of the House Post Office Committee, and a member of the Postal Salaries Commission, stated that "The Department has not recommended any increase."

It is too much of a problem to reconcile the statement of Representative Steenerson, made on the floor of Congress on June 3, 1920, when the bill of the Postal Salaries Commission was under consideration, with the statement of the Postmaster General published in the press under date of June 14, 1920. But again referring to the closing words of the Postmaster General's statement "Truth is mighty, and will prevail," we leave our readers to judge the truth for themselves, as it is beyond our limited powers of reasoning.

we

The Postmaster General in his statement has injected politics Into the report of the Postal Salaries Commission. This is to be regretted, as the civil service rules prohibit postoffice employees from actively participating in politics. It is unfair, and emphatically protest against any attempt to place the employees between the Democratic and Republican partisan millstones and made to suffer the penalty of party prejudices in the future. We endorse the views expressed by Representative Madden in the House of Representatives on June 3, 1920, when he said "There should be no politics in the postal business. It is a great business institution; it should be conducted along business lines, and every man who enters at the bottom should feel that he has a chance, by constant effort and devotion, to reach the top."

Commission's Award is Unsatisfactory

Much dissatisfaction prevails among the postal employees in all parts of the country with the report and recommendations of the Postal Salaries Commission and the increases in pay provided in the bill which passed Congress in the closing days of the session. The Joint Commission on Postal Salaries was authorized under the provisions of Section 3 of the Act approved February 28, 1919, generally known as the Post Office Appropriation Bill. The Commission was authorized to investigate the salaries of postmasters and employees of the postal service with a view to the reclassification and readjustment of such salaries on an equitable basis. To make the investigation thorough and complete, the Commission was given extended powers to send for persons and papers, to compel the attendance of witnesses and to employ such clerical and expert services and incur such expenses as were necessary to carry out the purposes of the investigation. also the duty of the Commission to report by bill or otherwise the result of its investigation and what reclassification and readjustment of compensation should be made.

It was

The Commission met and organized on March 3, 1919, and elected the late Senator John H. Bankhead, of Alabama, chairman; Representative John A. Moon, of Tennessee, vice chairman, and Mr. Cecil A. Beasley, secretary.

From

The first six months of the time of the Commission was devoted in preliminary work, such as the preparation and mailing of questionnaires to each employee, the gathering of information on salaries paid to civil employees in the several States as well as those in foreign countries, the wages paid in industrial employment and data of every conceivable kind that had any bearing on the question under investigation. Public hearings were held in eleven of the most important postal centers to which each group of employees within a certain radius were invited to appear or send representatives to present their testimony. Fourteen volumes containing 2,344 printed pages of testimony from the employees and postoffice officials were gathered by the Commission. the nature of the testimony which appears in the printed hearings, it was presumed that the Commission had a sufficient amount of authentic information upon which they could base a report and recommendations for adequate salaries for the workers in the postal service. The members of the Postal Salaries Commission had an unusual opportunity to study the methods employed in moving the mail, the conditions of employment in all branches of the service and the duties and responsibilities of the different groups of employees. They had the benefit of expert advice given first hand by postal officials of high and low degree and frank, open statements from the rank and file of the workers.

In addition to this the Commission called to Washington 26 employees representing the different groups and each considered an expert in his particular line. Of these there were 6 postmasters, 4 inspectors-in-charge, 1 postoffice inspector, 1 superintendent of the railway mail service, 1 chief clerk, railway mail service, railway mail clerks, 6 supervisory officials of first and second class postoffices, 3 postoffice clerks, 1 rural letter carrier and 1 city letter carrier. Of this number there were 19 holding positions of authority or a supervisory capacity, 7 representing the rank and file of the workers. This committee of experts held their meetings in executive session and at the end of ten days submitted a report and recommended for consideration of the Commission a tentative schedule of readjustments. With two or three exceptions the recommendations in the report were unanimous.

This report was not made a part of the printed record of the hearings and is not available for publication. Before the hearings closed the national representatives of the several groups of employees submitted their arguments to the Commission and in addition they presented briefs setting forth the case of each group and recommending readjustments of salaries which were based largely on a pre-war standard of salaries or on the policy laid down by the Government in the settlement of industrial disputes by the War Labor Board and termed "A Living Wage." The testimony submitted by the national representatives of the postal employees was heard in executive session and has not been made a part of the official hearings.

The Post Office Department officials presented their views to the Commission and in addition to oral statements they submitted written recommendations and suggestions both with reference to the conclusions of the committee of postal experts and to the general subject under investigation. These statements and recommendations were made in executive session and were

not made a part of the printed hearings. Whether or not any stenographic report was made of the proceedings held in executive session is not publicly known.

The printed brief submitted by the National Association of Letter Carriers contained a full and complete statement of the case of the city letter carriers and concluded with a plea for a reclassification of salaries as follows: First year of service, $1,800 per annum; second year of service, $2,100 per annum; third year and thereafter, $2,400 per annum. In presenting the oral argument the National Secretary covered every phase of the case in detail and substantiated each statement he made with evidence that could not be successfully refuted.

