The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-22
RURAL DELIVERY x
Effort to BE Made 10 Secure n Uniform
Pattern on All routes.

Washington Letter in St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
Complaints nave come from all parts Of
the country over the rules and regulations
which the department has furnished gov
erning boxes 10 be used on rural free de-
livery routes. Ever since the unusually
large extensions under the appropriation
for the last fiscal year the department has
faced a problem in the rural free delivery
boxes. 1t has been accused of enforcing
unusual. rigid and unnecessary rules in
relation TO the boxes. and the most recent
claim made in some of the rural districts
is that the boxes authorized by the depart
ment are too expensive. Some Of the rural
free delivery carriers have complained that
the latitude which has been given by the
department in permitting the patrons OF
different routes TO select from a number OF
different STYLES of boxes has resulted IN
great inconvenience to them. The carriers
say that four or five different styles OF
locks make it necessary for them TO carry
a large bunch of keys and 10 waste time
in the selection of the right key 10 apply
to the boxes as they pass along their
routes. They have been placed at different
elevations by the roadside, some open from
underneath, some on top and others at the
ends or sides. Some of the boxes can be
opened by the carrier from MS seat In ms
vehicle, while with others ii is necessary
for him to alight.
The problem facing the free delivery di-
vision of the department is further COM
plicated by the fact that a large number
of newspapers have given boxes to their
patrons as subscription premiums. The
rules of the department for a time forbade
their use. and this placed the publications
in question m the light of acting I'm bad
faith toward their patrons. An order was
issued permitting the use of these premium
boxes. When the claim was made that the
boxes which were prescribed tor use by
the department were too expensive. twelve
different designs were selected. ranging in
price from S1.25 to $l2. and permission was
given for their use. the only reservation
being that the boxes on any one route
should be of uniform design. Complaint
arose over this regulation. and finally the
department ruled that boxes OF any one
of the twelve designs approved by the de-
partment might be used indiscriminately
In spite of these changes and conces-
Sions. complaints continue 10 pour into the
department over the boxes in use. Just in
proportion as the rural free delivery routes
are extended do these complaints increase
in number. Postoffice officials now say
that the matter will not be finally settled
unless there Us action by Congress. At the
next session II is possible that authority
Will be asked by the postof1ce officials for
definite regulations governing the style of
boxes used. One proposition is that the
department ask in open market for com
petitive plans and specifications for boxes.
A competent. skilled and impartial com
mittee will pass upon the designs sub
mitted. and one of them will be selected.
The government will then ask for bids for
their manufacture. with the proposal that
a royalty OF 5 cents. or some nominal sum.
on each box be paid to the designer. An
other proposition is to nave them made of
a uniform design by the government and
nave them rented at a certain rate. per-
APPS Is cents a quarter. 1t is urged in
favor of the latter plan that through the
inspection system which would be put into
force the boxes could be kept in much bet
for order