davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-05-10

| Ice. also discontinued by Mr..
Donaldson, causes delays. EN-
ployes formerly used city direct
ories to correct wrong addresses
on letters. Now they are returned
to the sender. Postal officials say
restoration Of directory service
might cost hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars q year.
(The Washington Post Once
had complaints when directory
service was dropped and was still
getting some q year ago, but
Postmaster Roy North says he
hasn't received any lately. An
experienced supervisor and clerk
look over badly addressed mail
and readdress some, although
they don't use the directory any
more. But a city directory no
longer is published here, Mr..
North pointed out.)
The president Of the st. Louis
union of post Office clerks told
the Associated Press:
I'VE would say that working
conditions tin the post ofice)
from what we've seen Of other
industries are substandard."
James M. Murphy, president Of
the Boston local of post Office
clerks and many other union
leaders and employees complained
because about 150,0O0 temporary
employees have been hired in re-
cent years. They couldn't get
permanent civil service status be-
cause of the war emergency.
They may be worked overtime.
legally, without receiving over
time pay. Regular employees get
an overtime rate, so temporary
employees frequently are chosen
for available extra work. In New
York some are earning up to
$4,000 year. Regulars working
along side of them receive far
less.
Extra men hired during the
Christmas mail rush frequently
are paid at a higher rate than
regular postal employees.
Mr.. Murphy and others say all
this tends to keep morale of
regular employees at a low level
and they lose interest in work.
Representative Rees agrees
with this, but adds there is a
still more disturbing situation.
Advancement is Difficult.
He explained that virtually all
employees must enter the postal
service as substitute carriers or
clerks. AS they gain seniority they
have chance to move into other
jobs. But they have no special
training to be stenographers or
accountants or to fill other i'm
portant posts.
IF a man is sorting mail. which
may be comparatively hard work,
he might prefer to get a job as
stenographer. The Civil Service
starting salary for stenographers
Is $2,750. But because Of his
service as a postal clerk this
sorter may be getting $4,270 so
he moves into a stenographer's
job at that salary.
Many postal people, trained
in one job, constantly seek these
easier jobs. AS result the best
and most highly trained postal
people frequently are filling less
important jobs and the service
suffers accordingly"
Mr.. Rees said, that In Chicago
for example, there are scarcely
any certified public accountants
on the Post Office payroll. Ac-
counting work is done by former
substitute clerks and carriers.
He said Chicago has the largest
motor unit in the country, oper-
ating several thousand vehicles.
Accounting Is Antiquated.
"They need a lawyer to handle
claims arising from accidents, but
the accident cases are handled
Evening star., 1953-05-10
Arab League Backs
Egypt's Demands
British Quit Suez
BY the Asseeioted Press

CAIRO, Egypt. May 9.-The
eight-member nations Of the
Arab League today re-echoed
their absolute support" OF
Egypt's demands that British
troops get out of the Suez Canal
zone. The league warned that
delay in settling the case was
causing "restlessness in the Arab
Orient"
British Egyptian talks on set
tlement of the Suez question
have teetered on the verge of a
breakdown since Wednesday
when they we're recessed without
setting a new meeting date.
British informants in Lon
don said Britain has warned
Egypt the Suez talks may COL
lapse unless Premier Mohamed
Naguiz backs down on his de-
mand for Egyptian control
without strings alta c h e d.
Britain has argued that her
evacuation Of the Suez mill
tary base would be acceptable
only if Egypt guarantees it's
efficient maintenance in an
emergency
Dulles To Get Case.
Today's statement, issued after
a meeting of the Arab League,
declared that delay in solving
the cast prevents international
cooperation on the basis of con-
fidence and friendship"
This was interpreted by OBJ
servers to mean that Western
hopes for a Middle East defense
organization must be based on
evacuation of British forces from
the Suez before the question can
be raised.
The Arab foreign ministers
have been in session for two
days drafting a common front
to present to United States Sec
retary of State John Foster
Dulles next week on his flying
tour of the Middle East capitals
Ambassador Reports.
The demand for unconditional
evacuation of foreign troops from
her soil is the natural right
of Egypt" the statement said.
The suspended Suez negotia-
tions are expected to confront
Mr.. Dulles when he arrives.
Ahmed Hussein, Egyptian Am
bassador to the United States
who returned to Cairo today
told newsmen he had discussed
the subject with United States
authorities in Washington.
He said he found much readi.
ness in the United States tc
listen to the Egyptian point ol
view."
Evening star., 1953-05-10

