The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-13
AGAINST FREE RURAL DELIVERY.
A Large Meeting Pass Resolutions Against
a Continuance of the New SYSTEM.

Odd Fellows Hall, Westminster, was filled
on Thursday morning with persons, mostly
farmers, who assembled to take action against
a continuance of the free rural mail delivery.
Some of those present were perfectly satisfied
with the new system, and came only IL hear
the complaints of those who were not so wei
served as themselves.
Howard NJ. Zile, of Winfield, called the
assembly to order Dr. Luther Kemp, OF
Unioniown, was chosen chairman and Geo.
A. Leisier, of Manchester district, secretary.
| Mr.. Zile made few remarks in calling the
meeting to order, and DIR. Kemp, in taking
the chair said the object of the assembly was
to protest against mail system that is unsat-
isfactory, which replaced one that was, and
he hoped that, as it had been said that num-
erous petitions had been sent in to have the
system established elsewhere, the authorities
would take it out of Carroll and give it to
some community that wanted it, as it was not
wanted by majority of the people OF the
county.
The following were, on motion, appointed
a committee on esolutions-Taneytown dis
trict-Dr. C. Brnie, d. J. Hesson; Union
town district-Rev. G. W. Baughman, Ed
ward P Zepp; Freedom district = George
| Pickett, G. H. Bevard; Manchester district
John E. Masenhimer, Charles Keck; West
| minister distrct-Grove A. Shipley. John Z.
Bowers; Franklin district-Howard M. Zile,
F. A. Crawford; Middeburg dslrict--Edwln
Sharrets, Edward Shorb; New Windsor dis
trict-Dr. Benjamin Franklin, E. E. Lowell;
Mt. Airy district-J. C. Gosnell; Jesse B.
King, Ridgeville; Robert Burdet,e, Long Cor
ner; Isaac L. Nusbaum, Oak Orchard. The
last three represented the patrons of offices
| in Howard and Frederick counties that have
been discontinued.
The committee selected Rev. G. w. Baugh
| man chairman, and through him reported the
following
WHEREAS, The Free Rural Mail Delivery; as in
| augurated in Carroll county, has seriously I'M
paired our mail SERVICE and by the closing of our
| postofiees has imposed great inconveniences ana
| exposure of mail, and general curtaliment OF
WHEREAS, We believe the system cannot be
| made practicable even at an enormous expenditure
| of public money, over and above that OF the Old
AND WHEREAS. The inauguration'of this system
in Carroll county is in direct violation with the
principle governing Free Delivery, as given in
| Code Of Rules, June 30th 1899, pages s;
| Therefore Resolred. That we, citizens OF Carroll
earnestly. but most respectfully protest against
the continuance of the system and pray the restor-
| alton Of the former service;
Resoircd, That committee of five be appointed
by the chairman of this meeting to present this
action to the Postoffice Department at washington
and the Congressman representing the "a Con-
gressional District of Maryland
The vote on the resolutions was strong and
| hearty, though there was sprinkling OF noes.
The chairman appointed the following com
mttee to make known the sentiments of the
meeting to both the Postoffice Department
and also the committee on Postoffices and
Post Roads of the House of Representatives
DR.. c. Birnie, of Taneytown; Daniel David
Englar, of New Windsor; Howard NJ. Ziie,
of Winfield; Grove A. Shipey, of Westnin-
ster; John 4. Masenhmer, Manchester. The
a. ,aI haoI ;po for Nati
tons to be circulated for signatures, and these
petitions will be presented to the postal
authorities by the committee named by the
chairman.
After the adoption of the resolutions Rev.
Mr.. Baughman was called for and made an
address that WIS loudly applauded and caused
shouts of laughter rs he held up the free rural
delivery system to ridicule. He said there
had been much discussion whether this was
the nineteenth or twentieth century, but he
believed that, judging from the poor mail IA
cilities that had been inaugurated, we had gone
back to colonial days. The speaker gave
somewhat in detail the workings of the new
system in Uniontown and neighborhood, and
asserted his opposition to having mail lett IN
the boxes at remote points from peoples res
licences, or being left with unbonded people.
The Inconvenience of sending and receiving
postal money orders were pictured, as was
also the mailing of second class matter. The
carriers, he said, did not carry scales for
weighing and it was difficult to tell the amount
of stamps required, and made it necessary to
keep on hand stamps of various denomlna-
tons. not ordinarily used. Mr.. Baughman
said he did not doubt that many people were
served more satisfactorily now than hereto
fore, but the great majority were not supplied
as we'll as under the old system. The present
system, he declared, had been the worst con-
ceived and the most lily executed that was
ever forced upon any community. The fourth;
class postofces, SAY the postofice officials, were
source of much annoyance, said the speaker,
and he asked "Does the Postoffice Depart
ment exist for its own ease and comfort, or
for the benefit of the people p ''The postal
officials and clerks, he said, do not have
to stay there; we can get others to take their
places This is government of the people,
for the people, and by the people. We are
the people, and we have constitutional right
to protest and petition against that which we
believe wrong or which does not suit us, and
the people eau shake the foundation of an
Administration that does not hearken TO the
voice of the people. No one asked the estab-
lishmenL of the system in Carroll and we do
not want it.
DIR. l.. Kemp followed Mr.. Baughman. He
said physicians used new remedies as they
came to notice, but when they were not bene-
hcial to the patient they were discontinued.
The new system of free rural delivery had
been tried and found unsatisfactory and ought
to be discontinued. Complaints, he said, had
been made of the insutiiciency OF the service,
but he had been told that the complaints did
not get further than carrier or Westminster
postoffice. In Uniontown, the speaker re-
marked, there were half dozen people enam-
81 ha lint IF we in
the hands of the undertaken they would not be
missed an hour.
Howard NJ. lille said he supposed he would
ssbust'' if he did not say something, and rath-
er than do so he would ask the indulgence of
the meeting for few minutes. He told of
the present system in his section and the de-
lay in receiving mail matter. MIR. ZIe read
from government publication that persons
desiring the establishment of free rural deliv-
ery should petition for it through their Rep
resentatives, and that maps showing the pro-
posed routs (roots, they are now called, he
said) should accompany the petitions, and
that the roads should be graveied or macad-
amized. IAN the roads of Carroll are gray
eled or macadamized," he remarked, land
the system had been petitioned for. This
provoked laughter, and Mr.. lille proceeded
in a humorous vein for some time. 1T is not
the government" he said, that is forcing the
system upon the people, but it was being
forced TO fatten pocket books of two people. .
MIR. Zile said he had more to say,and he would
do that later, and closed by an appeal for his
hearers to stand firmly together aud fight the
system TO the bitter end.
After session Of about Two hours the meet
ing adjourned.
Surprise Party In Myers District.
Renorted for the pemocratic Advoeale Z