Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-20
SPEECH BY Mr., FOSTER
Addressed House on Classification
of Rural Delivery Carriers,
This Service Is for the People and Not
the Carrier Ridicules Idea That Car
riers Will Overrule the People
Always Open to Petitions.

II is not a pleasant task for me- a now
member, TO oppose n proposition formu-
lated by ono of the committees of this
House, but my interest in the rural free
delivery service is SO great, | see in 1T SO
much of accomplished fact and so much
more of possibility that I cannot quietly
acquicsCe in a measure which in my Judg-
ment would cripple It's usefulness if not
lmperil its success Before another sum-
nler rolls by there will be more than 100 of
these free delivery routes winding their
way through the valleys and over the hill
sides of my district. l know something of
the communities through which these route 5
will pass. | know something of the 1000
families which they will serve. And |
stand here representing not merely the l00
carriers on them, but rather the $4,000 peo-
pie they will serve, to protest against the
provision of this bill which would take
from the hands of the accredited servants
and agents Of the government the work OF
carrying the mail on these routes and put
il into the hands of the contractors who
are the lowest bidders
The distinguished gentleman from Cali
fornia (dr. Loud urges the adoption OF
the contract system for these rural routes
from the standpoint of political eNpedi-
enCy. He says that up TO this time the
service has been political question. and
he fears for the political future OF the
members Of this House if the present
method of selecting and paying these car
riers is continued. When last month this
House was considering the question of in
creasing Slightly the pay of these rural
letter carriers, he pictured to us the hor-
rors of his nightmare, when he saw an
army of 10000 letter carriers marching.
like CoXey's army, upon the Capitol, camp
ing in the shadow of the great dome. and
calling upon the members of this House
10 surrender Internationally to its de-
nands for larger salaries or suffer ignom-
iniouS defeat in the next congressional
campaign lie even went so far as to hg-
uro ont just what proportion these carriers
land their sisters and their cousins and
their aunts" would bear to the rest of the
population. And before he had finished
this jeremad he made It plain that his
single impulse was to gather us lone and
friendless congressman under the protec-
ton of the contract system. even as hen
gathers her chickens under her wing.
Well now, Mr. Chairman. II this ques-
ton was TO be decided from the standpoint
OF mere political eXpediency, for one
would promptly align myself on the side OF
those who are in favor OF maintaining the
present method of administering this great
and growing service. For when it comes
TO a question of mere political expediency
that is always the Nisest course which Sc
and apparent results. And no one questions
for d moment the proposition that the
present method is the best one for boil
patrons and carriers. In the sphere Of mere
political expediency results count. Houl
motive may be ever so pure, your inten'
ticns ever so good; you may reach out ever
so yearnngly for the ideal and the unat
tainable, but in the sphere of mere political
CNpedienoy 1t is dollars to doughnuts'
every time in favor of the man who acts
who does, who achieves. Ever since the
time of st. Paul works as well as faitf
have been dems nded in both religion and
politics.
Put Mr.. Chairman, there is no founda-
ton for the apprehension of the gentleman
from California of the malign influence OF
these carriers when they have become
nulltipied and have organized themselves
into associs tons. Perhaps | ought not tc
speak OF the carriers in other districts,
know the carriers in my district; | know
them to be good citizens and worthy men
They are my neighbors, my friends. my
fellow citizens, and have no fear of Their
ever undert aking 10 undermine me because
of my failure TO cooperate with them il
securing an increase of compensation.
shall stand ready to cooperate with then
Tor this purpose so long as they are no
reasonably compensated for the service
they render.
1loor as to how far the order lately ISSUED
by the executive forbidding public Officials
attempting to influence congressman II
their behalf prohibits the free com
munication of our people with thei
representatives in Congress. ! want to Sa.
that do not understand that the orde
in question undertakes to regulate tn
conduct of the people of a district toWart
their representatives, / want to say mos
cmphatcally that the rural letter carrier
in my district, and all other citizens o
my district, understand that SO long a
| remain their representative they wi
have the fullest right and liberty to ad
dress me either in person or In writing
by letter or petition, individually or colleC
lively upon any subject in which they ar
interested. (Applause)
They know that as long as ! am thci
representative every matter which the
call to my attention will be considere
patiently, carefully, and thoroughly; tina
when l can properly do so ! will do a.
in my power to carry out their wishes.
believe that the laws affecting the rail
way mail clerks and the fourth class post
masters should be revised, and have bee
glad to hear from some of these clerks an
these postmasters in my district duri
the last few weeks. They know the need
of the service, and the information whc
they have given me has been of great hel
10 me The value OF the rural service t
me in my official position as the repre-
tentative of my district is no slight mat
ter, for it brings me into far closer con
tact with a very large proportion of m
constituents by enabling them to commun
iCate with me so much more readily.
But, Mr.. Chairman, suppose that thes
carriers undertook to arraign themselve
against a member of this House? Q
course / can not peak for the const
tuents Of the other members, but / wis
to say that II the representative of my dis
trict should at any time be opposed by it
carriers when receiving reasonable con
pensatIOn, on the ground that that repro
sentative had not used due effort to So
cure for them an increase of pay, tina
representative might be defeated, but
would not be because of that opposition
but in spite of It So long as | enjoy tn
confidence OF the So 900 patrons of thcs
routes in my district the 100 carriers o
them can not do me any political harm
and when l lose the confidence OF tho
patrons shall be retired regardless of tn
feeling Of the carriers for me. (Applauso
The gentleman. from California, NJ
Chairman in my judgment, does not N
derstand these rural communities. TIL
people of my district certainly do not d,
serve the characterization he has give
to these communities. They are no rabbi
such as he describes-unstable as the wine
liable to be led hither and yonder by ever
demagogue who rises before them b
everyone who calls for vengeance bcaus