The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-26
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE FREE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

u
UNION concerning the unpopularity of the rural |
free delivery of the mails and from them ione |
might conclude that public sentiment is emit ely |
averse to the system. But this cannot believe |
from the principles and purposes on which, the |
system is founded. i. It is held by the pdstal |
authorities that the farmer or resident far fickI
in the country district is as much entitled to all
the facilities of the postal service in sendingand
receiving his mail as the business man few
dent of the city who has letters and papers de-
livered at his door, This is the foundation prin-
ciple on which rural free delivery is based.
ties are concerned comes next the question of
economy-whether the system can be made to q
reasonable degree as economical as the universal
fourth class postoffce and star-route systems.
OF course few thousands or a few millions of
dollars in this matter do not count with such
an enormous institution as the United States
postal service. provided the people-those who
need them-are given commensurately better
postal facilities. This has always been the poll
cy of the Postofice Department, to give the best
postal service possible regardless of cost though
always DESTROYS to keep the service down to- the
least cost possible consistent with good service.
Improvement of the service, however, has ever
been indefatigably sought after by the depart
ment. The free delivery service in the larger
cities and even the money order system are both
outgrowths of this principle, and more latterly
the consolidation of small offices near cities to
stations thereof, which was as much opposed.
believe at first, and on the same pretexts asthe
rural free delivery is now being opposed. The
last extension of this policy and in exact lines
with all the other advances made in the postal
service is the rural free delivery system, which Is
an exact counterpart in principle of the freede-
livery system in the cities. Who was the orig
inator of the thought to apply the principle of
free delivery of mails to the country districts l
cannot exactly tell, but the justice of the step
or resident of the city pays no more for the
handling of his letters than does the rural dis
tricter. Then why should he enjoy better mail
8. Before proceeding to consider some ofthe
objections to free rural delivery would explain
what is the real purpose of the service which
d0qq not IN he nr0DArlV Understood and
which misunderstanding of it's purpose seems 70 70
f. rs d ecRn9a By the n Establish
ing free rural delivery, it was not intended for
the delivery of mails in or near towns or villages
operation of the free delivery routes and in the
interest of the postal service it should be deem
ed proper to discontinue those offices. Where
such offices are located on railroads believe it
has never been the policy to discontinue them
If their retention is asked. 1t is only on star
routes and where offices are supplied by other
offices. / think. that the fourth class offices are
discontinued and where the service can be equal
ly well performed. Hence or the above prihci-
livery route the getters-urS Of the same are
instructed not to solicit Signatures to petitions
within villages where postoffices exist and will
continue to exist, such villages or towns not be-
ing considered as properly on the routes TO be
established From this il will be seen that free
rural delivery is only Intended for those remote
from villages and postoffices and who cannot at
all times leave their farms or distant residences
and go to the postoffice and get their mail.
will venture to assert that there are but few
of this latter class who object to free rural de
livery but welcome it as boon and very great
convenience to them. And Is it right or just or
generous that those who are more blessed by
location, so as not to need the benefits OF free
rural delivery. should wish to deprive these less
favored ones of their fellow-citizens of its ben
| efts?
4. One objection notice to free rural delivery
is that it closes up some postofliees that Were
dents, of course) and that they could get their
mail more easily and promptly by this later
| postoffces were kept are likely to be closed by
| disseminating the postofice; these stores fur
nishing places for the people to meet when they
| to this | answer (d) that if the postofice at a
stated place is not closed the free rural delivery
does not prevent these same people from going
| there after their mail and meeting their friends
and neighbors at the store. But will aver that
| if one such of the people be very busy with his
farm work, especially harvesting or work of that
kind. he will be very glad to have his mail
| whether in the morning or afternoon, brought
and delivered at his door and not be compelled
| to go after it. But yet this has nothing to do
| with the point, for while he may not want the
free rural delivery his neighbor, living away on
beyond him, may: (6) If the office be discontin-
| ued by the establishment of free rural delivery
route, it is not likely the village store would, for
! it would be an Insignificant store indeed that
also to be closed. icy And if the store be not
closed, though the postoffce is, there would
| be the same lounging and gossiping place at
| 5. but the great danger y = consists in the
| ease with which the system can be converted
into gigantic and most effective political
| propaganda" sc. This objection, Messrs. Edi-
| tors. can't conceive to be anything else than
another one of the Baltimore Suns Nightmares,
to which it is periodically subject, 1t is true
| that free rural delivery was established, for the
| just and laudable purpose mentioned above,
by Republican administration, but under the
| supervision of Mr.. Machen, lifelong Demo-
crat, who is still at the head and superintendent
! of the system 1t is also true that the first ap-
| pointments under the system, both of carriers
dation Of the several Congressmen mr. representnr
the districts in which the routes were to be es-
| the superintendent office. But should not
| think that all these appointees were either Re-
| publcans or Democrats, for there were both
| Republican and Democratic districts, and be-
| sides, both Republican and Democratic Repre-
| sentatives have voted for the support Of the
| system in Congress. Also, should not think
| the patronage or support of free rural delivery
| system would be very advantageous to Con-
! gresham, IL the system is SO unpopular In all
the districts as these articles would try make it
! appear.
g. But this objection is entirely swept away
when we remember e which the san . did not
| all, has been put under the civil service rules
governing the Government departments and
| service, and with President Roosevelt at the
| head the rules will be observed
Z. The service forced upon communities
| against their own protests" hardly think pos
| sble, and IL 1t were it would hardly be just
| 1t may be in localities that many persons, from
| one cause or interest or another, or even from
| mistaken notion of what is best, may object
| to the establishment of free rural delivery
| route, but can hardly think it would be a. ma
| jority of the people affected thereby. do not
| think in any instance the Government would es-
tablish a route unless majority of the people
on the route are in favor of it. think 1t is the
purpose of the Postofice Department to try to
please the people and act in accordance with
their will in all matters of free rural delivery.
My observations at the Department lead me to
this conclusion.
Allow me further to say, Messrs. Editors, that
believe when the people come to fully under
stand and appreciate free rural delivery the
majority of them will be very 10th to do with
out it. I think that the principal opposition
to the system now comes from the keepers of
the small country stores and their friends, who
imagine that the postoffice is a very valuable
attachment to their business. 3ut all will
eventually become ree0Heiied to the system and
favor 1t. 1T