The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-28
BY r. NJ. Larner.

Washington. Feb. 27.-TheS part
which a prominent Georgian play
ed in laying the foundation for the free
rural mail delivery system, was
brought out by Seantor Clay in his in
teresting review of the history of rural
delivery in his speech upon this feature
of the postoffice appropriation bill. The
Georgian in question is Hon. Thomas
Z. Watson. who was then a member
of Congress from the Tenth Georgia
district. After telling of Mr.. Watson's
action which dates back to 1898, Sem
ator Clay went into details concerning
the rapid growth of the free rural SER
vice. Senator Clay began:
Mr.. President: An examination of
the Congressional Record of Feb. II,
1898, shows that the postoffice .appro-
priation bill was pending in the House
of Representatives., and when an item
for free delivery offices of 81 ,254, 943,
was reached, Hon. 7. E, Watson, who
was then a member of the House of
Representatives from Georgia, intro
duee the following amendment: For
free delivery service including existing
experimental free delivery offices, SILL
254,943, of which sum $40, 900 shall be ap-
piled under the direction of the Post
master General, to experimental free
delivery in rural communities other
than towns and villages. Further ex-
animation of the Congressional Record
shows the following colloquy to have
taken place between members.
Mr.. Holman: / reserve a point of
order on that amendment.
Mr.. Watson: This reduces the ex-
penditure provided for in the bill.
Mr.. Henderson IN. CO: 1 desire to
reserve a point of order.
Mr.. Chairman: A point of order has
already been reserved.
Mr.. Watson: Mr.. Chairman, the par
agraph under consideration provides for
the expenditure of $11,254943 for free
delivery service. My amendment re-
duces the amount of that expenditure
and simply directs that the Postmaster
General shall apply $4,000 of the appro-
priation to experimental free delivery in
rural communities.
Mr.. Loud: That is already provided
for; the gentleman will accomplish
nothing by his amendment.
Mr. Watson: 1t is not provided for
in rural districts other than towns and
Villages. There is no experimental
service in. rural communities other
than towns and villages.
Mr.. buchanan of New Jersey: You
mean truly rural"
Mr.. Watson: Yes, sir; the real coun-
try.
Mr.. Holman: 1 think there is some
misrepresentation as to the law on this
subject. l would like to ask the gem
tleman from North Carolina in charge
of this bill what the existing law is?
Mr.. Henderson of North Carolina:
There is no law on the subject provid-
ing for rural free delivery or expert
ments in that direction. There is a law
which provides for experiments in
small towns and villages and forty
eight of these now have free delivery
That condition is preserved in this
bill. But no provision is made for ru-
raj free delivery.
Mr.. .Watson-The present law pro-
vides for an experimental delivery in
rural communities; but as / under
stand it-and the chairman of the COM
mittee, the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Henderson,, makes the
same statement to the Hotise-the law
has been construed to mean cities.
towns, and villages, and there are now
in operation experimental free deliv-
ereies in certain towns and villages.
The law expressly provides for rural
communities, and it seems to me
where the general laws make such pro-
vision there is no hardship in taking
small amount from this appropria-
ton, only $4,000, and appropriating il
for experimental free delivery in abso-
lutely rural communities, that is to
say, in the country pure and simple,
amongst the farmers. in those neigh
borhoods where they do not get their
mail more. than once in every two
weeks, and where these deserving peo-
pie have settled i'm communities 100
years old and do not receive a news
paper that is not two weeks behind
the times.
THE amendment was adopted by a
vote OF seventy-nine ayes to forty-one
hayes. Mr.. Watson introduced his
amendment to experiment In the free
rural delivery service, carrying $40. 900
for this purpose. less than ten years
ago, which, from the best information
i have been able TO obtain, carried the
first appropriation ever made by Con-
eress for rural free delivery Mr..
Wanamaker had tried what he called
Daxr1adxr Of Cxxaof 4