Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-19
Special Correspondencel.

Washington. Jan. 1s.-Postoffice
clerks the country over. in Washington
and other cities as we'll, are fighting
for the right of free speech. They
maintain they are now deprived OF the
constitutional right Of free speech and
that one. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
Gid it.
Now. if a postoffice clerk ventures to
speak out and criticise the administra-
ton OF things no matter how closely 1t
may concern him he is likely 20 find
himself land out in a cold world with
out job.
President Oscar F. Nelson. of Chica
go. head OF the National Federation of
Postofice Clerks. is in Washington for
me purpose OF helping along legislation
which. as he explains it. will put the
postoffice clerks OF the same footing
as 10 saving what they think as other
american citizens. When Colonel
Roosevelt was president. he issued an
executive order which, forbade the
clerks from taking up matters with the
heads of departm ents or with congress
o. giving publicity to any criticisms of
conditions under which they worked
This order still obtains
IN -Ecl NY. Nelson tlGlSell was ClS-
CHARGED from the government servicc
fo~ violating II. This so stirred up the
federation to which he belonged that he
was made president Of it. He complain
"a about the unsa nitary conditions in
the federal building in Chicago. He
said men were dying OF tuberculosis
because OF these conditions. Nothir 2
was done and he told the Chicago news
papers about the situation. The result
was that he was. in plain English. fir
ed He accounts Il substantial proof
that he was not let out for ineftciencv
tia. he was promoted July / and was
removed July 10.
The same conditions prevail among
all the civil service employees here"
said Mr.. Nelson. III any Of these en-
ployes attempts any criticism OF the
administration OF his bureau or division
or department his head will fall
Seeking . Remedy.
Bills are pending now in house and
senate to right this situation and null
lily an executive order which the post
Office clerks. and no doubt others as
we'll. look on as sitting free speech
Representative Poindexter has intro
duced bill in the house and Senator
Jones, in the senate.
AnOthef matter which Mf. Nelson Is
interested in as head Of the federation
OF postoTice clerks is to have the
eight hour law enforced as 10 them
selves
The postor.ice clerks" said Mr..
Nelson. are the only federal employees
that haven't the protection OF the
eigh hour law thrown around them
Letter carriers and other postal en-
ployes have the protection Of this
law
The economy regime Of Postmaster
General Hitchcock falls hard on the
postoffice clerks, according to Mr.
Nelson. 1t also hits the rural free de-
livery carriers and the railway mail
service employees. Mr. Nelson said that
the clerks were not working on an eight
hour schedule, despite the fact it had
teen go represented to congress by the
postoffice department He pointed out
that in Chicago for eight weeks before
Christmas the postonice clerks worked
nine hours and this was true Of the
men on the night shift.
Mr.. Nelson does not believe there is
any demand for postal economy from
the public that reaches to the extreme
of wanting the clerks and employees of
the service to suffer. He declares res
ignations from the service are numer-
Gus The pay Of a postoffice clerk
ranges from $500 to $1,000. the latter
being the top notch figure and allowed
TO comparatively a small percentage of
the clerks.