Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-31

Will call upon the postmaster General
to account for his actions, because of
which he is liable to impeachment for
malfeasance of Office"
Senator Penrose's Resolution.
The resolution about which Mr.. Mad
den speaks was a proviso in the resolu-
ton which continued last years ap-
propriations over to this year when
the appropriation bill for the post Of
flee failed. It was introduced by Sena-
tor Penrose of Pennsylvania and was
agreed to without comment. 1t came
as a result Of reductions of collectors
salaries in Chicago. The proviso fol
lows:
and provided further. That letter
carriers assigned to collection service,
who were promoted to higher grades
in accordance with the classification
act approved March 2. 1907, and whose
salaries have been reduced during the
past year, through no delinquency or
charges OF misconduct on their part,
shall be restored to their former
grades
Their plans for unfolding the rights
of the collectors in connection with
this legislation. officials of the carriers
association are not inclined to divulge,
saying they prefer to wait until Con-
gress convenes. They intimate that
something then will be done. In the
meantime the plans will be developed
and the forces for the fight rounded
up. Many of the collectors are conf
dent Congress will stand by it's legis-
lation and force the department to re-
store the collectors and not put them
in class different from the carriers
A Letter Of the Department.
That it was the purpose of the de-
partment to put the collectors in one
class is evidenced from a letter writ
ten to postmasters by Daniel c. Roper,
first assistant postmaster general. The
letter marked personal" is reprinted
in the letter carriers associations Of
fetal organ. 1t follows:
The work of carriers collecting mail
is less exacting and important than
that performed by carriers in effecting
deliveries of mail. 1t is therefore de-
sired that in the future the maximum
the collection of mail be fixed at 81, 900
per annum. You will proceed in ac-
cordance with this policy, to make the
necessary assignments of the higher
salaried carriers to delivery work, and
you will not in the future give to any
letter carrier receiving a salary in ex-
cess OF $1,000 an assignment as a COL
lector.
Carriers now acting as collectors
and receiving salaries in excess of
$1,000 per annum who are incompetent
to perform delivery service, should be
reduced in salary. Proper notice should
be given to them, in conformity with
the postal laws and regulations, unless,
by explaining to them the manifest diff
ference In importance and responsible
ity of the two assignments, they volun-
tarily submit written consent to salary
reduction.
ut is desired that you charge your
self with an immediate application to
this matter, and make assignments as
rapidly as possible from time to time.
so that by July /, 1915, your collection
and delivery service may be adjusted
to the basis indicated. In applying this
regulation, carrier who Is perform
ing both collection and delivery sery-
ice should be regarded as a collector or
carrier, in accordance with the pre-
ponderance of work done in either
line"
The Case Of Local Carriers.
In tho case of the local carriers, 1t
is declared, they were taken OF, deliy-
cry routes some months ago and put
in the collection service. All of these
men, 1t is asserted. were performing
efficient service on the routes they then
had.
After they had been in the collection
service some time they were Informed
that they would be reduced in salary
because they were not competent to
perform delivery service on the "ay
erage delivery route" Some of the
men asked to be given a chance. and
they were told that they must make
good within three days on routes to be
given them. Some of them realized
| that on the routes outlined it was inn
possible within the three days to COM
ply with the requirements, when they
knew that q new man required more
than three days to familiarize himself
with a route. The route. 1t is declared.
was in the northwest section, where
! the houses were on high terraces. tax
| ing much time to get up and down
| steps. It Is understood that some OF
the men at the time declared that thew
could make good on the route If they
were allowed to deliver the mail in the
manner in which the regular carrier
was permitted to do 1t, that Is by
throwing the mail in the doorway IN
stead Of delivering It personally ia
the addrsssee. Many Of the collectors
did not ask for permission to try the
route, reAliging that It was almost q
hopeless task. 1t IL. declared.