The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-20

} O
) INCREASED SALARIES )
} FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES. o

To The News Scimitar;
The question that Is at present agi-
tating the minds Of the postal employees
is the urgent necessity for readjustment
OF the wage scale that will conform to
present-day conditions. The salaries
now paid to postal employees are entire
~ inadequate and out OF all proportion
TO the Importance and responsibilities
attached to the position and the actual
cost Of the necessities Of life,
The last congress appointed a postal
wage commission Of five congressman
and five senators to investigate the sal
aries OF postal employees with a view
to a Reconsideration and the adjustment
OF salaries on an equitable basis, The
commission Is required to report by bill
or otherwise the result Of Its %investi-
cation and recommend the standard OF
salaries that shall be paid.
According to a statement issued by
the bureau OF statistics of the depart
ment Of labor on April 1, 1919, h cost
OF. living for the six-year period, March,
1913. to March, 1919, increased 80 per
centum, 1t Is therefore apparent that
the rate OF pay for postal employees was
fixed under economic conditions that
have been long since swept away, and
there 10 absolutely no evidence at our
command that normal conditions az we
knew them In 1913 will ever again pre-
vail. Congress granted n temporary
increase Of 20 per cent fol, the fiscal
year, only to offset q cost OF living many
times greater. and II does not begin to
meet present conditions.
They (oongress) should provide an
adequate compensation TO meet the In
creased cost of living which has re-
duced the purchasing power OF a dollar
30 as to actually cause, a reduction In
| nafartAa uo hna ln1Iar In 101n NVpnf nu
far for the purchase OF commodities as
two dollars will today.
They (congress) should provide sala-
ries that will attract and hold compe-
tent men, thereby maintaining the ef-
ficiency Of the postal system. upon
forming a very important part OF our
public service which comes in daily con-
tact with the people.
The opportunity Is at hand to give the
postal employees full justice and 1t is
hoped the postal wage commission will
recommend permanent salaries for all
postal employees that will at least off
set the cost OF living of the last six
years and that congress will concur In
these recommendations,
In practically every industry in the
country the wages OF the workers have
been markedly Increased, In some cases
the Increase being more than double
| th0 AiluuAlAS paw IA PANNUh tAiAAN1t wv
In one OF the most important branches
Of the government, one that comes In
daily contact with all the people, where
its employees enter tho homes OF ouI
people, your home, our home, your
business, our business, and yet there
has been no permanent increase 10,
many years, and the temporary relief
supplied Is wholly inadequate. Con,
gress should give this subject pronip'
attention. A wage should be paid tina
will permit the postal employees AM
their families to live in a manner tina
their position requires. They are en-
titled to an adequate wage 80 that they
may receive a proportionate share D
the comforts Of life,
A few facts: az During the past fivt
years the cost Of living has increased
more than so per cent; (2) during tina
l time the wages of employees In private
= industries have been Increased accord
ingly, go that letter carriers and othe
[ postal employees have only received
| Temporary increase Of rs per cent, "a
l that mechanics and unskilled laborer
are better paid than trained employe
in the postal service; (5l that the ser
vice is short-handed n the presen
salary scale is too unattractive to hol
the necessary number>of efficient en-
ployes or to recruit new ones, go tina
, relief from the burdensome condition
v can only be had through legislation b
: congress; ca that while the small IN
c crease allowed has relieved the situa
tton some, It will require an increas
Z OF at least so per cent 10 place the EN-
ployes on q prewar basis,
j. W. c, SMITH, Carrier No. s2,