The Washington herald., 1918-01-23
CHANCE COMES
TO RESCUE OF
| DEPARTMENT
Official Answers Critic Of
Delays and Overwork-
i ed Employees.

The Washington postofice has not
broken down under the strain OF the
heavily increased war mail and there
IS not an accumulation since Decem-
Der 26 of unwo-ked circular mail in
the local office Postmaster Merritt o.
Chance declared yesterday when ask
ed regarding charges made in a state
ment made by Thomas F. Flaherty,
OF the National Federation OF Postal
Employees
rKnowfng that the Postmaster Cen
eral or the First Assistant do not
ansNger charges against the postal
service made by discharged EN-
pIoyes," Mr.. Chance. said. 7 think
Injustice to the Washington City post
ONCE that a statement should be
made regarding conditions in this Of
hce.
The charges referred to are that
the postal system is broken down and
that there Is circular mail at this Of
fee labeled as far back as December
% stin undelivered. This statement is
not borne out by the facts as an ex-
animation OF sack labels shows that
this work Is about twenty-four hours
behind.
This, however. Is not matter origi-
mating for dispatch in the Washington
postoffice, nor is it matter intended
for delivery to the patrons of the
Washington postoffice, but is circular
matter intended for the Southern
States which is centralized at the
Washington postoffice for distribution
to those States and does not originate
in Washington
Enumerates Work.
Since the war started this office has
lost over 40 experienced men. and
these places cannot be filed by men
without previous knowledge Of the
postal service. In bulk of mail han
died by the Washington office, the in
crease at the present time over the
same period last year Is well over 1Ot
per cent. We have handled all the
mail for the war draft, war savings
stamps, the liberty loan, the question
raires, the Food Administration and
other war activities; the Treasury
Department alone mailing over 100,
OO0.O00 pieces for the second liberty
loan. The Postoffice Department has
given me free reign to get all en-
ployes necessary to conduct the serv-
ice and has not limited me in any way,
anu II LAClE ID any uCAehy Al AAcliAAAlAA5
the mails the responsibility is charge
able to the Washington city postofice
and not to the Postoffice Department
It has been necessary since before
Christmas to work clerks overtime
The distributors were called upon to
volunteer for overtime service up to
ten days ago and they have been foI
sometime working four hours over
time. When directions we're given by
me to reduce the overtime from four
TO two hours, many Of the clerks
stated they were willing to work the
extra hours for the additional money
and, I suppose. for patriotic reasons.
The ten hour order was issued by me
without any conference whatsoever
with the Postofice Department. and
for the present, it is necessary on
account of unusual conditions, to
work overtime II we ars TO keep the
mails moving.
On Overtime Question.
II has been impossible to get all
the necessary clerks from the civil
service and notices have been posted
in the postOffice asking employees to
recoT-n1nnd men regardless of the civil
service who are wiling to take places,
and 5hc Y. NJ. c. A. and Labor Bureau
have also been called Upon.
The article published stated that Mr.
koons had made the statement that
the local employees were not averaging
eight hours a day. This did not refer
to clerks but to carriers. ard as ap-
piled to carriers is absolutely correct
A statement of the work performed
during full month was furnished to
Mr.. koons, and 1 imagine this is the
statement referred to.
1t is my desire and intention to
move the mail of the Washington
PostOffice as expeditiously as possible,
and feel that have have the hearty
cooperation of the clerks in this eff
fort. But is must be borne in mind
that great deal of the work must be
performed by experienced clerks, and
that while the office is continually
putting on new men they cannot per-
form the service with the same degree
Of efficiency that prevailed before war
conditions existed.