The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-10

to be rectined. 1t is a public contribution
without any public advantage for the sole
benefit Of a few private interests. The cost
TO the government OF this abuse Is almost
exactly equivalent 10 the estimated cost OF
broad national rural free delivery. and IL
it is a question between favoring a very
limited number OF publishers and favoring
p, coco OF people who live on the farms OF
the United States. there ought TO pe no
hesitation In serving the many rather than
the few. The abuse should be uprooted as
a public duty; the national delivery service
should be undertaken as a public policy;
and when through the overthrow OF the
wrong the right can be established without
the slightest additional burden, the appeal
becomes Irresistible.
''The extension of the rural delivery in
wolves administrative questions OF an Inn
portant character. The selection Of agents
charged with the duty Of organizing and
laying out the routes. and OF carriers
charged with the handling OF the mails has
been made with great care. A high grade
Of intelligence. aptitude and fidelity is re-
Quiied, and IL Is believed that the results
thus far Justify the methods pursued. The
enlargement III the service will entail
greater organization and expenditure. and
should be surrounded with every practical
bic safeguard. The exercise Of an au-
thority of a discretionary character i'm
poses special responsibility, and can only
be met with constant vigilance and pre-
caution. With a full sense OF the gravity
Of that responsibility the department will
- - IA ~ -
ton with its best Judgment, but IL the ex-
tension of rural delivery Is 10 be entered
upon as a settled policy. the attention or
Congress should be directed TO its re-
Quirements with a view 10 the adoption
OF such principles of organization as its
wisdom may approve.
fiscal year beginning July ], 1890. will be
so applied that the service already exist
ing and established curing the year VIII
consume Its amount. IL Is that
20 raofAtofn ID n. e.ctatn a tho
service in operation at the end OF the cur
rent year will require &.500.W0. Fir new
service not less than sl.0oo.OOo should be
allowed. Ii Is therefore recommended that
the appropriation for rural free delivery
for the fiscal year beginning July i, lSOl.
be not less than $500. 000.
Much OF the remainder OF the postmaster
generals report Is devoted to matters COW
cred in the reports OF his assistants, pre-
viously made public. The postal frauds IN
Cuba are reviewed. as is the work of all
the bureaus or divisions comprising the
great, popular department OF the govern
ment service. In concluding Mr. smith
says:
1.-THE following recommendation for
legislation by Congress were included in my
last annual report and are now renewed
That an act be passed TO punish persons
who by force attempt TO enter a car or
partment in a car used for the distribution
of mail, or who may assault a railway mail
clerk while in the discharge OF his duties
THAT a statute be enacted providing for
the compulsory separation by publishers or
second-class mail matter. While the ma
jority of the publishers have shown a will
ingness 10 undertake this work az the re-
quest OF the special officer in charge OF N.
a few are unwilling TO cooperate with the
government IN this matter, which saves ex-
pense to the department and facilitates
dispatch of mail.
That the interstate-commerce law be
amended TO prohibit common carriers-to
wit, telegraph and express companies or
any of their employes-from aiding and
abetting In the green-goodso or lottery swim
dies, or any other scheme carried on partly
by mail and partly by common carrier.
and which is In violation OF the postal laws.
THAT a statute be enacted authorizing
postoffice inspectors TO take out search
warrants whenever the same may be neces-
sary in the prosecution Of their official du-
ties.
That an appropriation be made for the
purpose of constructing lookout I'm postof-
fees wherever, in the opinion OF the post
master general, they may be needed.
THAT provision be made for the payment
of incidental expenses incurred by local Of
hcers or others In the arrest, detention and
keeping of prisoners charged with viola
tons OF the postal laws until such prison.
ers can be transferred TO the custody OF a
United States marshal"