The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-03

cases were made up for investigation,
| 1,714 cases were reported adversely
and 6,653 routes were established, leaV-
ing 11,70O petitions pending June 80,
1909.
| Rural carriers are required to keep a
count of the mail of all classes han
died, and the amount of the cancella-
tons on mail collected by them. These
statistics for the last six months of the
fiscal year, January to June 1903, in
elusive, have been compiled
| During the period named 300, 428, 12S
pieces of mail were delivered and AS.
| 954, 800 pieces of mail were collected
The value Of stamps Cancelled on mail
collected by rural carriers amounted
to $949. 0S4.37 and the pay of carriers
for that period aggregated $4,51S, 1876.
The average monthly cancellations per
route were SLIP. and the average pay
of the carriers S49.7S.
| Under the law the salary of rural
carriers cannot exceed $500 per annum,
and no other allowance can be made,
but it is provided that they shall not be
prohibited from doing an express pack
age business. The provision of law I'M
der which rural carriers are permitted
to do an express package business was
intended by congress to provide a means
of additional compensation, but it is so
broad in it's terms that the way has
been opened for serious loss of revenue
to the postal service. The department
has endeavored to restrict the express
matter carried by rural carriers to such
as is mailable as fourth class mail mat
ter, but advantage is taken of the law
by business firms to secure the dfstri-
button of large quantities of advertising
matter by the rural carriers
BEATING THE POSTAL REVENUES
Such matter is shipped by express or
freight to the carrier, or some agent,
who arranges with the carrier for it's
distribution. The rural carriers, en-
ployes of the department, are delivering
to patrons on their routes matter which
would otherwise be mailed ind become
a source of postal revenue. AS the re-
suit of the express package business,
complaints frequently come to the de-
partment that carriers are soliciting
business for one firm to the diSadvant-
age Of others.
In many sections of the country car
riers have become the agents of daily
newspapers, soliciting subscribers, de-
livering papers, and collecting for the
same. This has led to complaints from
other newspapers circulating in the
same territory, alleging that carriers
discriminate against one paper in favor
of another. In one state there was dis
covered an attempt on the part of
carriers organization TO exact certain
compensation from daily papers, and
any paper declining to meet such de-
mand was to be placed on the blacklist.
The ultimate result of permitting car
riers to transact express package bust
ness is great loss of revenue to the de-
partment and constant annoyance from
complaints of merchants and pub
fishers.
In many instances the delivery of
mail is now a secondary matter, the ex-
press package business being regarded
by the carrier as the more important
part of his work He is secure in his
salary from the government, and what
business he can work up as news agent
or express messenger is clear gain. If
carriers are permitted to do an express
package business. then the entire sys
tenn of compensation should be changed
to the contract system the same as
the star route service. On many routes
a profitable express business is not
practicable, while on others it becomes
therefore, results in great inequality
of compensation.
Tt is therefore recommended that
rural carriers be restricted to the dis
charge of their official duties, the same
as city carriers, as prescribed by the
department, and to provide compensa-
ton commensurate with the service
performed the maximum salary should
be raised to $3.50 per annum for a route
of twenty-five miles
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.
The amount appropriated for the
compensation of rural carriers and
clerks in charge of rural substations
during the current fiscal year is S12,-
900. 600. Of this. approximately s.. o5s, $50
is required for carriers in the service
on June 80. 1903, leaving s.. $40, 900 for
the esta blishment of additional routes.
The salaries of the 4.549 carriers al
ready appointed since June go 1903 on
routes now in operation including