The brief of the N. A. L. C. was based on a scientific study of the salary question and the cost of living, and the conclusions arrived at for increases in pay were considered fair and conservative. It simply called for a living wage, to which the employees were justly entitled if the policy of the Government as embodied in the principles of the War Labor Board mean what they say. Statistics of the Government itself (the reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics) showed that the cost of living had increased from 1914 to an extent that required an increase in salary of 90 per cent in December, 1919, to place the purchasing power of the dollar on the pre-war standard of July 1, 1914. A detailed budget prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the least amount a family could be expected to live upon in health and reasonable comfort was $2,262.

On May 31, 1920, the Commission presented their report and recommendations to Congress together with a bill embodying the recommendations contained in the report. The reclassification recommended by the Commission, and which received the approval of both Branches of Congress and became a law on June 5, 1920. is as follows:

First grade, salary $1,400; second grade, salary $1,500; third grade, salary $1,600; fourth grade, salary $1,700, and fifth grade, salary $1,800.

The result of the investigation and report of the Commission came as a shock to every group of employees in the postal service. The working force do not believe they received a square deal in the report and recommendations of the Postal Salaries Commission. They are firm in the belief that the evidence submitted by them to the Commission justified a far better award.

In the short time that Congress had at its disposal between the submission of the report on May 31, 1920, and the date of adjournment of Congress on June 5, 1920, no opportunity was available nor would the rules of the House of Representatives permit of amendments to the bill when it was taken up for consideration. Under the circumstances the only thing that could be done was to accept the increases recommended by the Commission or do without any increases.

The new classification law which went into effect July 1, 1920, does not solve nor settle the question of salaries in so far as the postal employees are concerned. They have been fighting for several years against great odds in an effort to arouse public sentiment in their behalf. They have met with the decided opposition of the Postmaster General to any general increases in compensation. The employees believe that the American people are behind them in their effort to obtain a living wage and will continue to keep their case before the people until Congress makes a just and equitable adjustment of the wage question. All that the employees ask is justice and a square deal. On this issue of a living wage they will continue to keep their case before the people, believing that the American public will demand fair play and will insist upon the Congress dealing justly with the employees.

The wretched postal service that the American public have been receiving for the past several years will improve little, if any, on account of the new salary scale allowed the employees. Competent and efficient postal workers continue to resign their positions in the service in order to obtain more remunerative employment in private fields. The new rates will not check the resignations that have been going on within the postal service, nor will they act as an inducement for applicants who possess the required qualifications to fill the positions, to seek employment in the postal service.

Under extension of remarks Hon. Eugene Black, of Texas, in the House of Representatives, Friday, June 4, 1920, made the following statement:

MR. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I am earnestly in favor of an increase of salary to postal employees and I heartily supported the bill which we have just passed for that purpose and think it will do a great deal of good, but there has been some misapprehension as to salaries which are now paid to postal employees and as to the different increases which have been granted to them by Congress from time to time. Therefore, under unanimous consent to extend my remarks, I insert a letter which was recently written by Postmaster General Burleson to Charles T. Gwynne, secretary Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. This letter gives some interesting information which has been carefully compiled from official records and shows that Congress has not been as neglectful of this worthy class of workers as some unInformed critics have charged.

May 27, 1920. Charles T. Gwynne, Secretary Chamber of Commerce, State of New York, 65 Liberty Street, New York City. Sir: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of May 20, relative to the movement to secure increased compensation for the postal employees throughout the country. In reply permit me to state that I greatly appreciate the opportunity that your request affords me to place before you certain facts in connection with the salaries of postal employees.

Statements have frequently been made that the salaries have not been increased for many years. These statements are made in error, as the Congress has been more than liberal to the Government employees. They are assured of a permanent position and in normal times at a salary higher than that paid for like service in other employment. In hearings held during 1917 and 1918 by a subcommittee of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roaas, House of Representatives, it was shown that the average salaries paid postoffice clerks and city letter carriers in the years 1908-1915 were considerably higher than the average paid employees of the United States Steel Corporation.

The Congress provided for reclassification of postoffice clerks and city letter carriers effective July 1, 1907, which authorized automatic promotions at the end of each year's efficient service until the maximum grade was reached. These increases in compensation were made without any new legislation. On June 30, 1907, there were 24.577 city letter carriers in the service, and their average salary was $899.91. At the present time there are 35,952 carriers in the service, and their average salary is $1.543.56, an increase of 71.52 per cent. During the current fiscal year promotions authorized by the Congress for city letter carriers, including the increase provided by H. R. 151, amount to $11,059,250.

