Evening journal., 1919-08-27

, and il Is remarkable that we have any
service at all. The Postmaster-General
says IL VIII be Impossible for a clerk
TO receive more than 500 increase
during the year 1919. In 1918 Con-
gress allowed us $500 increase and the
Postmaster-Ge issued orders that
no clerk would receive his meritorious
promotion OF 500 this year, so Win
the small increase Of $500 during the
past seven years the POstmaster-Gen-
eral has prevented all merltoriOus
clerks from receiving but 500 more
than they were receiving with the
classification regulations Of 1919. Since
Congress has allowed us 500 increase
this year the Postmaster-General has
not only eliminated all meritori0us
promotions but he has issued orders
bringing up technical points TO pre-
vent a clerk from receiving this
amount He brings UP other unneces-
sary requirements and his order reads
in part as follows. Clerks whose
records are otherwise satisfactory and
who have not cased satisfactory eX-
aminations to the extent indicated
within the three-year period shall be
promoted conditionally and it will be
necessary for them 10 meet these re-
quirements on or before December 81,
1919, or they will be reduced 10 the
former grade or the maximum success
sive grade" A great many clerks will
be unable TO meet these new and un-
necessary requirements prescribed by
the Postmaster General and will there
fore lose this years increase also.
This is but one OF the numerous
tricks played on the clerks 10 pre-
vent them from receiving any increase
in salary and TO fOrestall any move
made by Congress in this direction.
Every time an increase has been al
lowed, the Postmaster-General has en-
deavored TO evade the law and prevent
us receiving the same. The clerk who
was due for his meritorious promo
tion during the years of 1918 and 1919
will not receive the same and il he
fails TO meet the new requirements as
as stated above he will he receiving
exactly the same salary as prescribed
in the regulations Of 1912. i. e. Con-
gress has granted us an increase OF
$500 since 1912 and the Postmaster
General has sought TO prevent us re-
ceiving this amount Do you wonder
that the clerks are stirred TO the limit
and have been forced to take immed-
late steps TO protect themselves?
According to law we are not per
mitted TO strike TO remedy our condi-
tions as other Americans, therefore,
with our hands tied we must take
such punishment as is inflicted Some
clerks are even afraid TO make a pro-
test or even criticize for fear Of being
dismissed from tho service. yet we
call this the land of freedom. This
strike law should be repealed Or Con-
gress should take q hand in obtaining
Immediate Justice for us. We brag OF
our big rich government. Why not
pay a decent salary 10 those who per-
form service on which all business
depends? We can raise money for
anything and everything else, why not
be Interested in the affairs of our own
Government and pay at least living
wage. The railway mail clerks should
be the highest paid men in a train and
among the highest paid men in the
United States. As It is we receive
about one-half the amount received
by some OF the trainmen. What
shame this Is TO have Government
men who have studied sufficiently TO
have received several degrees. draw
ing less salary than ordinary unskilled
labor. We should take more pride in
our Government than this and we are
confident that had you known Of these
conditions you would not have toler-
ated the same.
The tenure in office Of the present
Postmaster General and second Assist
ant Postmaster General has been auto
cratic TO say the least. The clerks
are disguised with such work and ask
that an lmmlriste change be made
Just lately the Second Assistant Post
master General issued an order forbid
ding clerks warming their food over
kerosene or alcohol stoves. As far as
It Is known no fre has ever resulted
in such a case. The baggageman cooks
his meal in these cars. the lamps burn
close 10 the selling in these cars and
the stove at times is fred to a ret
mendous heat, and yet we must not
light anything therein that would
make It possible for us to have
warm meal.