United labor bulletin., 1911-04-27
p. o. DEPARTMENT CHALLENGED.
Senator La Toilette and Congressman
Lloyd Introduce Bills in Both Houses.

Senator La foItette ana congressman
Lloyd Introduce Bills in Both Houses.
When the postoffice department COM
menced its present efforts to deny the
men employed in the railway mail serv-
ice the right or organize by official or
ders, public and secret, discrimination,
coercion, discharge, reduction in rank
and pay, and by these reprehensibie
methods forcing them out OF the service,
it evidently did not anticipate that much
opposition would be encountered. Con-
trary to expectation the men in this
branch of the service almost unanimous
ly resented any attempt on the part OF
the department depriving them the right
of association, as an invasion OF their
constitutional rights. AS silent an
swer to the department forbidding or
ganization, several unions have been
formed, and with rapidly increasing
membership. Four charters have been
issued from headquarters this week
From many sections come the report
that local unions are in the process of
formation.
Senator La Toilette congressionally
took up the cause of the railway mail
clerks by issuing a letter and enclosing
blank containing list OF questions
This letter and blank was mailed to the
clerks. The senator assured the clerks
receiving MS communication tndt al dh-
swers would be considered confidential.
AS result replies have been coming in
at the rate of approximately 400 per day,
and from present indications fully 80 per
cent will respond. The letters from the
clerks clearly prove that the department
has gene the full length to attain its
end.
few days ago two bills were intro
duced in congress, one by Senator La
hr- r,r,o G.
man Lloyd, H. r. 500. The latter bill
was referred to the house committee on
reform in the civil service. The senate
bill has been referred to the committee
on civil service and retrenchment- Fol-
lowing this comes bill introduced by
Congressman Howard of Georgia. House
Resolution 102. which demands thor
ough and searching inquiry into opera
ton and conduct" of the postoffice de-
partment Among several subjects spe-
cifically designated to be inquired into
are the following:
First: II un-American practices of
intimidation and coercion of postal en-
ployes exist
Second: If emloyes in the railway
mail service. under threat of suspension.
have been denied the right to organize
for mutual protection and to affiliate with
the American Federation of Labor"
effort was Immediately made to get a
hearing before the house committee to
which had been referred the Lloyd bill.
AS a result hearing was had on Thurs
day April 20, and President Gompers
and Secretary Morrison appeared on be-
half of the American Federation of La
bor President Gompers outlined the
structure and scope OF the labor move
ment and emphatically insisted that as
tho American labor nOyqmeDt was COu-
structed in accordance with American in
stitutions no department of government
or official had the right to deny to the
men employed in the classified service
the exercise of their constitutional guar
hntees. He also read before the com
mittee the obligation taken by members
Of the American Federation of Labor.
and challenged anyone to dispute the
I fact that the obligation in any way pre-
cluded 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.
Secretary Morrison then produced a
mass of documentary evidence to prove
that the postofice department has open
~ and secretly Disseminated against the
American Federation of Labor. Much of
the evidence consists of letters from a
number of railway mail clerks, contain
ing 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 department were
also presented.
BY this time the committee began to
realize the Importance and magnitude of
the case. and as the lower house has
ruled that no committees shall remain in
session during the debate on the reci-
procity measure the committee was COM
PEELED to adjourn as the house was about
to be called to order. No definite time
has been set for another meeting, but it
will occur next week. At that time no
doubt some representative of the post
office department will be present.
The activities of the department in
this direction has caused intense in
terest. and a number of congressman
have introduced bills that relate directly
to the mail service. The fact that former
Postmaster General Cortelyou publicly
acquiesced in the formation of unions
among the men in the classified service
is decidedly interesting. and throws an
unwelcome shadow over the actions of