The number of clerks at first and second class postoffices on June 30, 1907. was 26.447, and their average salary $831.94. The number of clerks now employed is 47,751, and their average annual salary has increased to $1,546.86, or an increase of 8.93 per cent. The number of clerks in the grades above $1,200 on June 30. 1907, was 1,407, while today there are 31.784: and above the $1,500 grade there are 8,781. While the number of clerks since 1907 has increased less than 100 per cent the number of supervisory officials has increased more than 600 per cent; but these additional places in the supervisory grades have provided many more increases in salary than the number indicates, as an additional place in the $3,000 grade would promote one person in each grade from $1,200 up. The increase in compensation for clerks and supervisory employees at first and second class postoffices during the current fiscal year is $10,269.510.

The entrance salary fixed by the reclas sification act which went into effect July 1. 1907, was $600, and the maximum salary $1,200. The entrance salary was increased on July 1, 1913, to $800, and on July 1.

1918, to $1,000, and on November 8, 1919, to $1.200 or an increase of 100 per cent. The maximum salary has been increased from $1,200 to $1,650, or an increase of 371⁄2 per cent.

The average salary of railway mail clerks has increased from $1,161 to $1,796 96, an increase of 54.77 per cent since June 30, 1907.

The average annual salary of all road clerks is $2,051, including travel allowance, or an increase over average annual salaries of all clerks in 1910 of $887, or 76.2 per cent. The increases provided by the Congress have raised the average salaries of city letter carriers since June 30, 1913, from $1,059.68 to $1,543.56, or 45 per cent; of clerks in first and second class postoffices, from $1,064.66 to $1,546.86, or 45 per cent; of rural letter carriers, from $1.062.37 to $1,717.89, or 61 per cent; and of railway mail clerks, from $1,239 to $1,796.96, or 45 per cent.

The following table shows the average annual salaries of various employees in the postal service:

City letter carriers.

Clerks, first and second class offices.
Rural letter carriers--
Railway mail clerks

Shortly after war was declared the Congress enacted legislation which gave employees in the postal service, beginning July 1, 1918, an increase of $200 per annum for those receiving $2.200 and less, and a 5 per cent increase for those receiving more than $2,200 This increase amounted to about $10,000,000 in increased compensation annually.

During the present Congress a resolution was passed providing for bonuses involving an additional expenditure of about $35,000,000 annually, so in addition to the regular promotions provided in the appropriation bills the employees are now ceiving approximately $75.000.000 annually in increased compensation because of the

war.

re

The clerk or carrier who was receiving $600 on April 1, 1913. has been promoted through automatic promotions and other increases granted by the Congress until now he receives $1,650, or an increase of 175 per cent. The clerk or carrier who was receiving $1,200 on that date is now receiving $1,650, or an increase of 371⁄2 per cent.

The statement that no increases have been provided for employees in the postal service for many years is absolutely untrue; but, on the other hand, there has been a steady and gradual increase of the salaries of these employees each year.

The following table shows the average salaries on June 30, 1913, and March 12, 1920, and the percentages of increases:

Postal Service

salaries paid in the postal service are those fixed by the Congress, and they can in no wise be increased by the Department without legislative action. Realizing the abnormal conditions which existed in certain centers because of the peculiar local industrial conditions, and that the salaries paid postal employees in these localities were not sufficient, the Postmaster General last July took the initiative in the necessary steps to enable him to increase the compensation where the conditions warranted an increase. A resolution (H. Res. 151) introduced by Representative Madden on July 19, 1919, provided that the Postmaster General may increase the salaries then authorized by law not to exceed 35 per cent where unusual and abnormal conditions prevailed. The passage of this resolution was urged by the Postmaster General, but it was opposed by certain representatives of the postal employees, who, instead of the provisions of this resolution being granted, urged and insisted that a horizontal increase be made. The Department in seeking this legislation was asking permission to follow the same methods that would be adopted by any business corporation doing a national business, as no such corporation would think of paying the same wages throughout the United States.

It is impossible to bring the salaries of the employees at the smaller towns, or where industrial and unusual conditions do not prevail, up to the level of those where such conditions exist without spending unnecessarily hundreds of millions of dollars.

The recommendation of the Department was not followed, but instead a horizontal increase was made in the salaries, which made many increases where they were not justified, and, on the other hand, made increases insufficient to provide for the cities where abnormal and unusual conditions prevailed. The Congress did what it believed evidently to be for the best interest of the service, and this letter is not intended in any wise to reflect upon its action; but the Department is still of the opinion that had the recommendations of the Postmaster General been followed the salaries could have been readjusted at much less cost and in a much more satisfactory manner. The Department is still of the opinion that instead of a further horizontal increase in all instances the Postmaster General should be given authority to exceed the present compensation now paid where the circumstances justify so doing, not to exceed 25 per cent.

Many statements have been made that the employees are leaving the service in "droves" and that the service is threatened with a "break down" or "collapse." These statements are not based on facts. The resignations in the entire postal service of the country during the year ended June 30. 1919, were 11 per cent for clerks and 57 per cent for city letter carriers. In the New York City postoffice there were employed 6.618 clerks, of which 760, or 11.48 per cent, resigned. There are employed 2,769 letter carriers, of which 103, or 3.72

Postoffice inspectors

$1,804 45

19.21

City delivery carriers

Railway postal clerks*.

