The Washington times., 1917-12-18
MAIL WORKERSOF
u. S. INUNDATED,
SAYS THEIR HEAD
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] that their position would be JeopaF-
dized. There the matter rested
| elfr. Ryan Asserted that reductions
IN pay of the mail service employees
was largely due to the reorganiEa-
tion OF the railway mail line. He
said that this reorganization reduced
. number o. employees % that whereas
formerly they worked six hours on
md ak hours on, they were now
compelled IN n1any cases to work six
hours on and three hours on.
He said also. that many railway mail
employee had been DISCHARGED from the
service because they had refused to ac-
cept Assignments under the reorganiza-
ton that would take them away from
home. He cited Instances Of men on the
Now 1ork-Chicago run who were trans
teTred to runs so far away from their
homes that II was either a case Of them
selling their homes or refusing to ae-
lceDt the assignment. In all these cases
toe nlen were discharged for not obey
ing the orders Of their superiors. Many
Of them had contributed to the first
Ldherty loan sums ranging from 800 to
n Ne Protection.
Msmbe7s Of the committee desired to
know u thers were not a law on the
statute books to protect postal employees
against unjust removal
The second day OF the public hear
ingB before the subcommittee on post
offices and post roads, on the question
OF Increasing the salaries OF under
paid postal employees, began at 1890
o'clock today, with prospects OF fur
ther pitiful chapters in the lives of
these workers being brought to pub
lie attention.
Many Of the employees IN the postal
service who were on hand today were
clearly pleased with the progress
made yesterday in impressing mem
bers of the committee with the JUS
tice Of their claims. They ha dgath-
cred renewed hope from the great
number Of Congressman who testified
In their favor yesterday afternoon
Burieson FiEures euestiened.
Intimations that the hgures OF Post
master General Burleson were
aslightly Inaccurate" were made be-
fore the subcommittee when the Ques-
ton OF resignations from the postal
department. was brought up by
Thomas F. FlahertyS secretary OF the
National Federation OF Postal EN-
ployes, who was the first witness to
day.
F1aherty filed q list of designations
from the New York postoffice, which
he claims show much more than ~the
per cent figures Of the Postmaster
General"
Appearing before the subcommittee
today was Gilbert E. Hyatt, president
OF the nations postal employees or
ganization. who testified that COM
plants and appeals were pouring into
his office every day, urging him TO
take some action for relief. He filed
q petition containing the names OF
5000 postal employees Of New York ap-
peallng to President Wilson for re-
lief. either through the reduction OF
the high cost OF living or an Increase
in wages for postal employees. An
other petition fled by Hyatt was one
containing 5000 names from Chicago.
urging that an increase be given the
postal workers.
Clerk Testlaes.
81 am a substitute clerk in the Chi
cago postofnce," testified B. A. Whit
ney, before the subcommittee. "and de-
spite the figures OF the postal depart
ment. which show that the salary of
a substitute clerk is S5s a month,
never made more than S45 a month
''It would be a little better" he
continued. 'if I were allowed to en-
ploy my spare time in the mailing
room OF the postoffice. but II I do
this, I lose my position as substitute
clerk"
Edward J. Ryan. OF the National
Railway Mail Association. told the
committee that no sooner do intelli-
gent, efficient young men make a