The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-29
TRICKS or CoNeREsSMEN.
GREEDY FOR RURAL MAIL DELTV-
cry SPOIIS.

The Poor SOutherners Can't Hope for
Much Eise-Charged with Putting
In Their Relatives and Making
Family Affairs of the Government
Pap-Congressman Mercer Does Not
Think Much of Cuba-SenatOr Han
ma Mistaken for an Actor.
washington, March N.-Some Of the
rostoffice officials who are particularly
interested in the expansion of the rural
free delivery service, are becoming alarm
ed at the rapidly with which the appro-
priations are being expended in certain
states. 1t is asserted that many congress
men seek to have the rural free delivery
service established in their respective dis
tricts simply for the amount of patronage
involved and without regard to the gem
eral benefit to the public service. This Is
said to be the case in several OF the
Southern states particularly.
1t appears that experienced Democratic
congressman, having grown weary of try
ing to secure federal patronage for their
constituents under a Republican admins
tration have hit upon the rural free de-
livery service as an avenue to the public
crib. Every time new rural free de
livery route is established, the congress
man making the request is usually ac-
corded the privilege of naming the per-
son who is to perform the delivery SER
vice. These delivery agents or carriers
receive compensation of $500 a year for
service including horse and wagon. In
some parts of the United States $500
year is regarded as a salary worth strfv-
ing for
A prominent postoffice official. in com
menting upon this subject said: You
would be surprised to know how hungry
congressman in certain states are for
these little places. In almost every in
stance they manage 40 bestow them up
on some member of their immediate fam
lily or some near relative or personal
friend. II l wanted to assemble family
parties in certain states, l would at once
go to the official records of the rural free
delivery service as my directory. l have
in mind one case where a member Of
Congress had his son appointed as a spe-
cal agent to recommend the establishment
of a new route and poStoffice. The post
office was named after the congressman,
and the postmaster is a member of the
same family, so that his family name fig
ures in four separate transactions. This
is but one instance. l might mention
many others of a similar nature. AS a
rule, the Southern congressman keeps this
class of patronage strictly within the fam
lily circle"
Representative Dave Mercer of Nebras-
ka, who went to Cuba just after Congress
adjourned, is back in Washington, re-
lating some of the disagreeable experien-
res he encountered in Havana. He says
Cuba is a good place for Americans and
American capital 40 get away from. In
his judgment the people Of that island, as
he viewed them, have no idea of adopt
ing American methods in either business
or social relations, and he does not be-
lieve they can be relied on to carry out
any promises they may make to this gov
eminent. Some of the other congressman
who went to Cuba with Mr.. Mercer view
ed the situation from a different stand
point; some of them going to the extent
of predicting that Cuba will be annexed
to the United States within period of
ten years. If such a prediction comes
true, it will be but a verihcation of a
statement made by Senator Frye of Maine
the day he came to Washington to &C
| cept service on the Peace Commission al
Paris to settle the spanish war claims.
Senator Hanna's Washington residence
adjoins theater. A few nights ago ne
was standing in front of his house talk
ing with his personal friend and political
lieutenant Representative Dick of Ohio.
Col Dick wears his hair long and his
face smoothly shaven. 1t is not strange
therefore, that a little urchin mistooR
these two distinguished statesmen fol
Transforming actors. The small boy
approached them. and addressing Senator
Hanna, said: Say Mister can't yor
give me pass to your show to see yoC
act?"
II am not an actor, bub," replied Sen
ator Hanna, and turning to Col. Dick
added, that's a good one on me, Dick
have sometimes been taken for man
ager, but never before taken for an act
or" The Senator gave the boy the prizes
of an admission to the show.