1.289 00

Rural carriers

1,062 37

The Postmaster General has stated in his annual reports and before committees in Congress that he believed the Government should be a model employer, that it should pay salaries from 15 to 20 per cent greater than for that paid by private concerns work of similar nature or responsibility, and that when the salaries were not such he himself would willingly recommend to the Congress an increase. Of course, the

per cent, resigned. During the current fiscal year, up to the present time, there were employed 7.221 clerks, of which number 1.080, or 14.96 per cent, resigned, and of the 2.829 letter carriers employed 121, or 4 28 per cent. resigned. Of the number of clerks resigning practically 50 per cent have been in the service less than one year and are therefore inexperienced and not efficient clerks. A table giving this informa

tion in detail by grades is attached. This shows that the turnover in the postal service in New York City represents on an average about 12 per cent annually, making the average term of employment more than eight years. For carriers the average turnover is less than 4 per cent, making the average term of employment 25 years.

I feel that this turnover is far less than that represented by any corporation or utility, be it public or private. More than 80 per cent of the clerks and 90 per cent of the carriers in the postal service today have been employed for more than two years. The same people, therefore, are distributing and delivering the mail that were doing so more than two years ago; and the Department has allowed the postmasters all the additional help needed; so if the service being rendered the public today is inefficient, only one conclusion can be reached, and that is that the employees are not rendering as efficient service as they were two years ago; if not, the conclusion that must necessarily be forced upon us is that they are deliberately failing to do so. Personally, the Postmaster General does not believe this to be so, as he believes that there is not a more faithful or patriotic set of men employed by either a public or private corporation than the postal employees.

Little consideration seems to be given by some to the fact that the postal service is the only service that has declared no embargoes and has accepted for transportation at any and all times merchandise regardless of quantity and handled it with promptness and dispatch not equalled by any other transportation agency, and that the disturbances by railroad and express strikes have thrown into the postal service an unprecedented volume of mail.

Statements have been made in publications from time to time that an unprecedented number of men are leaving the service and that these are experienced men, but our investigations disclose that such is not the case. In the city of New York more than 4,000,000 outgoing letters are mailed daily, and a like number are received. As it is necessary to handle each of these letters four times, you can see it makes necessary more than 32,000,000 handlings of letters daily; and this is done with less than one error in each 10,000 letters handled, which is a record for efficiency of which the postal service may justly feel proud.

A. S. BURLESON, Postmaster General.

Personal

Items under this head, $1.00 for not more than 30 words, to members only.

$1,800 carrier, Brooklyn, N. Y., wants trade to small town or rural route, want to live in the country. What's offered in trade? Answer, "Country," care of Postal Record, Washington, D. C.

Carrier, first class city, Central South, mild climate, wishes to hear from carriers in northern or eastern cities interested. Address "Southern," care of Postal Record, Washington, D. C.

Carrier, $1,800 grade, Indianapolis, Ind., desires trade with carrier of California. Los Angeles preferred. Good residence route. All inquiries promptly answered. Address O. F., Postal Record, Washington, D. C.

Carrier, Brooklyn, New York City, $1,800 grade, desires transfer to small city not directly on the coast in Connecticut, New York or New Jersey. Would also consider a rural route. Address, A. C. F., Postal Record, Washington, D. C.

Carrier, $1,800 grade July first, in first class city in southern Michigan, wishes transfer with carrier in first class city in Michigan or Wisconsin. Nice 3 trip route. All communications answered. Personal reasons for transfer. Address. Michigan, care of Postal Record, Washington, D. C.

What I Observed in Brazil

O, Senor faca o favor vontarde vos dar de si en espacio.

Oh, excuse me, Senor Editor; what I want is a little space in the Postal Record as official scribe of Branch 172, N. A. L. C. The year is half gone and unless I write I can never get this office again.

I am in far-away Brazil and am having a deal of trouble with my bad Portuguese and worse English.

Rio de Janeiro is said to be the cleanest and most beautiful city in the world. I. of course, do not know, but will say positively when I have seen them all. However, believe me when I say it is just grand. I am in the seventh heaven of delight every moment. If ever Atlanta, Ga., becomes a sea-port town (yes she will if she wants to), I want her to fashion her bay and docks after Rio de Janeiro's.

The streets run in all directions to pass the hills or "morrows" in the city, and the street committee runs the streets practically level and stop after they run into the hills. Should your house and lot be upon the hill you are at liberty to borrow a ladder of an accommodating neighbor to get home and put in an elevator at leisure, or just continue to climb the (borrowed) ladder. Better still, you are privileged to remove enough stone and earth from beneath your (casa) house to let it down to the street level and your next door neighbor may do likewise. A great country. this, for privileges.

