The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-12-18
INCREASED SALARIES FOR POSTAL
WORKERS.

We have consistently and insistently urged
increased pay for the workers of the postoffice
department. and now that the suggestion has
been made that it is necessary to increase some
postal rates in order to grant this increased
pay, we are changing our position. 1t has al
ways been our contention that it is impossible
to increase salaries and reduce rates and we
believe that this applies to the postoffice de-
partment just the same anyone else.
It is now proposed to increase to a consider
able extent the amount Of postage paid by the
publishers of newspapers for the sending OF
papers through the mails. If this course is
necessary in order to increase the pay of postal
workers to fair wage for intelligent service,
we are not going to complain.
It is not our idea that the publishers Of
newspapers in the country desire the govern
ment to render to them service at loss nor
do we believe that the great mass of the men
who edit newspapers and who have urged the
increase of pay for the workers are going to
back up because it is going to take little
something out of their pockets.
An equitable division of the tax burden
should provide for an equitable payment for
service by the man who is served. We believe
that the postoffce department should charge
for every service it renders an amount suffi-
Gent to make that service pay it's own way
and pay the cost of intelligent service. If the
postoffice department. organized to render
specific service to the people is not supporting,
it should change it's rates until it is self sup
porting. This does not mean simply increas-
ing one rate or another in order to raise reve-
nue. but adjustments of all rates in order that
every one may receive fair treatment. We
do not believe that there should be any call for
increasing the rate for first class mail service
The service is paying fair rate now. We do
believe that the government as a government
should pay for the millions of tons of matter
sent free through the postoffices every year
There is no reason why the people should be
taxed-no matter what class is to be consider
ed-to permit congressman to send speech
free to voter or a package of seeds to some
one he hopes will be a voter sometime.
Utility commissions have ruled in nearly
every state that the cities as municipalities
should pay municipality owned water COM
panies for water consumed for fire protection,
for water used by municipal institutions. It
will appear just as reasonable that If the gov
eminent, as a government, is going to clog
the mails that it should pay for clogging them.
If the people as government paid for the
great mass of matter that is now transported
free through the postoffces of the nation, it is
not improbable that a very small increase in
take care of the proposed increase in pay to
the postoffice workers.
The parasite of the Stree mailing privilege"
has too long been part of the postal system
in this country. The people pay to government
officials supposed to serve them what have
been considered fair salaries and there is no
reason why perquisites in the way of mailing
privileges should be given along with the
salaries.
President Coolidge is right in insisting that
if the salaries of postal workers are to be
raised that some provision should be made to
raise the money to pay them. 1t is not at all
improbable that the papers which have clam
ored most and criticised the President most
will be the first to object to any added assess
ment. Such an action will simply prove the
hypocrisy of the men who have been most ac-
tive in the fight to have these salaries of work
ers advanced.