Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-23
SHAKEUP STIRS
POSTOFFTCE MEN
Clerks of Omaha Office Hold Mass
Meeting and Debate Uniting
With Federation of Labor.
WHARTON is AGAINST REPORT

ings of the local postoffice clerks
held during the last two years was
the one held Sunday at the old
Army building at Fifteenth and
Dodge. So moved we're the clerks
that the officers and the few pact
fiers had a hard time to keep the
peace, the breach coming when a
number OF the members demanded
that the association affiliate with the
National Federation of Labor. The
leader of this movement said;
THE time has come when the civil
service employees of this country
must unite with labor and labor
unions and fight the crushing hand
of the spokesman. We are today
about to witness the tearing down
Of what It took years to build up
the present businesslike method Of
the Omaha postoffice as established
and maintained by our distinguished
postmaster and assistants selected
for their ability and not for political
reward or through favoritism.
More Work, Fewer Men.
mo employe in the Omaha post
office will say anything but that the
Omaha office is in better working
condition, doing more work With less
men, and more efficient work than 1t
has done In the last twenty years. It
is high time that we call upon that
great body Of labor to protect us from
this centralized power at Washing
ton"
At the conclusion OF this speech 1t
was voted to affiliate, when another
discussion arose as to the ACCESSIBILITY
OF doing so at this time.
After several hours OF debate II was
finally decided to lay on the table.
Committees were appointed to draw up
resolutions and wire all Nebraska con-
gressmen, Senators Hitchcock and Nor
ris. also Postmaster General Burleson,
protesting against the recommendation
of the efficiency committee.
When mention was made of Postmaster
wharton's stand he was given wild
demonstration.
Clerks Deny Meeting.
OMAHA, Feb. 25.--To the Editor OF The
Bee: In this mornings issue Of The Rec
February 22) an article is printed re-
porting the action Of the local posioffics
clerks holding q protest meeting regard
ing the findings of the efficiency board
that investigated the Omaha postoffice
during the last ten weeks, and condemns
ing the action of the board; also that
members of the association demanded
that the postoffice clerks unite with the
American Federation of Labor. wish
to state in answer to that article that the
meeting was a regular monthly meeting
OF Branch No. 81. and during the time
OF opening and closing of that meeting
at which 1 was present all the time, no
ouch action was taken by the organiza-
tlon as was stated in your paper. The
action taken at the meeting was that a
committee was appointed to draw up
resolutions OF protest against a provislon
IN the postoffice appropriation bill against
the departments recommendation OF BIZ
epnial promotions. instead of the present
system of annual promotions which the
postoffice employees enjoy under the sal
airy classification act OF 1907. 1 feel sure
that you did not Intentionally moan to
put the postoffice clerks in this city In
an embarrassing position by publishing
ar article which lie not the truth, and
trust that you will take steps to correct
the same. Very truly yours,
A. s. CONN
WhartOn's Tlrm stand.
Declaring that he does not expect the
Postoffice department at Washington to
adopt the recommendation OF an ''effi-
cheney board for a big shake-up In the
local postoffice. Postmaster John c.
Wharton has come out with a positive
statement on the boards recommended
tons, which he says are wholly without
reason.
Il don't expect the boards recommended
lions will be adopted" Postmaster whar-
| ton says. "In fact, am very confident
that its report will not be put into eff
| feet, because there is not a single reason
why 1t should be. and there is every good
reason for continuing the Omaha post
office force Just as II is now
Men Faithful and Efficient.
THE men who would be concerned In
the proposed changes are most faithful
oHu SitlNicItI anu always nave ana sui
are rendering splendid service In the posi-
tons they now hold. so much for eff
cheney; and as TO the righteousness of the
matter. / am positive that the only fair
thing for the government to do il to re-
tain It's old and faithful employees in their
present places. just as long as they are
fully able and willing to do their work.
AS TO the suggestion that politics may
have figured In the efficiency" boards
report. the postmaster says he doesn't
think there was any politics in IL, as two
Of the three inspectors. w F. Altman
and A. L. Lewis. are republicans. In
spector Fl. E. Randall being the only
democrat.
Part of General Plan.
Under the present administration,
Postmaster Wharton continues, the in
clination has been 10 weed out the old
and inefficient postal employees The
Omaha recommendations are quite mild,
compared TO those made for other first
class postoffiees around the country,
where the services OF many men in some
cases have been entirely done away with
But in the Omaha postoffice. / feel sure
that there Is not single case OF inefn-
cheney, and am so positive OF that fact
that have written a fourteen-page letter
10 fhe dasna rfy.a a.