All buildings and pavements must conform to certain rules and regulations that

A BRAZILIAN LETTER CARRIER

we would consider very meddlesome. No low ceilings or solid glazed windows are permitted. Both must have ventilators, one to admit fresh air, the other allows the foul to escape.

Uniformity in style and decoration is required. Buildings all are masonry, with tile roof. Therefore fires are almost unknown. Unless one conforms to these requirements a permit will not be issued. Either iron or cement fences, porches and steps are used for two reasons-first, they are substantial and, second, if they were of ordinary wood the ants would eat them up.

There are parks everywhere and though I live in the South and am accustomed to tropical and semi-tropical vegetation, I have never seen anything so beautiful. In one garden we saw over 900 different varieties of one plant alone, to say nothing of the other flowers. The ones our wives, mothers and sisters cultivate, grow wild in the woods, and of such size and quality as to make us ashamed of our feeble efforts. I sit hours at a time looking upward through the dense foliage and beautiful vari-colored flowers. In a conscious dream I see the lazy motions of vine and trees as they sway slowly to and fro everywhere, in gardens, on plains, on mountain sides.

But, pardon me, Mr. Editor, this is not what I wanted to say. My subject is the Brazilian letter carrier, of one of whom I enclose a picture made by me in Rio. will not describe his appearance or equipment, as the picture does that admirably.

I

Suffice it to say his uniform is of khaki and he carries a key; he does not use a whistle and carries about five pounds of mail. He does not often carry his bag as shown in the cut, but takes it under his arm with letters for immediate delivery in his hands, and if the arrival of a number of mail steamers at once swells the mails so that his bag is filled, then he does not carry anything, as a registered laborer is with him and carries the load.

His duties are to deliver ordinary letters and papers, but not registered mail, which must be called for by addressee or a formexecuted absolving the department of responsibility for loss or damage. In this case the carrier makes the delivery.

The carrier goes up-stairs, awakens his patrons and delivers letters wherever directed, such as in sewing-machine drawers, in clock or behind pictures on the wall. He also drinks coffee (not Coca Cola) with his patrons on the government's time, as the government itself considers it a breach of etiquette to refuse a cafe.

On reporting each morning the carrier writes his name in a book provided for that purpose and in so doing is observed by a supervisory official at long range. i.e., from his desk. If there is tardiness or other complaint it is disposed of then and there. They know nothing of the demerit "depth bomb" or of the kind of "guns" they are fired from.

Each carrier's mail is separated for him by the clerks and placed in bins numbere consecutively to correspond with the carrier's number, and removed by laborers and placed on the carrier's table, much in the same manner as ours is by the roundsman on route inspection day. The day we make our routes in less time and must write a letter explaining why.

The carrier's case is merely a large table divided in four parts by a three-inch board standing on edge and crossing_the table and each other at right angles. This is for four carriers. They sit on chairs and route mail much as we used to do our papers on the desk years ago, The only labeling on carrier's "cases" is its number. I know it must be grand when an over-rested superintendent finds that an overworked carrier's desk is ragged or soiled and demands "re-labeling" just mark 20 in fresh ink, get on your bicycle and go home. If, however, an order issues from Washington, no Rio to label from the bottom up; just swap sides of the table with brother carriers and presto; it is done.

You may rest assured the postoffice department or any postal employee will give you any legitimate information and they are as kind and obliging as our own carriers and have a great deal more time for strangers. They do not smile nearly so much as we North Americans and seldom show their teeth. Loud talking or laughter is nowhere to be heard. Calling or whistling across the street is not done by the Brazilians.

The people are especially kind and obliging once you are acquainted with them. They study incessantly to do and say something agreeable. Your being a foreigner will not help or hinder you, and racial distinction is not tolerated. Brazil is primarily and secondarily Catholic. There are, however, some large Protestant congregations. All of my teachings have been anti-Catholic, but I must admit I have serious misgivings about some of the things said about Catholicism even in Atlanta. Now I know for a fact the Catholic church in many instances practices what we Protestants merely preach.

If you do not understand how to post your letters ask a policeman. He will direct you, with never a smile at your ignorance or a word of criticism. I wish I could tell you of the Brazilian policeman also, the street car system and water works, but space will not permit.

Go see Brazil on your vacation. You will enjoy it.

A. H. YANCEY.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, via Atlanta, Ga.

Congratulations to the letter carriers of the United States upon their fine discipline, courage, patriotism and good temper through the last few years of high prices and low wages-which was their lot. The people of the country appreciate their worth and Congress has taken the first step towards real justice. Congratulations then from Maher Brothers upon the improved outlook.-(Advertisement.)

Department Orders Relating to Retirement

Office of the Postmaster General. Washington, D. C., June 14, 1920. The attention of all postmasters, supervisory officers, and employees of the postal service is invited to the following order of the Secretary of the Interior, approved by the President on June 2, 1920, relative to the reinstatement of former employees: "To heads of Bureaus and Offices:

"Recommendation for the reinstatement of former employees will not be approved for the purpose of conferring upon such employees the benefits of the act approved May 22, 1920, entitled 'An act for the retirement of employees in the classified service and for other purposes.'