by mail route supervisors who
have no legal training" Mr.. Rees
said.
Mr.. Rees said If the Boston
Office had had an up-to-date ac-
counting system there wouldn't
have been any payroll padding
scandal.
Nearly all Of the more than
5000 poStmasters are pay dis
bursing officers for themselves
and employees.
Accounting methods are 30
cumbersome that file has been
kept Of all paid certificates Of
the postal savings system since
the system started in 1910.
There now are about $50 mil
lion on file.
A report by the Controller
General disclosed. without re-
vealing details, that the present
accounting system might make it
possible for q shrewd poSt-office
employe to collect pay for 1872
hours by working only 48 hours.
II the hours were spaced prop
erly In the weeks schedule.
Mr.. Rees, union leaders and
many post-office employees, also
complain Of the police and man
agement authority possessed by
Post Od1ce Department inspec-
tors.
The inspectors originally were
assigned to see that laws were
observed and the mails were
guarded. Through the years
their authority has been ex-
panded.
Inspectors Feared.
"They have so much power
and there is so much fear Of
this power that they can dictate
to the postmasters," MIR. ReeS
said.
"The result is they can come
into a place and tell the post
master how to run his business
and out of fear the postmaster
may do exactly as the inspector
says, right or wrong.
Letters in congressional flles
indicate many employees fear the
inspectors.
Mrs. st. Georges committee
has recommended that all man
agement assignments be taken
from the postal inspection de-
partment. 1t proposed a separate
staff to handle this work. with
it's members trained especially
for management responsibilities.
The report added:
New blood and new ideas
could be brought into the postal
service"
Evening star., 1953-05-10
Continued From First Page.)

(Contlnued From F1rSt PageJ
two studies under way. one il
each House.
"It wouldn't be at all surpris-
ing if more indictments alleging
criminal conduct come out o1
these investigations" says Chair
man Rees of the House Post Of
fee and Civil Service Commit
tee. His words are echoed BY
Representative Katharine st
George. Republican. Of New
York. who heads the Post Office
Subcommittee.
Political Favoritism.
II think there will be more
indictments" she said. "We
have found amazing things. Jot
promotions were sold. There Is
ineflciency. There is political
favoritism as we'll as personal
favoritism. In9 some instances
the system actually promotes in
efficiency and waste.
post Office morale is at a zero
point. You can't blame these
people. Ninety-f1ve per cent OF
them are excellent workers. The
system. and Just a few of the
people, apparently are to blame. ~
The Associated Press made an
independent survey through its
bureaus across the country to
check reports Of poor service and
low employe morale.
From postal patrons, officials
and department employees came
both praise and condemnation.
There was criticism of poor. in
adequate facilities and service.
There was praise for mailmen.
In some cities service is reported
efficient; others have Indifferent
service.
Mrs. st. George told about the
young man with $1,000. She said
the story was related to her by
a veteran Post Office employe.
The young man took the vet
eran's advice not to pay for a
promotion, but his morale was
shot.
Time Cards Falsified.
1--WE don't know how much Of
this has been going on, but some
employees in Boston were indicted
for payroll padding and falsify-
ing" Mrs. st. George said. "A
Chicago postmaster was indicted.
too, in job-selling case. There
are things that lead to low
Evening star., 1953-05-10

