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.cannot be bag.#ithout entariing extra work, on the remainder of the start, as there is no margin to meet such contingencies.
The volume of correspondence has increased tenfold since Mr.Bister's time, but the staff has not been correspondingly increased; consequently, with the same space of time available for closing mails, the staff has to handle an enormously increased mass of mail matter, with the result that the strain is well nigh at breaking point, and correspondence is frequently sent forward unsorted, and mistakes made.
It is not surprising that the officers become so often sick, too. In comparison with officers in other Departments, we do not have the same prospect of enjoying a pension in their old age.
We most respectfully submit that some concession as regards our allowances should be made to compensate for the loss of recreative hours, the Saturday, and holidays; and thus, with an extra allowance, to enable many of us with small salaries to obtain some invigorating and strengthening nourishment to properly perform our duties. As more than half of your petitioners are drawing salaries of $50 and under, out of which one must appear decently dressed, what remains to keep body and soul together we leave to your imagination.
We, therefore, humbly pray that the Governor will take into consideration our request to fix the duration of our ordinary working day at six hours per day (although our present nominal hours are five) and that any extra hours over that time should be paid for, and that payment for work necessary on a Sabbath or a holiday may be double that of an ordinary working day, thereby stimulating the staff to renewed energy in the discharge of its duties and inducing greater zeal as regards improving the Postal Service and becoming more conversant with the rules and regulations pertaining to it.
We are,
Sir,
Your obedient servants
Signed by the whole staff