"Recommendations for the reinstatement of former employees who have reached, or will within 10 years reach, the age making them eligible for retirement under the said law must be accompanied by a full statement of the facts in each case, indicating that such reinstatement will be in the interest of the public service.

"No employee of the class referred to will be reinstated unless physically able to perform active duty, and officers recommending a person of this class for reinstatement must give his age, full information as to physical fitness for the work to which it is proposed to assign him, and if the employee were then of the retirement age that the officer would recommend the issuance of the certificate provided for in the second proviso to section 6 of the act. "JOHN BARTON PAYNE, "Secretary.

"Approved June 2. 1920.

"WOODROW WILSON." In recommending reinstatement in the postal service you will be governed by the provisions of this order.

J. C. KOONS,
Acting Postmaster General.

Separation of Employees of Retirement Age

Office of the Postmaster General. Washington, June 18. 1920. In accordance with an opinion rendered by the Attorney General, all employees, upon reaching the age of retirement. are. in accordance with the act approved May 22, 1920, automatically separated from the service whether entitled to annuity or not

The retirement act is effective from August 21, 1920, and all employees, therefore, who shall have on that date reached the age fixed for retirement of employees in their respective grades shall be automatically separated from the service at the close of business August 20. and reports of their separation should be forwarded on the proper forms.

J. C. KOONS. Acting Postmaster General.

Information Relative to Retirement Office of the Postmaster General. Washington, June 26, 1920. Postmasters and postal employees are advised that any and all questions relating to the interpretation of the retirement act for civil service employees should be addressed to the Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., that officer being charged with the administration of the retirement act. Attention is invited to the fact, however, that in order for employees to be retained beyond the retirement age, it would be necessary for the Department to recommend to the Civil Service Commission the issuance of a certificate of retention and such action is not contemplated in any case.

Be

Retirement Applications Must Forwarded to the Department Properly Filled Out

First Asst. Postmaster General, Washington, July 1, 1920. Postmasters of first and second class postoffices are expected to give especial care to the applications for retirement forwarded from their offices. The following instructions should be strictly observed. Under Question 8, on the second page of the application, the employee's full service under the Government should be given in chronological The order and in detail. basic salary, pay, or commission, should be given for each position and during each period separately for the past 10 years. Particular notice is directed to the fact that the entire Government service should be given, but that compensation should be given for the past 10 years only.

Postmaster should assist employees in the preparation of these blanks in order that the least possible amount of error may result, and should certify on the margin of the application (second page) as to so much of the employee's record as relates to his office.

Postmasters should prepare the certifi cate on the last page of the application. but should not sign these certificates; the certificate must be signed by an officer of the Department before it will be accepted by the Commissioner of Pensions. The answer to Question 4 in the certificate and Question 6 in the application should be the same and should be the date immediately preceding that on which retirement is to be effected. In answer to Question 6 in the certificate on the last page of the application, the full service of the employee under the jurisdiction of the Postoffice Department should be given in chronological order, but service under other departments should not be given in this certificate. Postmasters are instructed to leave the column relative to salary, pay, or compensation, blank; this will be filled in by the Department.

Summarizing the foregoing instructions. postmasters are directed to observe strictly the following points:

Question 8 in the application should show the whole of the employee's Government service, while Question 6 in the certificate should show only postal service in any or all of its branches.

The basic compensation for the past 10 years should be shown in Question 8 of the application, but no compensation should be stated in answer to Question 6 on the certificate.

These applications must be forwarded to this Bureau.

Extra Pay in Lieu of Compensatory Time Discontinued, Effective July 1, 1920

First Assistant Postmaster General. Washington. June 18, 1920. The act approved June 5, 1920, to reclassify postmasters and employees of the postal service and readjust their salaries and compensation on an equitable basis, contains the following provisions:

"Hereafter when the needs of the service require the employment on Sundays or holidays of foremen, special clerks, clerks, carriers, watchmen, messengers, or laborers at first and second class postoffices, or of railway postal clerks at terminal railway postoffices and transfer offices, they, shall be allowed compensatory time within 6 days next succeeding the Sunday and within 30 days next succeeding the holiday on which service is performed, and that portion of the act approved July 2. 1918, authorizing the payment for overtime in lieu of compensatory time is hereby repealed."

J. C. KOONS. First Assistant Postmaster General

Occasionally a pair of trousers may carry a man through the season and still he may If his coat and vest look well in uniform. came from Maher Brothers. Utica, N. Y., we are almost certain that a good clean press up and an order to this firm for a pair of pants will fit him out and leave him without This suggesthe charge of being shabby. tion is worth considering.-(Advertisement.)