morale, costly service ana IN
efficiency"
Judging from the number dis
charged or indicted, the Boston
case may have involved as many
as 1000 employees. Some were
accused Of falsifying time cards
to show clerks on duty when
actually they were absent. Mr.
Donaldson estimated not more
than $4,000 was involved. but
ia employees were indicted and
"a pleaded guilty. Fines ranged
from 500 to $1,000, and one
employe was sentenced to year
and a day in prison. He re-
paid $2.100 he was alleged to
have received in "kickbacks" for
helping others receive pay they
didn't earn.
Former Chicago Postmaster
John Haderlein. Sc, was indicted
last fall on charges Of accept
ing $2.475 in bribes from postal
clerks who wanted to become
foremen.
That's one Of the great trou-
bles with the system" Represent
ative Rees said in an interview
II have always favored a pro-
motion plan for the postal serv-
ice, incorporating civil service
examination.
Promotion Plan Illogical.
Nearly all employees Of the
Post Office Department have
to come into the department as
substitute clerks or carriers. The
salary now is $3.270 a year for
this job. with a raise of 500 a
year for nine years.
"Once in the department. the
man is dependent upon the post
masters for promotion.
"The post Office has in the
past resisted a promotion plan,
believing the local postmaster
should have complete leeway to
select supervisors at his post
Office. This position is illogi-
cal because 80 per cent of the
supervisors are already appointed
when the postmaster takes his
job and he can only fill va
cancies."
Mrs. st. George says the fact
that postmasters are appointed
by the President and confirmed
by the Senate is one of the
postal systems major difficulties.
Political leaders or others
Evening star., 1953-05-10
axes
Continued From First Page.)


the next eight years and an in
terest-free loan of $108 million.
It also calls for new taxes and
assessments for sewer and water
services.
One key member of the House,
who did not want to be quoted,
said last night he thought the
tax free loan proposal already
was dead duck" This mem
ber also said he had doubts about
all the rest Of the proposed pro-
gram, in view of the current ad-
ministrative drive for economy.
But if these sources are correct
this is no solution to immediate
problems, even though the pend
ing 1854 District budget is bal
anced
Hanging over the budget for
the next fiscal year, officials were
quick to point out, are heavy new
costs for proposed increases in
pay for police and f1remen, and
retired members, for a proposed
enlargement of the police force,
and for awaited demands for pay
raises for teachers in the public
school system.
Senate Delays Action.
The Senate District Committee
has been holding up considera-
ton Of two House-passed bills
having important effects on Dis
trict finances.
One is the bill for an increase
in the pay of police and f1remen
which would boost District oper-
ating costs by more than SO mil
lion. There has been consider
able pressure for action on this.
The other is the House-passed
bill for repeal of the inequitable
and largely unenforceable Dis
trict personal property tax on
jewelry and household effects,
which now brings into the city's
treasury >only about 100000 a
year.
District officials have con-
tended that they could produce
more money If the men assigned
to this. old tax were assigned to
check up on more modern levies.
Evening star., 1953-05-10

outside the post Office may in
f1uence the appointment Of su-
pervisors within the Office" she
said. This Is a bad situation,
because such supervisors may be
open to being influenced by out
side people. Thus these out
siders gain influence in the de-
partment.
Seniority Unrecognized.
"The supervisor may have
enough power to dictate who is
to be promoted to better jobs.
II he is crooked he can sell this
influence"
A letter in Mrs. st. Georges
file. from a postal worker, re-
fleets how employees feel.
There is no longer any recog-
milton Of seniority, meritorious
service and ability" he wrote.
Morale is low and dissatisfaction
is the rule rather than the ex-
ception."
Another clerk reported to the
st. George group the details of
an attempt to facilitate handling
Of special delivery and other
extra-postage mail. He offered
a plan that would diagram where
such mail was in cars hauling
mail between stations, so that it
could be swiftly handled.
The clerk said he frequently
had had to move "a mountain
of mail" seeking eXtra-postage
material.
The idea was turned down by
officials, the letter said, so the
clerk paid his own expenses to
Washington to try to get the idea
adopted
After a number Of complica-
tions the clerk said the depart
ment finally issued instructions
to placard loaded cars with
diagrams showing location Of
priority mail.
Poor Delivery Service.
This was a mountain Of ef-
fort for an ounce of result" he
wrote, because the order appar-
emily wasn't extended to other
parts of the postal system where
he believed the same type de-
lays were occurring.
Besides the mountainous prob
lens Of payroll padding, deficits
and low-employe morale. the de-
partment has troubles concern
Evening star., 1953-05-10

