The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-26
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
CONGRESS WILL BE ASKED TO con-
TINUE ITS DEVELOPMENT.
Opposition Expected from Members
Who Fear to Offend Fourth-CIass
POstmaStcrs and Contractors.

stan Correspondence Of the Journal.
WASHINGTON, oct. 25.-Among the
many appropriation bills 10 be considered
BY the hfty-seventh Congress viii be that
OF the Postoffice Department. One feature
Of this will create a great deal Of discus
sion. 1t Will be that part relating TO the
rural free delivery department. Three
years ago, when the rural free delivery di-
vision was first inaugurated, there were
but a few members OF the House of Rep
resentatives, or Of the Senate, who had
faith in its ultimate development. Within
the three years just mentioned this crea-
tiOn OF the fertile brains Of former First
Assistant Postmaster General Heath and
General Superintendent y. W. Machen has
developed far beyond the expectations Of
even it's promoters. At that time they
would have been content If the service had
been successfully operated IN one or two
States 1t practically covers every
State In the Union. Its growth can be ap-
preciated in the size Of the appropriation
asked for its further development. Three
years ago $4,000 was sufficient to carry on
the work Six million and a quarter dollars
will this year be asked to continue it's de-
velopment.
There are a few members of the House
TO the rural free delivery service. These
same members are responsible for it's lack
of development in certain districts Be
hind them are the fourth-class postmas-
ters and star-route contractors. These Of
hctals make a vigorous protest TO the repre-
SentatiVes. They say it viii hurt their
business. The congressman think it will
hurt their chances for reelection. As a
consequence rural free delivery Is opposed
because It hurts the fOurth-class DOstmas-
tiers and star-rOute contractors, and
through them hurts the representative in
Congress. This phase Of the case was the
rule in days gone by. Now it is the ex-
ceptiOn. The people, the electors of repre-
sentatives in Congress, have come 10 a
fun realization of its benefits, and are
asking for the establishment Of routes.
IT viii be no longer possible for the con-
gresham TO ignore the petitions of his con-
stituents, because there Will be too many
voters TO be considered
But bringing the proposition down TO the
present writing, II Is safe TO say that the
rural free delivery appropriation section of
the postoffice bill will 20 through without "A
great deal of dissent. 1t may be discussed
pro and con, but that is all that will hap
pen The Representatives in Congress
realize Its Importance ana will do nothing
10 prevent the passage of this section of
the Dill Should they do so il Will mean
their defeat probably should they again
come before their constituents for re-eiec-
ton. Rural free delivery is wanted by the
farmer. and in this instance, no matter
what the cost to the government, the farm
sentative in Congress ignores the wishes of
his constituents, it will be up To him TO
make good when he again asks the voters
Tor their support
This is probably an extremely radical
view of the case, but it is borne out by the
facts on file in the PostOffice Department.
Every day there are hundreds of applica-
tons received asking that rural free de
livery be established. Ii is a rule OF the
department to establish no service unless
first indOrsed by the congressman OF that
particular district. Consequently, each APP
phcation is referred back TOR the repre-
sentative's Endorsement. This method
works both ways 1t shows 10 the rural
patrons that the department is willing and
ready TO grant their demands and it illus
trateS 10 the congressman the demands be-
constituents.
In this connection it may be stated that
the Northwest and middle West States are
very well supplied with rural free delivery
service. The Southern States are not SO
well supplied because the conditions are
not so favorable. Throughout the West
Northwest and middle West the farms are
large, the soil rich and the population
dense Consequently there is more demand
for the service. Michigan, Minnesota, In
diana, Ohio and Kentucky are all within
the pale of usefulness as measured by de-
partmental standards. In these States II Is
but to ask and il shall be given. Conditions
are right. Therefore departmental action
is at all times to the fore. But this does
not mean that other States are Sighted If
the service can be of use 70 rural persons.
no matter in what section of the country, 1t
IS supplied If the applications are properly
presented and Endorsed.
One of the many queries before the de-
partment is about the manner in which
applications are to be presented. For the
benefit OF rural patrons the following eX-
PLANTATION is given. Any number of persons
desiring rural free delivery service can
obtain the same by drawing up a petition
addressed 20 the first assistant postmaster
general asking for the establishment of the
service and promising TO keep all roads
IN paSSable condition at all periods Of the
year. This petition should be given to
the congressman in that particular district.
He, In turn, presents IL TO the department.
Then a special agent is sent out to investi-
gate. If he finds the service will benefit
the persons signing the application his re-
port Is made accordingly and the service
IS established. In this connection il is
we'll To state that rural free delivery service
Is denied TO no section Of the country where
IL Is found that the application for such
service Is made in good faith.
OTTO CARMICHAEL.