The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-12
mail WORKERS.
PUT CASE FOR
PAY BOOST
Favorable Committee Action
Is Expected on Bill Affect
ing Over $4,000.
BY GLADSTONE WILLIAMS,
Cosmopolitan News Service.

handle and distribute the nations
mail, day in and day out through
fair weather or foul, are today
eagerly awaiting the report from
the House and Senate post Off
committees on the bill to provide
sufficient increase in pay to give
them adequate compensation for
the service they render.
Public hearings on the proposed
increase were completed the first
of this week. and the committees
are now engaged in drafting a re-
port.
While both President Coolidge
and Postmaster General New have
expressed opposition to the in
crease at this time, indications are
that there is a widespread senti-
ment in Congress in favor of the
measure, so much SO that advo-
Gates Of the increase are confident
Of obtaining favorable action dur
ing the present session. The con-
census is that MIR. Coolidge will
not veto the measure II passed by
justice of the demands, but is of
lIUc AAO"S w
deferred.
Wages Have Not Kept Pace.
Members Of Congress and others
who appeared before the joint COM
mittee considering the increase de-
veloped the fact that the wages re-
ceived by posal workers have not
kept pace with the increase in liv-
ing costs during the past ten years;
that the purchasing power Of the
dollar received by postal workers Is
considerably less than it was be-
fore the war; and that the business
of the Post Office Department has
increased approximately 100 per
cent during the past ten years,
whereas the personnel Of the de-
partment has increased less than
so per cent.
These are the high points. Some
of the others are that postal work.
ers have been underpaid all along,
and are not receiving compensation
private workers.
Nevertheless, postal workers claim
they are only asking for an in
crease commensurate with the in
creased cost Of living. Postal wages
nave uceH lHCICdSCu
so per cent during the past ten
years, while living costs today are
over 20 per cent higher than they
were before the war.
Thomas s. Flaherty, secretary
and treasurer of the National Fed
Grafton Of Postal Clerks. has pre-
scented to the committee a con-
vincing array of statistics in sup
port of the increase.
Business Has Doubled.
1.-THE business of the Postoffice
Department has increased 100 per
cent in the past ten years." said
Mr.. Flaherty. yet the personnel
to handle this increased work is
only so per cent larger. resulting
in postal employees being required
to perform a greater amount of
work. In addition to this wages
have increased only so per cent
while the cost of living has in
creased over 20 per cent.
This means that postal labor is
really cheaper than it was in 1913,
although every other form Of labor
has gone up.
Postal workers." Mr.. Flaherty
declared, ARE forced to continue
their employment with the Govern
ment, for there is no other line
able to absorb them. They are
especially trained for this work."
Failure of the Government TO pro.
vide adequate buildings to house
postoffice activities has proved an.
other hardship for the postal worker,
Mr.. Flaherty said.
due to no public buildings pro.
gram since the war, congested con-
ditions prevail throughout the coun.
try" he asserted, making it neces.
sary for those in the postal service
to work under crowded and often
unhealthy conditions.
Parcel Post Too Low.
ut is estimated that approximate.
ly 1922 100000 would take care of
the requested increase. The amount
is about rs per cent Of the present
annual expenditures Of the Post.
office Department-$532,O 200, 00O Con.
gress could provide the funds to
meet the increase by raising parcel
post rates, which are greatly too
low.
Seventy per cent Of all the ex-
press business of the country is
now handled by the parcel post. In
initiating the system Congress pro-
ceeded on the idea that it's benefits
would be equally distributed. 1t is
apparent, however, that most Of the
benefits and savings go to the
large mail-order houses, which is
demonstrated by the fact that eight
parcel post packages are sent from
city to country points for every
one sent from the country.
"All Of this would seem to
demonstrate beyond doubt the JUS
tice of the request for a fair wage
being made by postal workers. They
are paid less by the hour than
private skilled, workers; their vaca.
tons are shorter, and their overtime
allowance, which Is resorted to by
other workers to increase their
earnings, is virtually nothing"
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