ing poor delivery service and
other contacts with the public.
congressional leaders say.
It may take as long as SO hours
under ordinary circumstances to
deliver letter from one resi-
dental area to another; "un-
usual" circumstances might in
crease the time.
New York takes in about one
tenth Of the almost 50 billion
OF annual revenue for the United
States as q whole. Oficials say
about the only recent devices
to improve efficiency are book
keeping machines and equipment
to bundle mail.
About 80 million pieces of mail
are handled in New York every
day. Some pieces may go through
the hands Of postal workers as
many as 10 times. An Ordinary"
distribution may require six sep
arate landings, one official esti-
mated.
Antiquated Facilities.
He said 1t is impossible to
estimate how many separate
hand operations there are in a
days work but it keeps more
than 10000 workers busy.
Seattle and Denver both re-
ported in the Associated Press
survey that they have unsatis-
factory postal quarters. These
were constructed years ago and
now are inadequate for handling
tremendously increased loads Of
mail. postmasters say.
In Denver a grand jury last
year investigated possible crimi-
nal delay of the mail" and re-
ported among the contributing
factors antiquated methods
of receiving, segregating and dis
patching and improvised
methods as well as facilities in
buildings of fire hazard nature. /"
Jack DAILY, assistant Superin-
tendent Of the terminal in
Seattle, said existing facilities
were built to handle mail for a
population of about $4,000, but
now serve 100000. Plans for an
annex were shelved by World
War II.
Outgoing mail jams the side
walks outside the building in
rush hours. along with a tumble
of hand carts, trucks and other
equipment Despite these handi-
caps some businessmen said pos
tai service is good.
Late Pickup Restored.
Postmasters Frank Pomponio
of Denver and George E. Starr
Of Seattle both said it's up to
Congress to remedy outmoded
and outgrown facilities. Mr..
Pomponio said the Denver mail
situation is Eat the edge Of the
precipice."
The two most prevalent COM
plants by the public about serv-
ice were:
l. The single, instead Of two,
deliveries a day in residential
areas and lack Of a late night
pickup service in residential areas
slows delivery service. These
services were discontinued April
II, 1850, by Mr.. Donaldson to
save money after $40 million
was clipped from his budget.
(The Washington Post Office,
on orders from Postmaster Gen.
eral Summerfleld, restored q
later night pickup service
throughout the city on April ~.
The pickup is about two hours
to two and a half hours later
than formerly, with the route
men arriving at the, post Office
about II pm. instead Of around
$3.50. Spokesman said they hoped
to follow suit in other cities
later.)
2. The lack Of directory serv-
Evening star., 1953-05-10
Federal Club to Hear Shea

Gerald M. Shea, director of the
District Public Welfare Depart
ment, will be guest speaker at
a dinner meeting of the Federal
Club at 6 pm. tomorrow in the
Willard Hotel.
Evening star., 1953-05-10
BoIiviun Tuxes Rise

Bolivia has raised its tax rate
on rental property to Is per cent
from a former IL per cent levy,
| La Pax reports,
Evening star., 1953-04-27
Armed Man Is Wounded
In Back FLEEING Policeman

A 10th precinct policeman
shot an armed man early yester-
day after running a block to in
vestigate four gun shots.
The victim, Leroy Daniels, %,
of 1850 Chamberlain street NV, -,
was in critical condition today
in Freedmen'S Hospital.
Pvt. Russell Page was stand
ing at the corner of Georgia and
New Hampshire avenues shortly
after / am. when he heard the
shots. He ran to the corner of
Rock Greek Church road and
Ninth street NV, where he found
Daniels with gun. Pvt. Page
told Daniels to halt. When
Daniels kept running, the police
man fired one shot over his
head. A second shot struck
Daniels in the back.
Evening star., 1953-04-27
US. Worker Indicted
- -
0n5ForgerYCharges

