The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-12-11
STOPS EMPLOYEYS

Postmaster General Says Public Wei
fare is Becoming Menaced.
Recommends Repeal o. Law.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Postmaster
General Burleson in his annual report,
submitted to congress today, declares
organizations of POSTAL employees are
rapidly becoming a menace to public
welfare and recommends that congress
repeal the law that allows such en-
ployees 20 maintain organizations
The law provides that the employees
may organize and become affiliated
with other bodies so long as they do
not impose any obligation to engage
or assist in a strike against the gov
ernment.
Emphasizing the need for unselflsn
cooperation on all sides while the
country is in the world war the post
master general continues.
Notwithstanding this fact, and at
this critical period in our nations
history, it is regre.table to state that
the organized postal employees are
making many selfish demands and in
sisting that they shall not be. re-
CURED or permitted to work in ex-
cess of the usual ndmebr of hours;
also that their salaries be permanently
increased, although they are Justly
compensated, receiving more than
three times as much as those fighting
in the trenches who must of necessity
suffer the hardsh;ps of warfare and
sacrifice their ali if necessary.
efforts of these organizations along
other lines have been severely criti-
cized by men in public life, as they
attempt to control political as we'll as
legislative matters and openly boast of
the influence they claim to exert in
, the furthererance of their selfish inter
ests.
IAN outside organization has during
sne past several years ATTEMPTED t,
unlonize- government employees, in
eiuding those in the postal service.
and large number of. postal en-
pioyees are now affiliated with it. and
others soon will be notwithstanding
tne TACT that such afiliation is 'beliey-
cd to be contrary to the act of Ar
gusr24, 1912. The advisabilitv Of nar
nHnng government employees to af-
aliate with an outside organization
can use the strike and boycott as a
last resort to enforce its demands ;s
seriously questioned by those interest
Cd in the public welfare
POSTAL Employees Strike.
Postal employees have become bold
duiilatlon and have
"i.nin recent pears threatened to
strike and in one case Actually ~ ~
ny rendering their designations ars
aoandonins the service in a hodv T,
mis- case they were promptly indicted
ana prosecuted in the federal cour+s
While strikes in the postal service
may be averted for the time beino
yet they will inevitably come and the
puonc VIII then be brought face +o
face with most serious situation
enc which will be menace to orr
government.
II oy combining" the report saws
government employees are enableJ
anduiy influence members of congress-
and Others seeking election to .publ;c
sftce, the situation will natur.,,u
arise, If 1t has not already arisen
where congress will be unduly inf1u.
enced by such organizations, the ap.
eropriations for the salaries of sucb
employees will be greatly increased
and economic provision for the con-
sucs OF the service impossible"
Ihe report explains that postal en-
ployees are differently situated from
ether workers in that they are not
employed by private concerns but bv
he government "whose officers are
merely executing the will of the peo-
pie"
The report shows an audited surplus
for the year of s9,SsS,211; the largest
In the history Of the department. The
Increase over the preceding year was
s.6S Per cent. while the increase in
cost was AS per cent. The audited
revenues for fIe wear incIudino noo,ev