The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
SUNDAY SERVICE
 IS DISCONTINUED At All Sub-StatiOns Except
 South Highlands POsTMASTER'S ORDER
Patrons Who Desire Mail Regularly on Sunday Must Rent Boxes. To Give Clerks a H0li-
 day

The Sunday delivery of mail matter at all of the Birmingham sub-stations will be discontinued next Sunday, ex- cept the South Highlands station An order to this effect was promul gated yesterday by Joseph H. Montgom- cry, postmaster of Birmingham, who in letter directs the various subor- dinate officials to deliver mail to no one at the stations on Sunday except the travelling public and those calling for the most urgent mail matter.
 The directions of MT. Montgomery fol- low:
 ITO R. c. Deloney, Superintendent of Carriers, woodlawn.
 "P B. Mize, Superintendent, Avondale. Herman Byrd, Superintendent, North Birmingham.
 "W. T. Kemp, Superintendent, West "R. H. Mckinley. Superintendent, East Lake.
 Dear Sir-Beginning Sunday. April 2, 1911. you will discontinue the delivery of Sunday mail at your station, except to the travelling public and those pa irons of the office who call for urgent personal mail. The mail must be re- ceived and dispatched as usual and dis tributed to boxes.
 Patrons who desire their mail reg ularly on Sunday should be required to rent boxes, though their mail is de- livered to them by carriers on the other days in the week.
 Fee Will Be Required
 "A patron desiring ordinary mail de- livered to him on Sundays should be accommodated upon payment of the prevailing fee for special delivery ser vice.
 "The patrons of your office are this Sunday closing to the end that clerks and carriers may have one day of rest in each week.
 ''J H. MONTGOMERY,
 Postmaster"
 The order was followed by an an- nouncement by Postmaster Montgomery that the delivery at the various sta- tions had been tested and it was shown that the Sunday delivery did not war rant the government keeping 19 men engaged in the work on that day. He also said that the joy of one holiday was sufficiently appreciated by even postal employees.
 The statement of Postmaster Mont gomery follows:
 Nineteen Carriers Worked
 we have tested the Sunday mail de- livery at each of these stations and have found that the mall delivery on the l9 carriers employed at these sta tions working on that day. Should all who can, receive mail on Sunday it would not warrant Sunday opening
 You will see that this order does not affect the South Highland station and the main office. No definite de- cision as to the Sunday closing of these has been reached. Both of them are being investigated with a view of clos ing them on Sunday. Indications are that the small per cent of patrons re- quiring Sunday delivery will not war rant keeping them open on that day. Investigation develops the fact that of the mail received by the business pa irons on Sunday so little is answered on that day that clerks and stenog- raphers no longer go to their offices on Sunday except in cases of great emer- gency
 No Unreasonable Rule
 "Of course, should we have Sunday closing at the South Highland station and the main office, provision will be made for the delivery of mail to those who are compelled to have their mail on that day. Whatever is done no rule will be adopted to unreasonably pre- vent the delivery of mail on Sunday.
 There are 46 carriers and many clerks who are now required to spend Sunday morning at these offices until II o'clock working, thereby prevent ing all of them from attending church. Again. all work and no rest robs life of many of its charms even for postal employees"