Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-25


relating to the letting of the rural free
delivery routes in various sections to
the lowest bidder.
Text of Bill.
Following is the text of the para
graph in this bill:
THAT hereafter all mail service on
rural free delivery routes shall be per-
formed by carriers designated pursu-
ant to an advertisement inviting com
petitive bidding, except as herein 9TH
erwise provided.
First That before any person
shall be designated 10 carry the mail
on any free delivery route, the post
master general shall cause an adver-
tisement to be posted for not less than
ten days in a conspicuous place ac-
cessible to the public. in the postofiice
from which the mail is to be carried,
inviting proposals. in such forms as
he may prescribe, for the service to be
performed. The service shall be.
awarded to the lowest bidder who
shall furnish evidence satisfactory to
the postmaster general that such bid
der is a legal and actual resident OF
the district or territory in which the
proposed service is to be performed;
that he is a reliable and trustworthy
person. of good moral character able
to read and write and having sufficient
intelligence and ability to perform the
service, and who shall tender sufficient
guarantees that he will personally per-
form Acceptable service; but the post
master general may reject all propo-
sails submitted under any advertise
ment.
THAT rural free delivery carriers
heretofore appointed and now in the
service, may be continued as carriers
at rate of compensation not exceed
ing $500 per annum, until such time
as the postmaster general shall adver-
/ tise for proposals and make awards
for the several routes on which such
carriers are now employed
Hedge Votes for 1t.
Upon this proposition the Iowa rep
resentatives in the house disagree to
some extent Mr.. Hedge, who is a
a member of the postoffice and post
roads committee, voted for the clause
and takes the ground that it is unob-
iectionable, considering the require
ments made and the limitations placed
about the service in connection with
the qualifications of the bidders. MI.
Hedge believes that under the con-
tract system the service may be per
formed with a considerable saving
lover present cost, per route, in the av-
erage. He contends that it is not prac-
} ticable to make a hard and fast rule
governing the compensation to be al
: lowed carriers. under the present sys'
: TEN of allowing all carriers a stated
: sum per annum. Mr. Hedge says that
J some routes are worth half more
, than others, by reason of better roads
, less distance and other favorable con
| ditions. This works a hardship to the
carriers in the less favored sections
J Under the proposed system each route
r would stand by itself and the bidder
would figure just what he could AFFORD
: to perform the service for over the
S route in question. In many cases the
a expense to the government would I'm
doubtedly amount to more than the
+ maximum compensation now allowed
Il while in many others there would be ;
d saving which in the aggregate woul'
n reduce the total expense of the rira
r free delivery service This would pei
it nit the establishment of a create
t. number of routes, the number now bs
T. ing limited by the appropriation.
: Haugen Opposed.
70 Congressman Haugen is opposed
~ the provision. He takes the positio
" that such system will result in an in
- paired service and that if any move
=, w made it should be with the end in vie'
~ of giving the patrons better service.
Lacey Not Fully Informed.
al Congressman Lacey had not give
ID the question sufficient attention to d,
termine the matter in his own mine
r. He desired to hear what was to be az
SIS vanced in support Of and in opposltio
n to the proposition.
S: Cousins Opposes 1t.
7d Congressman Cousins said he woul
u oppose the measure in case it had an
.. of the ear marks of the star route sy
iet tenn. In case the service is maintaine
o. up to its present standard or impro
W ed. he would be disposed to favor IL
~ proposition.
~ Conner May Not Favor 1t.
he Judge Conner rather inclined to I'll
81. opinion that he would oppose Il
,c- scheme. He thought carriers were n
m overpaid On 5000 per year basis, al
IL that the contract system would be lik
er ly to decrease the efficiency of the Sc
be vice.
es Smith Does Not Favor It,
let Judge Smith was strongly oppos
re ;Sg {{ssa g5