A grand jury today indicted a
Government clerk -typist on all
but one of six check forgery
charges presented to the panel.
Barbara L. Copeland, 20, COL
ored, of the first block of @
street NE, was named on five
counts of forgery and five of
uttering in an indictment COW
ering five checks totaling Sis.
Metropolitan police originally
charged the woman with Is Of
fenses, but 10 were dropped after
consultation with the Unite5:
States Attorneys Office. Police
said in such situations the trial
judge is advised of the other
cases against the defendant.
In this case, the defendant
could be sentenced from l to
10 years on each count.
Employed in the Munitions
Building, the defendant was
charged with passing five checks
totaling Sis at the Navy De-
partment branch of the Amer
ican Security & Trust Co. The
Is charges brought against her
originally totaled 1895.
Evening star., 1953-04-27
Guard at Pentagon Falls
To Death in Elevator Shaft

A Pentagon guard. Lee E. Har-
den. 81, of 1913 Maryland ave-
nue. NE, was found dead at the
bottom of an elevator shaft in
the Pentagon yesterday. officials
said he apparently walked into
"open space" after opening the
door.
DR.. John H. Judson, deputy
Arlington County coroner. told
security police at the building
that Mr.. Harden, colored, died
of a fractured skull nearly "a
hours before he was found. He
had fallen about Is feet.
Capt. Edward F. O'Hare. of
the security police, said Mr.. Har-
den had been missing since about
2:30 pm, Saturday.
The guards wife, Mrs. Mary
E. Harden, called the security
Office yesterday and said her hus-
band had not been home all
night. A search was started. and
when it was learned that the
guard had last been seen when
he obtained an elevator key from
his Office, the elevator shaft was
checked.
Evening star., 1953-04-27
Net Farm Incomes
Expected 10 Be al
Lowest Since 1941
By jones (. Roper

The Agriculture Department
predicted today that farmers will
be worse off this year than at
any time since l941-even though
most of the nations economy Is
booming.
The department said farmers
will net about SLAB billion this
year. This is 81 billion less than
in 1852.
THE purchasing power of this
income would be the lowest since
1941." the Agriculture Depart
ment said.
The farm net is dropping be-
cause prices farmers receive are
falling faster than the prices
they pay.
The Agriculture Department.
however, sees stiffening prices
because of the Nations general
prosperity.
Economic activity is at record
rates with output of factories
and mines at postwar highs" the
department said in a regular
survey of the demand and price
situation.
Employment, incomes and re-
tail sales are at record levels.
Moreover, reports by both con-
SumerS and businessmen are gen.
orally optimistic regarding in
vestment and spending plans
for 1858 and total Government
outlays probably will not change
much from current levels.
These prospects suggest that
economic activity. employment
and income will continue high
in 1883"
The department expects de-
mand from American consumers
of farm products probably to
continue high, demand from
foreign countries to stay about
as it is now, and farmers to
market about the same quantity
of products this year as last year.
The gross income Of Maryland
farmers during the first two
months of this year fell below the
year-ago figures, but the gross
of Virginia farmers rose.
In January and February Of
this year, Maryland farmers re-
ceived 1884 million for their
crops, compared with $34.7 a
year ago. Virginia farmers
crossed $64.2 during the first two
months of this year, compared
with $58.6 million during the
same period last year.
The Agriculture Department
also announced amounts it paid
to farmers for agricultural con-
servation practices last year.
$40 million to Virginia farmers
and SIG to Marylanders.
Evening star., 1953-04-27
o do something about the situa.

to do something about the situa-
ton.
y y 4
GPO-Raymond Blattenberger,
the new Public Printer, will take
the oath of Office at 2 pm. to-
morrow in the Government
Printing Office.
4 X y 4
REGIONAL OFFICES-In an
economy move which will save
$3.50, 900 a year, the CSC has re-
duced from IA to IL the number
of its regional Offices throughout
the country. The Washington
regional office here is not in
volved and will remain in opera
tion.
Closed are the st. Paul and
New Orleans regional Offices. The
Federal agencies il these regions
will be served by other csc Of
fees throughout the country.