Evening journal., 1919-08-27

The writer has pursued sufficient
studies during the nine years in the
Railway Mall Service to have studied
four courses in medicine and flve
courses in law, and yet our study Is
without end and we are almost with
out pay in comparison with a doctor
or lawyer. Our salary has always
been held down by few aspiring
politicians and always will be unless
we can induce our Congress TO put a
stop TO it and pass such laws as will
hold these fellows i'm check.
We request an immediate salary in
crease as follows: $1,000 las a minimum
Hat increase, effective July 4, 1919:
$500 as a bonus for each of the years
1916, 1917 and 1918. This bonus Is only
part or our living expenses over and
above our salary for these years and
does not include the meritoriOus pro
motion money the Postmaster General
withheld
IL has been difficult to keep new
men in the service and the regular
men have had TO bear the brunt Of II.
We have had a string of new men
coming into the service but leaving
on account of hard work, severe study
and low wages
Every newspaper and every pub
Usher and all business is vltany in
terested in this issue. for ~ is on
account Of our services that the
prompt dispatch of mail matter 10
destination Is made possible. Almost
every letter you write is routed by
the railway mail clerk Every news
paper and parcel post package 10
routed by these same clerks Mail Is
not routed i'm a pOstOfflce as is the
general supostion, but is routed by
the railway mail clerks in the car.
Mailing clerks in the first and second
class postofnces are requested to study
some territory, but the study scope
is not great.
Clerks have had TO deny themselves
Of food and clothing, and the last few
years the situation has grown con-
tnually worse. They have had 10
take on any additional work they
could, although this is forbidden, in
order TO subsist In many cases the
little children have been sent to ilnd
work or The wife OF the family has
had to take up other work. In fact
the Railway Mail Service is and al
ways has been just an existence where
II should have been a paying occupa-
ti0n. A man must have sufficient
food and clothing and his mind free
from worry over financial matters TO
perform such gigantic tasks.
The Postmaster General says there
has been no deficit in connection with
the service, but a large surplus fund
accumulated How was this large
surplus accumulated? You will know
after reading this letter. The public
would rather pay more postage and
have decent salaries and conditions
provided for their employees.
The clerks after following a watch
full waiting policy for several years,
expecting that Congress would grant
us a substantial increase in salary and
would pass remedial legislation curb
ing the authority and abuses OF the
postoffce Department, are reaching
state OF desperation. Never have we
seen so much unrest in any organiza-
ton. Their living expenses have far
exceeded their salaries and back debts
have mounted up with no money 10
ray These debts must be met ana
we ask immediate action as we have
reached the last lap OF endurance. II
we do not receive an immediate in
crease in salary and better treatment
we will be forced TO seek other occu-
pations. We believe that in bringing
This appeal to you that you will hurry
TO aid us in getting immediate action
in Congress The Railway Mail Clerks
Of the United States, 1900 strong, call
on YOU for immidiate action. The
backbone Of the postal service and the
backbone of every business that uses
the mails. is calling on you for i'm
mediate action. We are depending on
your aid in preventing chaos in the
service. The business Of the country
is depending on your aid. We have
told YOU Of the conditions in the SER
vice that require immediate action
We have done our duty. VIII you
aid US? Hoping TO hear from you
soon and thanking you in advance Tor
your efforts in our behalf. we are
Very respectfully
ANALGANfATED FEDERATION OF
RAILWAY NAIL CLERKS.