Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-01-16
REQUEST REFUSED.
An tndeavor to Secure Addition to
Carrier Service.
Oificials Say The Present Force Will Have IN
Be Sufficient.

The Journal publishes herewith \ com
munication from Mr. w. d. Stinson. post
master of Augusta, relative 10 the ax
tension of the carrier system which he
ana Congressman Burlcigh have been en-
deavoring to secure for the CITY. for the
winter months. This was to overcome
some Of the defects in the system brought
about by the winter SHOWS. which make
it impossible for the carriers to get about
as in the summer months.
The communication ana corresnon1ance
accompanying are lf-explanatory and
are as follows:
To the Editors of the Kennebtc Journal.
AS matter of justice To the letter ear
riers At this office, who are as willing
and capable men as are to he. found il
any force i'll the country, ana also that
the patrons Of this office may exactly IN
delstand the cause uf the trouplr that
we nave. would ask that YOU will pub
liSn TINS coinmunication.
The provisions of the S-hour law are
exceedingly strict, ana under no coadi-
tipu is carrier to exceed that bunb.r
Tie construction Of the law by both the
supreme court ana the court OF claims
has been 50 arbitrary that the depart-
mrnt has had to adopt rules rT1l<iug a
carrier exceeding the N-hours limit sub
ject ~ suspension, fine ana removal No
matter how willing carrier may be- it is
absolutely his duty at the end of the
eight hours to stop where he is, even ii
he still has number OF letters undelV-
cred. During the exceedingly heavy days
preceding and following Christmas and
New Years. it has been impossible for
The carriers to entirely make their de-
liveries. There have been aggrevating
delays ana numerous complaints which
seemed iuStiliable, but in every instance
have been found 70 be caused by the inn
possibility. of making the service in the
required time.
For several months | have been trying
10 obtain an extra letter carrier for this
office. and have several times been re
fused. The crowded condition Of the Office
during the last month justified me in
again making the attempt to obtain this
extra assistance. on Jan 8. | was in
formed that | could not have the extra
carrier. which brought about the sub
Joined correspondence, which would ask
you to publish that your readers may
understand the situation; and also that
Congressman Bureigh has personally
used every endeaVor and his influence to
assist me; but the conditions are such
that we have been unsuccessful Your
made to give less service; but if they will
exercise patience and overlook the few
failures to deliver mail. We shall be able
to maintain the service as it is now
given without reduction in the routes.
WALTER d. STINSON,
Postmaster.
Augusta. Me. Jan S. 1900
Hon Perry 5. Heath. First Assistant
Postmaster General. Free Delivery SYs-
TEN, Washington. ID. c.:
Sir-I have the honor to acknOwledG,
the receipt of your letter of Jan. 6. tF-
l22-C-J. NJ. LA. W. NJ
| very much dislike to open cor
respondence after any decision. but the
free delivery service is very much Grip
pied by the very decisive rules relative to
the S-hour law. At this season Of the
Won Va - a hp frrnIln1
the walking is extremely poor at best III
a small town like this ii is almost i'm
possible for carriers to make the dis
tances scheduled for them, which are
based on the heaviest days work in the
The residents in any city are entitlei
to know that their letters snail reach
them with regularity. and they have
learned to depend absolutely upon the
free delivery service here. In the extra
ordinary mails of the past month. there
have been days that 1T has been lmpn:si-
BILE to reach points for day or two at :
ii not for the regulations relative to the
S-hour law. would willingly for the sakt
of the service continue and finish MS
work rs it properly should be ana would
he done in private business.
For the urst time for years the service
at this office has been source Of com
nlaint to some of the residents of this
town. ana while they realize. through
constant newspaper articles. that the de-
the trouble. il is none the less source
II continued criticism ana comment on
their part: and with the continued eA-
messed willingnts IS Of this office to do
ihe work. bit being restricted by the cir
cumstances. makes it the more irritating
10 them. u
am saving this not in any way as
criticism of the department. for DO hol
mean I'd lS such: hut | 40 feel that the
circumstances Icing such, justice to IN"
service here should allow a temporary
carrier fnr ut least four months.
Failing that. | think | should he alI"Wf"
IN some way TO- have these men MAKE
4 reasonable overtime in order that ""
mail should be properly delivered as Is
intended hy the whole post office system
the environment ana re-
striction which t. placed ON it by present
construction of law.
nnint ont tO Nuu that while TINS Once
t- dining 4 business greater than hdS ever
L.en done hy il ieforc in every way
buy,, been able tp 40 the work Wlth my
force All other members Of the posi- 81
service here work overtime ana 80 n
.banrfullN ana get the work done; but IN
tmc Mace where il touches the publlc
irrt / have to admit that ! am unable 20
iii ANYTHING ar accomplish the proper dt-
livery of letters. | again ask thdt your
decision may hc resclndrd ana i laFpI
MI. uu, given. allowing me at least me
tan,norlrV services Of substitute car
I have the honor to- be,
Your obcdient servant.