The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-05
DELIVERY OF MAIL ON SUNDAY.

4
ionS ago the opinion was expressed
that II the people of Keokuk bv peti
uoh or otherwise would indicate theil
Willingness to forego the delivery Of
mall on Sunday the Postoffce he
partment would readily consent te
such an arrangement. II was OK
Planned that the local postoffce was
Kept open to the public for an hour
on Sunday for the convenience OF the
public II the Department corld he
assured of the willingness of the N1b
nc TO dispense with Sunday delivery
It would be glad to afford the letter
carriers rest on that day.
This view of the matter hos since
Deen confirmed By the experience of
Detroit and by the statements of
FIRST Assistant Postmaster Grandfield
IN his annual report just at hand. In
Detroit the matter of Sunday closing
was taken Up by Postmaster Homer
warren with the high officials of the
DEPARTMENT at Washington and favor.
able replies were received from both
Postmaster General Frank n Hitch.
cock and First Assistant DR. Charles
p Grandfield. Thus encoura ced the
support of the newspapers was So
Noted and secured, and then $4,000
cards were distri uted 10 the public.
asking for an expression on ths
subject About $4,000 of these were
returned, showing only twerty on
posed 10 the proposed arrangement.
Petitions were then circulated request.
ing that the Detroit postoffice he
closed on SUNDAY. and these were so
generally signed that the postmaster
had no hesitancy In ordering that the
office be closed on Sunday IS far as
delivery Of mail By carriers was CON
cerned. A trial OF the experiment
resulted satisfactorily 10 all concern
Cd and permitted Of approximately 900
OF the force Of 341 carriers having
SUNDAY 20 hensalves A number OF
clerks in the main Office are also bene-
Tilted By the arrangement. Man ia
distributed 10 the lock boxes and the
general deliyery window is kent oDen
for ore hour on Sunday for transien.s
only. Clerks "a The main office per.
forming work On Sunday are given
time off during the week in lieu Of The
same.
In his report referred 10 ADORE first
Assistant Postmaster General Grand
field says that It Is the poifcv Of The
Department not 70 require ary noye
work in post offices On Srndavs and
holidays than IS absolutely necessary
to prevent congestion Of TIE mar.
and to provide reasonable poseal facflt
ties for the pubic. To this eus H.
Department Is endeavorinz to bring
about greater degree Of aniforrnffr
IN the amount OF sundsy Eorl. ID p1st
OFFICES throughout The country and "a
provide dsy OF resi- for those en-
pioyees Who are compelled 10 xors
all day on SUNDAY. Reports from Po<+-
masters, however. indicate 2 ztse sfr.
ference in the amount o, sundav So
vice even in offices in M sue Jo,esI;-
ty and Of the same grade IN 7-ar45e
ally all cities where city free deix4rv
is in operation letter carriers are r.
CURED to report on sunday and roufee
their mail for the first delivery we,-.
day morning and to dehYer nan tn-
an hour or more to those vho IN
at the windows Practically ore
half OF the carriers are thus -
duty every othe~ Sunday. On hoHssr.
as general rule one deliver az nal
by letter carriers is made In t,1A mafF.
ing division ofpost offices coust6A-.
able percentage of the clerks are n.
iGty every Sunday for eight hours snd
smaller percentage in the deliyery ~.
vision This work is necessary and ca,.
not be curtaiied, but in most instance,
i is possible to allow compensatnrv
lime OFF on other days of the weaL
As rule the money-order. Registry
md stamp windows are closed on SIM
lays. The program here outlined. With
he exception of the closing of rho
stamp window, is l. effect in the Kao.
TUX postoffice. After noting these
Kings the first assistant goes on to
Jay:
There is very strong sentiment