The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-03-05
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.

wg Washington, Feb. 25.-One of the
most subtle attacks to take the rural
free delivery service away from the
farmer has just failed in the lower
House of Congress, but it is probable
that the attack will be renewed later
in this session, or at some future ses-
sion, unless the farmer takes matters
into his own hands and impresses the
Representatives in Congress that rural
free delivery must not be disturbed.
Rural free delivery carriers placed
under the contract system will mean
the death of rural free delivery.
Should the contract system prevail it
will mean the withdrawal of all rural
free delivery service, six or seven
thousand rural carriers Will be thrown
out of employment, the daily messen-
ger service performed by carriers will
be withdrawn; there will be no IA
cilities for registering mail, or for
selling money orders and the farmer
will be virtually without mail facili-
ties. 1t will mean the old system of
mail delivery in which the farmer re-
ceives his mail once or twice week,
instead of having it delivered at his
door each day.
The committee on post-otfices and
post roads of the House want to place
the rural carriers under contract. By
contract it is meant to advertise for
the delivery of mail and have it per-
formed under the supervision of the
individual rather than under the di-
rect supervision of the government.
ancient history, if such a condition
ehOn1I or Tho r,raSant
of rural free delivery lies in the fact
that the rural carrier is directly
amenable to the government and mad
be discharged at moments notice,
if he violates the postal laws any
requirements. This has resulted in
building up a complete and efficient
mail service. Under the contract
system the carrier would answer to
no person but his employer, could
do as he pleased about delivering mail.
and could not register letters or sell
money orders. In fact, the contract car
rier could supply no part of the ser
vice performed by the rural carrier,
and the service would at once degen-
crate into the old system that has al
ready brought such scandal.
81 understand, said prominent
member of the House in discussing
| the matter, THAT the principal argu-
ment in favor of this change is that
the increase in the rural free delivery
| system adds greatly to the number of
| salaried employees of the government.
l heard it argued by some gentlemen
| who supported the change that this
| increase in carriers might have po-
| litical effect in making possible a
combination of carriers, and it might
give members of Congress trouble be-
| cause these men would get together
| and exert their influence constantly
| for an increase in salary. am not
| inclined to believe that there is very
much weight in that argument. On
| the other hand l am strongly of the
| opinion that grating star route meth
DDS upon the rural free delivery sys-
tenn will be to the detriment of the
| service. hsa
81 believe the people of the country
are entitled to just as good service and
| to just as good carriers as are the peo-
| pie of the cities. l don't see how
they can get this unless carriers are
| appointed by the post office depart
ment under proper restrictions. By
| paying carriers fifty dollars per month
each the department can, | think, Sc
| cure the service of men who are worth
| having. | belive it is most essential,
if the rural free delivery is to be a
success, that the carriers be on salary.
The contract system, III my opinion,
would work infinite HARM -
POTOMAC