Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-06
Overwork and Underpay.


there is nothing else in the world to
do, his nose held to the grindstone
of an awful service of the people, and
for which the remuneration is an in
suit to man of his ability, yet who
does not wish to come out in the open
with his convictions. We are giving
his self-pitying and purposefy mis-
leading letter minus his signature and
address, as requested. 1t will be
noted at the outset that he places us
in a false position and then goes
ahead to argue from that premise
without other apparent purpose than
to show to the public that he is a
member of n suffering, "overworked
and underpaid" class.
| In the first place, the Kennebec
Journal has never advocated the
| Withdrawal of any of the few privi-
| leges" of this poor victim of public
demand. On the contrary, we recon-
mended increased pay and provision
for substitutes on holidays in order
that carriers might stay at home and
those who are served by him still re-
eeive the public service.
Even this man, who evidently de-
votes his lonesome hours to self pity,
must admit that the rural free deiiv-
cry was not established for the sake
of the carriers wholly. but was primar-
ily intended for convenience of the
public. If he thinks he is the show
and they are the patrons, he has
missed the mark entirely, and de-
serves to be shown his place. He is
the servant of the public and they
are not his patrons but are looking
to him for good service, and If he is
not satisfied with his job, to do the
best he can with it for the best tie
government can afford to pay, then
the sooner he gets out and devotes
himself to his own interests, the bet
ter.
We are tired of men who think they
own the public simply because they
have been granted the opportunity to
serve it for wages which always find
plenty of seekers.
Because this mans patrons" are
too good-natured to complain, he as
sumes that those in touch with the
whole countryside do not know what
is going on.
The Kennebec Joarnal has been
from the start the most active and
successful agent in securing and
building up the rural mail delivery
service that Maine has had. 1t is Just
as anxious today as at any period OF
its existence, to perfect the efficiency
of the service. Indeed that is why II
has responded to complaints ana ask
| ed-will continue to ask-that the pub
lie be better served on holidays. 1t Is
working first, last and all the time for
the public, and if it is necessary to
sacrifice some of the comforts of those
serving the public, in doing so then
| let it come. But the Journal does not
recommend any hardships for the car
riers. 1t recommends exactly the op-
posite, as any honest. fair-mlnded per-
| son can see. za4
Standing thus for efficiency and de-
manding recognition of public rights
as above those of individuals, the Ken
nebec Journal will now recommend
that any person in the public service
who is dissatisfied with his work and
nav. promptly resign and take up prl-
yate affairs where he can regulate
his holidays and his earning capacity
to suit himself. When we can no long
er stand the "underpay and overwork
of the editorial job, we will take our
self out of the way of better man.
and stop whining.
Here is the personal letter of the
carrier who hides behind our gener-
osity:
Editor of Kennebec Journal;
Please find inclosed an article in re-
p,v IN the editorial and letters recently
nublished in your paper regarding rural
carriers holidays. / trust you Will pub
Iish the same and will ask you to With
hold my name, that is, please do not
publish it.
And here is the letter he sent for
publications:
Mr.. Editor:
Noting the letters and editorial in re-
cent issues of your paper regarding ru-
raj letter carriers holidays, l would ike
to say few words from the viewpoint
of the carrier The writer is and has
been for ten years, serving 2o-nile mail
route with about 40 families and in that
time have never heard a word from one
of my patrons protesting against the six
HOLIDAYS allowed us. The writer has
been in fairly close touch with many
other carriers during that time and they
all tell the same story, that their pa
irons seem rather glad than otherwise,
that the carrier is allowed these days to
enjoy with his family the celebrations
and festivities that always come on
these days
Christmas, the day of days, that the
| carrier (for he is only human after alb
would like TO spend at home with his
family, he is required to serve his route
| And, knowing the joy and pleasure the
mails of that day bring to his patrons
especially the children along his way,
he does it without complaining. And in
return the postmaster general has given
us New Years day for a holiday We
collect very little mail on holidays, and
the delivery is usually light as the most
of the patrons are at some celebration
in town, or at some neighborhood gath
ering, themselves.
1t looks to the writer as though most
of this dissatisfaction and complaint
came from some localities where some
small cross roads post Office, with may
be one mail per day or tri-weekly mails
had been discontinued in the interest OF