secretary Morri
son appeared on behalf of the Amer
! lean Federation of Labor. President
Gompers outlined the structure and
! scope of the labor movement and en-
phatically insisted that as the Amer
lean labor movement was constructed
in accordance with American. insti-
|
or official had the the right to deny
to the men employed in the classified
service the exercise of their constitu-
J tional guarantees. He also read be-
! for the committee the obligation taken
by members of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, and challenged anyone
to dispute the fact that the obligation
in any way precluded the individual
| conforming to the same and at the
same time comply with the obligation
imposed upon men by the department
In the efficient discharge of their
duties.
Documentary Evidence.
! Secretary Morrison then produced
a mass of documentary evidence to
prove that the postoffice department
has openly and secretly discrimin-
ated against the American Federation
of Labor. Much of the evidence con-
sists of letters from a number of
railway mail clerks, containing lists
OF questions that have been pro-
pounded to them, and the similarity
of these questions at once indicate
that they had been framed by one
individual. Secret orders Of the de-
partment We're also presented.
., Much Interest Shown.
BY this time the committee began
to realize the Importance and mag
nitude of the case, and as the lower
house has ruled that no committees
shall remain in session during the
debate on the reciprocity measure
the committee was compelled to ad-
journ as the house was about to be
i ca11o6 t0 order M dnflri%n fi,,, = - =,
been set for another: meeting, but it
/ will occur next week AT that time
no doubt some representative OF the
posto,ff flee departm, e1lt Win be present.