The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-02
BY r. M. Larner.

BY r. M. Larner.
Washington, June 1.-Postmaster
General Payne has created a panic
among those congressman who had Sc
cured orders under the Machen regime
for the extension of the rural delivery
system in their respective districts,
which were to go into effect July 1.
The senators and representatives
from all parts of the country are daily
arriving in Washington to ascertain
what becomes of the promises they
made to their constituents that a gen.
eral extension of the rural free delivery
system is to take place at the begin
ming of the next fiscal year.
Just now there are more than a dozen
Southern representatives in Washing
ton, who had secured from Mr.. Machen
official routes that certain rural free
delivery routes were to be established
in their respective districts this year.
One of the most demonstrative COM
claimants against Postmaster General
Payne's "stop order" is Representa-
tive Charles Bartlett of Georgia. Rep
resentative Bartlett represents the Ma
con district and is an indefatigable
worker to secure postal changes, pub
lie buildings and other facilities for
his constituents.
At the last session of Congress he
secured an appropriation for public
building at Macon and also secured
official orders authorizing the establish
ment of a large number OF additional
rural free delivery routes in his dis
trict. Mr.. Bartlett called at the Post
office Department to-day, and had an
animated conference, first with Post
master General Payne and afterwards
with Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow, now in charge OF the
rural free delivery system.
Could Not Convince Them
notwithstanding the eloquence and
persistence displayed by Mr.. Bartlett
in urging the importance of the pro-
posed extension of the rural free de
livery system in his district, he taiiee
to make a favorable impression upol
the Postmaster General or his fourti
assistant. Both of these officials frank
Nv fold Judge Bartlett that in view
of the recent developments In connec
ton with the mismanagement OF IN
rural free delivery system under MI
Machen all orders previously lssueu =
take effect July l are held up dh
there is no means of estimating When
If ever. some of these orders VIII &
into effect.
This was not gratifying intelligenc
IN the representative of the Maco
district but he was pacif1ed some
what bv the statement by Postmaste
Pavne and Mr. Bristow that the penn
ing investigation of the rural free oe
livery service has developed tne la
that many routes have been estap
ushed at considerable expense TO IN
~ jrnment, which are neither ue
handed or justified by exlstlng co llui
ttons He was informed that In som
Instances immediate relatives or yer
close personal friends of certain rel
resentatives had been appointed ~.
cial inspectors to locate and estaplis
rural free delivery routes, IN WIN
certain Legislators were dlreceiy iH'ei
ested.
Nav Abandon Some ROutes'
Since the investigation commence
reports are being daily received az "a
Postoffice Department from newly az
signed inspectors, statlng III SU
cases tDHL IQulcH nav
ed in New England, in the west az.
in the South, where there Is prao.
callv no demand or justification Il
the establishment of quick serve
This condition of affairs Is exceeGlhgl
embarrassing to Representative pai
lett ard his associates OF the hous
who have already selected persons u
pected to be appointed to the ru !,
free delivery service during =
coming month. a.,
Postmaster General Payne says "a
instead of increasing the rura "a
livery service. the possibilities are ~
50 viii be materially curtailed III al
rectiOns. .,.
Representative Bartlett had sever
cou.paniOns in misery and dlhapPoi.a
mont III the PosfOffiee Department I
day In Representatives LAylngstoII
Georgia. Underwood and lNchar - !
~ Alaban,a, Wadsworth % New ~
and Griggs, chairman OF tne p"H,
cratic CONGREGATIONAL comni ttef,
of these gentlemen left washington
Few months ago with assurance ""
Dr. dachen that q certain nnhlD.t
r0utes would be- established W ~
resuecflve districts, The iffflhllnt
tlere orders ~ Postmaster 'trs'i
psyne mas b. easily unafftieoa
me sfstesrnen interested pli w.
tsr Hil sDoOggtff great ei"'NF'F