Akron, Ohio

The regular meeting of Branch 148 was held July 3, 1920, with a small attendance, but a very interesting meeting. First of all our most esteemed brother and ex-postmaster, Mr. A. Ross Read, gave us an address and expressed his surprise at the large increase in salary received.

Several members who attended the Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania convention made reports on the same and spoke well of the hospitality of Branch 40 of Cleveland.

The convention committee reports everything moving along fine. We have started a plan for a letter carriers picnic, to be held next month at one of the many lakes surrounding Akron, and we expect to have wonderful success. We also elected our delegates for the Ohio State convention, to be held here September 5 and 6, 1920, and I sincerely hope every Branch in the State will send their full delegation and help us make this the largest and best convention in the history of the State Association. We are counting on full delegations, so don't disappoint us.

CHAS. A. GARDNER.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Well, a sigh of relief went up when Congress before adjourning passed the reclassification of salaries bill. While it does not give us what we really need, yet it gives us a new standard. Now if they will give us a bonus to carry us through this H. C. of L. it will not be so bad: but at that, it is no princely salary. They figured that prices would eventually come down and they did not want us to be too highly favored above the ordinary wage in civil trades. Of course I do not expect them to favor us so much above the ordinary trades, but I do think that the Government should be a model employer and lead in the payment of salaries and let others follow their lead. We have lots to be thankful forthe retirement bill, the reclassification of salaries, ten days sick leave. Tat is a whole lot to get from one Congress. Let's thank our officers and friends for their heroic work in this legislation affecting us. Two of the carriers at this office have received notification that they would be automatically dropped from the roll at the end of business August 20-G. W. Ruston and H. D. Alexander. Well, fellows, here is to you for a good long rest. George can drive his thoroughbred mare. Baida. around and look after his houses and drive down to the bank and clip his coupons from his bonds, while Alec. can sit back and eat watermelon and lead in the singing. did not know that he also was a bear hunter until a few days ago.

Some years ago he was way back in the woods teaching school. A bear had been bothering the people, so they got up a bear hunt. He joined the crowd and away they went. They put him on a stand and told him that the bear would come that way. They went around with the dogs, but as soon as they got out of sight, he beat it home. He was not going to stay there and meet that bear by himself; he thought the crowd was going to stay together.

The writer is on his vacation. He does not consider it a vacation unless he can go fishing, so on Friday morning, July 2. my brother and I jumped into his car and ran up the valley about seventy miles to Moore's Creek, a good fishing spot. We went to what they call the Bluffs. Did not do much good there, as we had a storm that made the creek muddy, so the next day we moved up to the foot of the mountain and rested and made preparations to go after rock bass. Next morning we were up bright and early and got an early start. You start fishing at the foot of the mountain. working up all the time. The higher un you get the better the fishing: so we walked up the mountain about four miles before we hit the creek at the forks and went after them. You are wading, stumbling, and slipping all the time. Occasionally you sit down in the water up to your waist: you are lucky if no worse. But get up, shake

yourself and go on. Of course there is more or less rivalry between the fellows, so it was this day my brother caught the first one; but I was only a second behind him. At the end of the day he counted the most, but I had the finer string, and that is going some, for he is an inveterate fisherman, while I only occasionally. We had a good old fish fry when we got back to camp.

The creek comes down through a great gorge in the mountain, wild and silent save for the roar of the water as it tumbles over the rocks. At one place we came across quite a lake nestling at the foot of a great cliff hundreds of feet high. At some points you loook up, up, it seems, a mile to the top of the canyon; but you don't have much time to look at the surroundings if you get the fish. You make a cast in a little pool and you see the red eye dart from the shadow of a rock and snap the lure. You give him a quick jerk. If you hang him you must act quick. or he may get under a rock. It is exhilarating to feel the tug and see the tip of the pole bond nearly double before you can land him. It is exciting to see him leave the water with every fin sticking up, still fighting. He is game to the last.

R. B. LANE.

Denver, Colo.

Postmaster Stapleton is a wizard at arranging difficult matters. With a vacation period in full blast and a shortage of help all around, he managed, nevertheless, to secure the attendance of a full delegation of twelve Denver letter carriers as delegates at the Colorado Springs State convention. High School boys were drafted and some of the regular carriers on vacation were pressed back into service to enable the boys to sit in on the two day session at the Pikes Peek city.

This is but one sample of numerous favors on the part of our postmaster, and a sincere vote of thanks was extended to him at the July Branch meeting.

The following men marched around the hall with the sergeant-at-arms and color bearer and took the prescribed initiation medicine: F. Q. Gaines. Ferdinand Norman, J. S. Randall and Stanislaus Ceborowski. A letter of transfer was sent to Harry W. Kaltenbacher, now located at Coalinga, Calif, and the same stunt was performed for Otto Gilenfeldt, who has gone from here to Son Diego. George W. Hitchcock, for

eighteen years a letter carrier in Peoria. Il, is now packing the sack in our Mile High City. He presented his transfer card at the July meeting.

