Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-09

their finger tips. and their speech. with
it's delightful incubation, bespoke a resi-
dence IN the Bay City district Of the Huh
Said one woman to the other. ITO my
mind, Senator Lodge represents the best
type Of American statesmanship. He Is
we'll named the student in politics. He
thinks well and no speech that I heard to-
day compares with that Of the junior SEN
ator from Massachusetts, upon the Philip
pine question. HIS enunciation II we'll
night perfect" The gentleman who ac-
companied the two women Was from the
south. He had the broad dialect Of the
people Of Tennessee and he was welded to
its traditions. Replying to the speech Of
his Boston woman friend ne swelled him
self up with pride as he said: while Mr..
Lodges enunclation may be perfect, you
must not forget the de~nunciation Of Mr..
Carmaek OF Tennessee" and there was
silence in the car when It touched the
bottom
More Pay for RuraI Carriers.
Efforts will be made at the next session
OF congress TO increase the salaries OF rural
free delivery carriers and already a move
ment is on foot to crystalIize action in re-
gard to that matter. While the carriers
themselves are barred BY reason Of the
rules Of the Postofhce department from
actively soliciting aid to Increase their
salaries. newspapers devoted to the rural
free delivery service are being established
all over the country and these papers pro-
pose to undertake the work Of securing
an increase IN the salaries for these car
riers. The highsef pay rural carriers now
receive Ia 5000 Ser annum. Out OF this
amount he must pay for his wagon and
harness and keep from one to four
horses. The average trip is about twenty
one miles q day. IT is stated that the life
of a horse in this service over country
roads in all sorts OF weather is not more
than three years and that the price Of
keeping a horse in many parts OF the coun-
try Is $40 per month, OF $40 a year. From
statistics which have been received regard
ing the Keep Of a horse the lowest cost
reported 10 IS a month. This leaves the
best paid carrier from $3.50 down to $500 a
year. Those receiving $500 or $500 have
proportionately less, and consequently
many carriers, finding that they could not
earn more than 80 cents a day clear, have
resigned, and It therefore becomes plain
that TO Keep I'D the efficiency Of the serv-
Ice Il would seem but Justice to advance
the salaries Of this growing army Of men
who are doing much to bring the country In
touch with the city.
Compared with City CARRIERS.
While &c IL true the rural carrier may
not have as heavy work to perform as the
city carrier, 1t is also true that the pay
Is disproporticnate Ia the service rendered.
The city carrier receives fFsm $500 to
81, 600, without the cost Of keeping a team,
and when the distance that the rural car
rlsr has to travel In contrast to the city
carrier Is considered there seems to be
simple justice back Of the demands Of the
rural carriers for an increase In salary
In order that the service may be kept at
its present high standard Of efficiency.
There are now 1880 carriers appointed
IN the United states and, according TO SUI
perlntendent Machen's report made In June,
1902, this number will be swelled to 10000
within three years. While the beginnings
Of rural free delivery were purely exper,-
mental, the service has grown entirely out
side the experimental stage. 1t has be-
come one Of the hxlties OF the government
and the Legislators Of the future will be
called upon 70 enlarge the scope Of the
service as It's needs beoome known to those
who are directly beneeted-the farmers and
| the newspaper.