§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the force of senior telegraphists attached to the cable room, Central Telegraph Office, has 106 been reduced from thirty-one in 1898 to twenty-six; that, owing to the lack of officers of the proper rank, supervising and senior duties are developed upon officers of lower grades; and that important duties, which in the inland divisions are performed by assistant superintendents, or at least by seniors, are in the cable room performed by officers below senior rank; and will he say whether representations made during the past two years by the officers concerned have as yet received consideration.
(Answer.) The force of senior telegraphists employed in the cable room of the Central Telegraph Office in June, 1898 was thirty-one, and the number, now is twenty-seven. Members of the general body of telegraphists are not employed on supervising duties in the cable room. Some of them are, however, engaged at times on duties which may perhaps be regarded as more important than those usually performed by the general body. The representations on the subject made by the staff have received due consideration, and a memorial is about to be answered by the Postmaster General.—(Post Office.)