Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-05
WILL TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES
Railway Mail Service May Be
Reorganized as Result.
'wo MEN ARE UNDER FIRE
Alexander Grant Tncurs Displeasure
in Connection with Work.
GOOD WILL OF CLERKS NEEDED
General Purpose IL TO Readjust
Hours of Service So that All
VIII Work six ana One
Hair Hours.

WASHINGTON, Feb. i-Inefficiency. in
subordlnatiOn and mismanagement are al
legged to have developed in the railway mail
service and sreiikely to result in an up
heaval In and perhaps in a reOTganiza-
tion o fthe entire service. Postmaster GEN
eral Hitchcock is thoroughly incensed and
makes no concealment of his indignation.
Recently he has been conducting a per-
sonal investigation. His inquiry is not
concluded, but the facts thus far indicate
that its results are likely to be drastic
Rumors reached Washington today from
several points that changes in leading Of
ficers of the service were imminent indeed
II was reported that designations OF the
second assistant postmaster general. Joseph
Stewart. and the chief OF the railway mail
service. Alexander Grant, had been sub
mltted to the postmaster general,
1t can be said On authority of Mr.. Hitch
cock that neither OF these officials has re-
signed and that their designations have
not been called for.
Mr.. Hitchcock tonig1t expressed himself
as entirely satisfied with the administra-
tlon of the office Of second assistant by
Mr. Stewart for whom, personally and Off
cially. he entertains high regard but he
expressed himself as much dissatisfied with
the Management of :he railway mail SER
vice, particularly as respects the personnel
of the service.
Orders by SubOrdinates.
His investigation, he indicated. had dis
closed that orders had been issued by sub
ordinate officers. placing upon the en-
ployes unreasonable, and, in some in
stances, humiliating burdens. These were
promulgated in the name of the postmaster
general although he knew nothing about
them until after investigation.
''The orders were issued" Mr.. Hitchcock
said, Notwithstanding the fact that had
issued general instructions that in the
carrying out Of proposed improvements in
the service no addItionai burdens should
be placed on the employees. as ! believe
that in the development of our efficiency
system the hearty coed wun OF the ens
plos es is absolutely necessary.
Mr. Hitchcock said the only change in
the status of the railway mail clerks was
caused by an effort of the department to
effect reasonable readjustment OF hours
OF service so as to equalze them through
out the country. Through the operation
of this system the hours of service of
some clerks were slightly Increased, while
/ those OF others were reduced.
! The general purpose was to have the
maximum period OF employment not to
| exceed six and a half hours a day. In
/ the working out of this system. Mr.. Hitch
| cock suggested the railway mail clerks
had not been lowered in rank and the
service in no respects had been curtailed
on the contrary, the departments efforts
had been to obtain through congress Inn
/ proved physical and financial working con.
ditons while striving to keep the service
apace with the development of the country
The investigation instituted by Mr.. Hitch.
cock probably will not be concluded foI
some days. 1t is not possible to foretel
accurately the precise result. but thor.
| ough overhauling OF executive officials OF
the railway mail service is possible, II moi
imminent.