The Connecticut labor news., 1922-03-03
State Convention at Stamford Registers Protest, Pointing Out That Service Pays Too Little Now.

AlCC1c 1<OW.
 Stamford, March 3.-More than 300 members of the Connecticut State Association of the National Associa- ton of Letter Carriers, affiliated with the A. F. of L., attended the 18th annual state convention held here last week, as the guests of the local post office clerks and officials.
 Speakers representing the associa- ton at the banquet took advantage of the occasion to register their feelings against Congressman Sisson, at Washington, for his recent assertion that the postofice department was costing the country too much to oper- ate, and for his advocacy of sweep ing reduction in salaries of postohice clerks.
 Statistics were quoted by them to show that, under present salaries and conditions, work accomplished by let ter carriers and clerks, as a whole, averaged more than 100 per cent. in efficiency, and that the postof1ce em- ployes everywhere were beginning to show more interest and cheerfulness in the discharge of their duties in comparison to their attitude prior to the increase in salaries.
 New state officers for the coming term were elected The new officers are: Joseph B. Kenny, New Haven, president; Edward $. Smith, Torring- ton, vice-president; William K. Cahill, Norwalk, secretary; J. w. Sar- geant, Greenwich, treasurer.
 Reports of the activities of the past year, submitted at the convention, showed increased membership, inn provements in working conditions lmong letter carriers throughout the state, an extending of social inter course and acquaintanceship in many cities, and added success in securing for the public still more efficient mail service.
 Speeches at the banquet were de- livered by Postmaster Robert Whit taker, Mayor John J. Treat, William of Commerce; P. J. Walters of New York, vice-president of the National Association of Letter Carriers; Mrs. P. J. Walters, vice-president of the National Women's Auxiliary Associa- tion for Letter Carriers; Rev. Father O'Brien, R. H. Gillespie, Rev. Wal lace H. Finch, Peter Vandernoot, former president of Branch 36, of New York, and MT. Stinson of New Jersey of the associations executive committee.
 The speeches were all brief, the outstanding features of which were expressions of deep appreciation, on the part of city officials, business men, clergymen and the public in general, of the fidelity, efficiency, and con sistent courtesy shown by postoffice clerks and officials in the discharge of their eXacting duties.
 Mrs. Walters of the National Wo- mems Auxiliary, stated in her address that an auxiliary had been organized in Stamford for helping and CO., operating with, the local letter car riers' branch. She said an auxiliary was necessary in every city for the successful operation of a postofice
 Rev. Wallace H. Finch compliment ed the association on the emblem they have adopted. He said that the prac- tice of fidelity, benevolence, fraternity and unity was not only to be desired in, the letter carriers association, but Is world wide need under present day conditions, and urged the dele gates to show, by their consistent ad- herenCe to these four great principles, what a body of men may accomplish in their every day life
 Peter Vandernoot, wno has been in | the postal service for nearly 22 years, ] working in various capacities, quoted I figures giving an idea of the amount of business handled daily and annual ly by just one postoffice in New York | City. These figures were startling in their large proportions. He said that !! among the letter carriers 1 was more important today than ever 1 before, not only to look after the best 1 interests of the members of the asso- | ciation, but to more fully cooperate | with the government in securing | more efficient postal service
 He took a fling at Congressman Sis son for his insistence on stringent economies in the postofice depart ment, and stated that the association will not willingly submit to reduc. ton of salaries.
 The following benefits have been secured for postofice clerks by the National Association of Letter Car riers:
 Binding 35,ooo men together in an intimate and fraternal body, devising means of promoting this idea, extend ing acquaintance, stimulating better knowledge of the postal service, well fare work among fellow members, DoDu1a riziDp civil Service uyinp;po t6e !