As usual when there is any heavy labor to be performed, it is shouldered onto our remarkably patient and highly efficient secretary, Fred P. Schafer. One sample of many similar ones was a motion that the secretary be instructed to send letters of thanks and appreciation to the press of Denver, to our Senators and Congressmen and to the Saturday Evening Post, the Literary Digest. Collier's and other magazines for aid rendered in connection with salary reclassification. The secretary is also instructed to draw up numerous resolutions and compile an encyclopedia of facts from time to time. Our members have a cinch it seldom occurs to them to annoint Committees and divide the work. It's always "Let George do it" only "George's" name is "Fred" in Denver.

The Constitution and Law Committee made several important recommendations and presented amendments to change the system of voting for officers and delegates to the referendum vote at all stations, instead of the limited vote at Branch meetings. This same matter was threshed ont and defeated about a year ago and will now come up for action again at the August meeting. Be on hand and tote your sentiments, or forever after hold your peace.

The Labor Day celebration committee will have a program to submit at the same meeting, and as we are out again for first prize in the parade, the cooperation of every man is needed. Bring your ideas and suggestions with you, and be sure to bring yourself with you.

A number of corking good resolutions were adopted for presentation at the State convention that should make interesting reading matter when printed in the Postal Record. President Gainor fell down on us and cancelled his date at the Colorado Springs' convention, due to unforeseen circumstances. With Treasurer Chas. D. Duffy and National Sick Benefit Association Clerk John T. Mugavin, as body guards, President Gainor blew into Denver for four hours on Monday, June 21, on the way to San Francisco and Seattle. Their coming was unheralded and unannounced as the telegram from Grand Island, Nebr., was misdirected and reached Secretary Schafer after they had come and gone, otherwise a proper official welcome would have been given them. Only a few got to see them and we are sure disappointed that the return by way of Denver was cancelled.

The writer was on vacation at the time and also at the other end of the phone when that famous "agreed to" voice hailed him. Of course he readily "agreed to" come right down town, but was saved the necessity, for by arrangement, he was picked up in a big taxi-cheater at his own home and you can imagine his surprise, when instead of Gainor alone, as he had expected. there were the two other musketeers. Mugavin and Duffy, also.

Being somewhat familiar with Denver's parks, boulevards and fine residential sections, the writer did his best as guide for the two short hours' whirl around the city. We visited a few of the stations and encountered some of the carriers with their Monday loads.

Gainor is the same lovable fellow and plain unvarnished Hoosier he always was. It is only when he gets in action that you sense the something different that made the little town of Muncie, Ind., famous. Mugavin now looks like a prosperous retired country gentleman and Duffy like a metropolitan city banker. Duffy, however, has the same luxuriant black hair and youthful look he wore in 1902 at the Denver convention, when he presented the claims of one of the two rival Chicago delegations. He and John Galvin, his opponent, both, that day made such a favorable impression, or rather got us so mixed up on facts, that the convention seated both factions, splitting the vote 50-50 between them.

Assistant Superintendent Isaac P. Kelley and postoffice clerks, A. N. Alexander, John M. Ferguson, Joel Henderson, William Simmons and John B. Gibbs, have received official notice of their retirement when the law goes into effect August 20 ext. Gibhs and Simmons both began their postoffice career on the carrier force. Among the letter carriers who will also be placed upon the roll of honor are Theodore Schaarschmidt, William Guion, Walter Hayden, Andrew W. Strope, W. A. Wilson (old 45) and Robert Oliver.

Theodore Schaarschmidt, known affectionately as "Little Smithy." is the veteran of veterans, 38 years in the service and still as tough as they make 'em. He was the original carrier No. 10, but he has changed numbers often. Bill Guion was appointed in 1884 as original carrier No. 21 and wears the same number on his straw cap today.

That number 21 recalls an early day incident. The writer was appointed origiual carrier 19. when he was 20 years old. and a year previous to Guion's time. There were just 20 corriers in Denver in 1883, and they all adopted a cute little black lively scrapper of a dog. He would associate only with carriers and made the postoffice his home. The boys fed him, chipped in and bought him a collar and the inscription thereon was "Carrier 21. Post Office" Almost every person in Denver then knew this dog well, for he went over the entire twenty routes many times for several years, although he favored Bob Wilson, the man who first adopted him and had christened him 21. We all got so darn much attached to the cute little fellow that we would fight for him, because we knew he would die for Some human fiend poisoned him and more than one dry tear was shed as the limp little fellow in his last gasps crawled up the alley to the postoffice, where with pleading eyes he craved sympathy from those who had always given it-his true friends. Like a little child with a human soul, this former nondescript waif of the streets came home to die, and like a human being, too, seemed to derive comfort from the fact. If there is a dog heaven, Little 21 is there today.

us.

As for the man who killed this inoffensive dog (and the culprit was known, too, though the evidence was circumstantial) words fail me. Let the great Henry Bergh say it for me: