Evening star., 1948-06-15
Waaes for Postal Workers

To the Editor Of The Star:
Workers In private industries now are receiv-
ing their third wage increase since the end
Of the war. These raises were granted to meet
ever-rising living costs and to reward the work
ers by higher living standards for increased
productivity due to chronological Improvements.
Postal workers, although they have increased
their efficiency during the past generation by
new chronological processes such rs zoning Of
the mail, eliminating duplication Of work and
by many other methods, have not received an
increase in their real wages since the year 1925.
They received only one permanent money in
crease In their salaries in the year ls45 to
meet the then mounting living costs.
According to . recent survey made by the
United States Bureau Of Labor Statistics. the
cost Of the annual budget Of worker in Chi
cago with = family Of four, increased from $2-
793 in March, 1916, to $32s2 in June, ls47, a
rise of $3.50 or 17.5%. This budget does not
take into consideration the pension deductions
of postal workers. The entrance salary OF q
postal clerk is $2.l00. After pension deductions
of $l26, he receives 1854 annually for liv-
ing purposes. After ten years of service, he re-
ceives salary Of $500. After pension deduc-
tions of $1S6 he has $2S14 annually for living
purposes. The family budget provides nothing
for savings. The entrance salary of postal
clerk who has q family Of four Is 81 800 below
the annual budget requirement, and after ten
years of service he receives 1868 below the
budget requirements.
Is 1t the American policy that . postal
worker is supposed to work faithfully for his
government his entire lifetime and accumulate
no insurance, no savings bonds and no home?
Or is it the public policy that only bachelors
should be employed in our post ot,ces7
When our Congress can appropriate billions
for European relief, it surely should adjust
postal salaries to meet the present high cost of
living by increasing their salaries $500 annually.
BY enactment Of this raise, Congress would not
increase the real wages Of postal employees but
merely adjust the present wages to the 1925
standard. RICHARD J. SAVERTNIK.
Helen Hayes Minorities
To the Editor Of The Star:
Within the past week Helen Hayes has ap-
peared in the public press making the claim
that "the people Of Washington have proved
beyond 4 doubt that they are behind Actors
Equity in its fight against racial discrimina-
ton. For Is straight performances 9,l00
Washingtonians from many stations of life and
all races and colors have sat side by side in
the Olney Theater in nearby Maryland"
OF course. Miss Hayes has a right to her
opinion. Every man to his own TASTE" as
the old woman said when she kissed the COW.
But Miss Hayes logic Is terrible. hope that
she is q better actress and business woman
than she is a logician. Otherwise, she is head
ing for the poorhouse. I never before saw
so many illogical conclusions reached in one
paragraph. If you accept her figures as cor
rect this 9,100 is q small minority. How does
she know to what station in society a men,
ber of her audience belongs? And I doubt
very much If all races were represented there.
When will these minority clamor -babies
learn about democracy and majority rule? The
majority of Washingtonians positively have
not backed nonsegregation Right or wrong
is another question These impatient chill
dren should study history history and more
history-the history Of the slow progress OF
the democratic movement. Nothing at all has
been handed to any one on silver platter
No worker ever has been fed with golden
spoon! If the clamorers will study the slow
and painful progress of the democratic move
ment I believe they will quit trying to tear it
down in favor of minority rule.
LAURA K. POLLOCK.