The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-03

carriers he increased from $500 to $3.50
per annun, as recommended, it will ne
cessitate an increase in the above estI-
mates OF about % per cent.
In other words so rapid and stupcn-
dous has been the growth OF the rural
free delivery service that III hall dozen
years the appropriation necessary for Its
establishment, and maintainence has
grown from less than $4,000 to nearly
$25, 900 900.
Touching the pay of rural carriers Mr..
Bristow has this to say:
The designations of 2.S79 carriers were
accepted during the year, about 10 per
cent OF the whole number, many of them
stating that they find it Improbable to
continue n The service.
Under the law the salary of rural
carriers cannot exceed $500 per annurn
and no other alowance cLn be made, bur
1t is provided that they shall not be
prohibited from doing an express package
business. The provision of law under
which rural carriers are permitted to
do an express package business was in
tended by Congress TO provide means
OF additional compensation, but 1t IS so
broad in its terms that the way has been
pened for a serious Toss OF revenue to tbs
postal service. The department has en-
deavored to restrict the express matter car
ried by rural carriers to such as is mai
| be as Tourth-class mail matter, but ad
vantage Is taken of the law by business
firms to secure the distribution OF largc
quantities of advertising matter by the
rural carriers.
Such matter is shipped by express O
freight to the carrier, or some agent
who arranges with the carrier Tor its
distribution Thus rural carriers, EN-
ooyees OF the department, are delivering
to patrons on their routes matter which
would otherwise be mailed and become
source OF postal revenue. AS the re-
suit Of the cxpress-package business con-
| plants frequently come 20 the depart
ment that carriers are soliciting bust
ness for one firm to the disadvantage OF
/. others.
In many sections OF the country car
! Giers have become the agents OF daily
newspapers, soliciting subscribers, delv
ering papers. and collecting for the same
| This has led to complaints from other
newspapers circulating in the same ter
rtory, alleging that carriers discriminate
gainst one paper in favor OF another
| III one State there was discovered an al
tempt on the part OF a carriers organi
cation 10 exact certain compensation from
daily papers, and any paper declining &c
meet such demand was to be placed on
! the blacklist. The ultimate result of per
hitting carriers TO transact express pack
age business IS great loss OF revenue
the department and constant annoyance
from complaints OF merchants and pub.
! fishers.
I'm many instances the delivery of mai
ia now n secondary matter, the. express
package business being regarded by the
carrier as the more important part o!
his work. He IS secure in his salary
from the government, and what ousne
ne can work up as news agent or express
messenger is clear gain. If carriers a.
to be permitted 10 do an express packag|
business, then the entire system Of com
pensation should be changed to the cor
tract systegn the same as rhe star route
service. On many routes a profitabl
express business is not practicable while
on others il becomes lucrative, and tht
present system, therefore, results N gree
inequality fgconpensatl0n.
1T IS therefore recommended that rura
carriers be restricted to the discharg,
OF their official duties, the same as Cit
icarriers as prescribed by the depart
u2ent, and 10 provide z compensation
/! common suratc with the service performe.
lthe maximum IS larry should be raised tt
$3.50 rer annum for a route Of 25 mi es.'
IL is also recommended that speci"
agents and route inspectors be hereafte
designated rural agents.
The only reference made In the repor
TO TIE postal fraud scandals Is in conne
ton with the rural free delivery.
e2ys:
San investigation, which is still in pro
gress, has shown that for a number
years supplies for the free-delivery servic
have not been purchased with an eye 81.
G to the publ!c interests Both in tn,
matter Of quality and the cost of equip
ment the ruling consideration has BET.
lriyate gain. This applies to articles fu.
nshed under regular contract, such
street collection boxes and carriers satch
els. as well as those bought in TIA,
open market under exigency priyileg,
whict: has been much abused.
Favored contractors, abetted by
trusted but unfaiihiul official, have cor
rupted the public service. An early aud
thorough reformi ton VIII be undertake.
along The line CT service equipment, Wit
the prospective result OF improved ser
vice at reduced cost. Fraudulent COZ
tracts have been abrogated. In the
letting OF contracts honest competitio
will have fair and free play
Some idea OF business done by thes
rural free delivery routes may be game
by figures given in the report for !.
six months from January |, to Juiy i
1903.
During that period the rural carrier
in North Carolina delivered ISIS regis
tered letters or packages, Sl9,476 letters
l99,o95 postal cards, 1,522,623 newspapers
301 .11e circulars, 97,S52 packa gca--or :
total of 2,942.9S2 parcels carried and &c
livered in six months or an average 0
1902 pieces a month for each route. II
addition they collected 4,103 registere,
packages, 620,995 letters. G4,67c posta
cards, 1893 newspapers, 3l,OlS circular
and 10,961 packages, or total OF 737, Is
pieces. An average of 398 pieces pc
route per month. The estimated valu
of the postage on all this meter is sos
l-