“Subs.”
“Subs,” in the parlance of the postal service, are men taken from the regular eligible lists to act as substitute clerks and letter carriers. In every large office there is always a lot of emergency work due to sickness, or unusual demands. “Sub” clerks work on an average from six to nine months—the duration varies greatly in different offices—before receiving a permanent appointment, while “sub” carriers have to work from three to four years before they get a steady job. The collection of mail from street letter boxes is entrusted to “sub” carriers, regular carriers attending only to the delivery of mail. All “subs” receive thirty cents per hour and their salary averages from $50 to $60 per month.