The Washington times., 1913-12-20
URGES NEW SYSTEM
OF P. 0. EFFICIENCY
Roper Says Rating Method Now
in Vogue Has Chief Regard:
for Penalties.

rr
An improved system os efficiency
rating for Postofficc carriers and clerks
IS being devised by First Assistant
Postmaster General Roper. The old
system, while having had wholesome
influence, has tended more toward es-
tabllshing uniform penalties for de-
,inquencies than toward Standardization
throughout the service, on which eff
ciency should be based, according |
Ir Roper.
fr-his annuaf report, re says. BE
ginning July 1.-l9o9. a system fer rst.-.
ihe efficiency OF employees OF the serv-
ice was gradually placed in operation.
~ all first and second class postoftees.
his system, although admittedly in-
complete, has lad 4 whesesoruc iflf1u-'
eIlce toward fixing merit and fitness as
he basis for advancement in rank and
isrsde. 1t IS believed, lEwever. that
il has tended more toward establish
ing, uniform penalties for delinquencles
0a the part of the employees than to-
Wasd standardization threughout. - he
service, the factors upon which the
ratings for efficiency should be based.
4 careful study is now being made o.:
this subject, and IL is Intended dtiring
the present fiscal years stotevolpe and
pat. in operation an i,rtrruyeds.
tpai will insure hisrit and fitness as.
'.An equitable system for rating effi-
ciency should embrace test OF the
employees on their kncV1edge Of the
laws, regulations. and orders govern
ng their respective ,duties. .essIt is pro-
paoed to include sncha test in the plan
rcw being devised In order that the
einployes may be prepared to meet this
condition. a ookspaet-ffannai-- is being
prepared for clerks and city letter car
lIsrs which will contain the laws, reg,
.fr, s~~E- =
iial to a full krowiedge of their duties /
ne manual is rapidly -opprca ching
% npledor. and Yin be .reEI.y for dis
trlbupon shortlys-sfter--ye yerusrv.l sai4''
Sunday Law Impairs Efficiency.
The law prohibiting the opening or
posteffices and. the delivers, of. mail
on Sunday has added Largely. to the
ccst Of the postal service and s'mater-
ALLY lessons its. efficieney,'~ according
10 the report. OF this Mr.. Roper says:
The enforcement of this law, par
iieuiarly the latter CLAUSE. not only
sdds largely tozthe cost of the. service
Iails are received and disrstciied al
practically all frSt and second class
offices on Sundays and during certain
hours this necessltates the employment
II al least part of the force. Under
the law these employees must be granted
compensatory time on one of the six
succeeding days. Owing t. the CON
slant huctuation in the postal business
mis- legal requirement works materially
iD.,ans. 70 the desrimTf aIl,n q The servce. For
especially between Octobe; and May,
IN order to prevent an unite accumu-
lation of mail in post OFFICES it is
necessary to require a considerable
duty each sunday. The granting OF
compensatory time, to theac employees
during the succeeding week when the
condition Of the work urgently de-
Ilands their presence and to employ
inexperienced substitutes I. their places
results in a serious impairment OF the
EFFICIENCY of the force The granting
of compensatory time in New York
city alone deprives that Office Of the
services Of about 100 clerks on every
week day during the busy periods.
"The department believes il would be
n the interest of both the service and
he employees to amend the law so as
o provide for the granting OF compen-
satory time for Sunday work when the
employees can be most conveniently eX-
cused from duty
Ten-Hour Limit Interfere:.
Mr.. Roper also recommends amend
ilent Of the eght-hour law to require
eight hours OF service within period
Of eleven or twelve consecutive hours,
instead of in ten hours, as at present.
The ten-hour limit materially interferes
With efficiency and economy In the sery-
ice, he declares.
A revision OF the pay of pastmasters
is also recommended in view of the
heavy increase in postal receipts from
he parcel post Ns$ssV y Il
At present the salaries of postmasters
in the big offices are based on the
mount Of their receipts. There will be
e heavy increase in all salaries unless
2 new basis Is determined -r- 4
II Is recommended that the benefits
OF the indemniflcation to injured en-
3ioyes OF the railway mail service be
extended to all er1ploYes - - - -