Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-19
To HELP CAUSE
or P. 0. CLERKS
Keynote of Speeches at Ban
quet Is aBetterment OF
Working Conditions.
EIGHT HOURS IS ENOUGH
Postmaster Pfeiffer Is Toast
master State President
Shaffny Delivers Talk.

SudiIifJ DCtlFCtS to'Hs
Betterment Of working conditions
In the post Office was the keynote OF
speeches given by local and out OF
town men at the first banquet OF
local branch No. 1907, of the United
Association Of Post Office Clerks, at
Charles Rado-Schleser's "Old Wen
ma Restaurant" Saturday night.
Postmaster William H. Pfeiffer, OF
this city. and p. III. C~harlcck, the
postmaste- of Elizabeth, ere
among those who spoke In favor of
keeping up improvement in work
ing conditions for clerks, carriers
and other workers in the lost Of
fee. The speeches were given with
ringing enthusiasm and general
good feeling prevailed among the
score who partook Of the festivities
laid out by the clerks OF the Perth
Amboy post Office.
Eight Hour Day.
Among the subjects Of improve
ment often referred to was that of
placing eight hours of actual work
within a short day. 1t was stated
that in some offices clerks had to
be on duty fourteen, fifteen and six
teen hours In order to get In eight
hours of actual work, due to waits
between malls. In this city, 1t was
stated, twelve and sometimes more
hours we're consumed by clerks to
work eight hours. The object SEEM
ed to be to set a limit of hours for
duty as set forth In the Kelley bill,
providing for eight hours work IN
ten.
Postmaster Is Toastmaster.
Percy e. Coutts, a we'll experienced
clerk in the local post office, began
the speech-making part of the festiv-
titles after a s%umptuous dinner, with
turkey as the headliner, had been
served. He introduced Postmaster
Pfeiffer as POSTMASTER and he ac-
corded the gathering a few words
of welcome and introduced p. I'll.
Gharlock, the postmaster, Of Eliza
beth. He said he had always, since
his term as postmaster began, want
ed to become acquainted with postal
laws and regulations, and to that
end had studied much and mixed
with his employees. He said the pub
lie did not understand the many
difficulties to be overcome In en-
beavers 70 serve the public with
mail, did not know what post office
Workers were compelled TO put up
with. He declared service must be
good regardless Of weather condi-
lions, and the demand of the public
was as great and often even more
urgent in cases Of rushes than or
dinarily. Mr.. ChRrlock said 1T
would be good IL double shifts could
be secured.
Postal Savings Banks.
The Elizabeth postmaster said the
service given by postal savings
banks was admirable. In Elizabeth
he said there were about 400 de-
positors. He declared it was need
ed by the people and desired as a
safe means Of holding money for
those who might have had a lack of
confidence IL financial institutions.
CharIock said ne would welcome
unlimited deposits, SO that the pat
ron OF the postal savings bank could
trust as large sums as he choose to
the government.
Mr.. Chariock declared himself in
favor OF parcels post, because he
maintained that it is needed. In
conclusion he spoke for post office
employees In general, stating he
wanted to see the post Office work
ers, particularly the clerks and car
said all he asked was that the men
riaTs, properly compensated. He
In his Office hold to the regulations
and he would endeavor to promote
them rs rapidly as possible. A PEN
sion with some light work for those
who had given long and faithful SER
vice vas advocated by the Elizabeth
postmaster. He referred to the many
different classes of people postal
workers have to deal with and con-
gave illustrations how i'm
portant the delivery of mail really
was and how pieces OF mail convey
emotions OF different sorts.
State President Speaks.
John +. Shaffny, of Newark, presi-
dent of the State Association of Post
Office Clerks, told about the organiza-
sion founded to bring into closer rela-
eionship postal clerks throughout the
United States. He spoke about the pur-
pose Of the organization. Mr.. Shaffny
then went on to tell of some of the
work done by the organization, inelnd-
ing Sunday closing Of post Offices. Re
to working hours, Mr.. Shaffny
said the limit had sadly gone to excess
and he would welcome the passage Of q
bill prescribing eight hours work in
ten. Concluding he lauded Postmaster
II. Pfeiffer, declaring that he
believed him to be the right man in
HE right place. Nh. Pfeifer referring
10 what Mr.. Shaffny said about improv-
conditions for clerks said he was
thoroughly in sympathy with his re-
The POSTMASTER then called upon w.
A. Mcdonald, Of Jersey City, first vice
president of the state association OF
Post Office Clerks. He referred to the
Improvement in some offices as a con
trast to conditions in others which he
almost unbearable. He main
tained it was sad that some clerks had
q string thar days work out II four
lContinued on page H.
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