Evening star., 1915-05-24
Declares Letter Collectors Affected
Not Able to Fulfill Delivery
Service Requirements.


irons Of tho ofice"
Mr.. Praeger's Statement.
Postmaster Praegers statement fol-
lows:
THE proposed reduction in salary OF
certain letter carriers Of this Office Is
not restricted to the Washington ONCE
and does not involve collectors only.
nor Is 1t an economy proposition on the
part of the department, but 1t is in line
with the general policy Of the depart
ment to adjust salaries to the labor
performed and to reduce ineficient en-
ployes so as to make 1t possible to pro-
fiscal year In accordance with the
classification law of 1907. While 1t is
true that certain carriers Of this once
have received notices regarding reduc-
tions. they have received them because
OF inability to perform an average de-
livery service and not because they are
simply collecting mail.
Any collector who can perform ef-
nctent delivery service need have no
fear Of the reduction Of salary. In all
made in tho Washington post ONCE
under my administration It has been
our aim to pay the maximum salary to
the men who do the actual work. A
man who can merely take the mail out
Of a letter box. but Is not mentally or
physically capable Of rendering the ex-
acting services of delivery man, Is
not entitled to the higher salary.
1T is idle to contend that the services
of carrier who collects mail are on
rier who delivers it to the patrons OF
the Office. Any laborer who can walk
from box to box can perform the eerv-
Ices Of a man who only collects from
the letter boxes. On the other hand
the duties required of a carrier en-
n y
exacting than those required OF col
lectors. the delivery carriers having te
acauaint themselves with the disposi-
ton of the mail not only intended fol
every patron upon the route. but foi
many of those who have formerly re-
sided thereon and moved to other loca'
tions. When a deliveryman reports 1ol
duty he is required to route or prepare
his mail for delivery, his ONCE tim<
being limited.
"In routing the mails the carrier has
to work with great rapidity in order to
leave the ONCE on time, this being the
most important part Of the service re-
quired Of letter carriers, and he must
be active in covering the route in order
to complete his delivery within his
to all Of the patrons. While routing.
it is necessary for him to tndorse mail
received by him for former patrons
who have moved to other locations
Though these names are recorded IN
his route book. he generally carries
mind, to enable him to readdress the
mail Immediately upon receipt SO as to
insure its transfer to the other carriers
in order to cause its delivery to be
be possible for him to consult his route
book for such changes and anord the
mail expeditions handling. In addition
to this. the delivery carriers receive q
large number Of registered letters, and
are charged with the responsibility of
erecting proper delivery, and must al
ways have a good general knowledge OF
the postal laws and regulations Affect
ing their service.
No Step Climbing to Do.
THE services Of a collector are largely
restricted to the collection Of mail from
letter and package boxes. and the bring
ing Of it to the post Office While 1t Is
necessary for them to do considerable
walking, they are entirely relieved OF the
climbing done by deliverymen with
loaded pouches upon their backs. They
are not required to memorize changes OF
address orders, and 1t is not necessary for
them to be as active as deliverymen
"The salary law enacted In 1907 pro.
carriers in large cities to the $1.10t
grade, and the promotion of the more
eficient ones to the $1,000 grade. and
since that time Congress has appropri-
ated from year to year sumcient funds
for the promotion Of from only so to IS
per cent of those eligible to promotion to
the $1,000 grade. it being intended that
only the most efficient carriers should
receive the maximum salary of $1,000
"As the last Congress failed to pass
the Post Office appropriation bill. max.
ing effective promotions for the fiscal
year beginning July /, 1915, but passed
a continuing act, making available Tor
that year the amounts appropriated 9pii 10, foI
be necessary for the department to re-
duee the neeent earrlsrs in order af tho to
efticient ones during the coming year.
In my opinion. the law is more likely ke,t to
the efficient ones than by permitting g
the inefficient ones to receive a salary
of $1,000, and 1t is manifestly unjust to
the employees who are performing
efficiently the more exacting service to
continue them at smaller salary than
is given those performing less exact
ing service"