Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-23
NAIL CLERKS SHOW
MORE ECONOMIES"
Papers Delayed Several Days
at Transfer Before They
Are Even Sorted.
CLERK TREATMENT HARSH

Following The Bees recent expo
sure of the decentralization Of the
ailway mail service, another abused
clerk has written to tell the facts
about what the present administration
S doing to the country's mail service.
Although forbidden to give out in
formation, the railway mail clerks are
risking punishment and are voicing
protests and revealing facts, which
Postmaster General Burleson's muz-
cling order was designed to hide, con-
corning the mail delays resulting from
the democratic administrations "eco-
nomical and business-like policy"
The latest clerk to write The Bee
corroborates this papers previous re-
ports and tells of serious instances of
mail delays. He .lso cites instances
of the harsh treatment accorded the
clerks, who are now denied full day
of rest each week, are forced to work
longer hours and are kept from pro-
motions they would have received un-
der the former order of things.
In the latest letter, defying BOSS
Burleson" and his muzzling order, a
railway mail clerk suggests that the
public demand a congressional in
quiry. His letter follows:
ITO the Editor of The Bee: In
last Sundays paper picture appeared
showing the congestion of mails and
while some officials were asked about
it, the reply was made that they were
all empty sacks. This is not true
and the public can satisfy themselves
by going and seeing for themselves.
Ii there was or is no delay and con-
gestion why should an order appear
which reads something like this:
Council Bluffs terminal clerks are
informed that there is no change in
the policy so far as compensatory
time is concerned. Clerks working
overtime on account of unusual con-
ditions will be given compensatory
time, and all clerks will respond for
service on the day they are due to be
off, when called upon by the clerk in
charge
This, Mr.. Editor, is a plain case
OF hold-up, as by this order our week
ly day Of rest is taken away This
time is paid back to us by giving us
few hours each day. having no
whole day off. Why is it that the
great supreme court grants the rail-
road men their eight hours and Uncle
Sans own employees are forced to
work overtime? Attached find an
order as they appear, and by it you
will see how the clerks must use their
own time to study, making a working
day about nine to ten hours. In sec
ton 4 it shows how promotion is
stopped.
Idaho circulars are being worked
now in the terminal that were mailed
in New York City March IA. Sum
day Sioux City Journals are being
worked on Tuesday and Wednesday
following.
What the clerks want is to have
the newspapers in the country de-
mand a congressional investigation of
why all this delay and rotten service.
Would be pleased to have this ap-
pear in your paper, so the public can
get wise to a few facts"
Attached to the clerks letter was a
general order, issued March IS, from
Chicago, in the Sixth division of the
railway mail service. Sections Of the
order referred to are as follows:
All clerks assigned to terminals, who per-
upon to perform distribution in any emer-
gency, shall be examined on the scheme of