The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-14
RURAL SERVICE UNPOPULAR.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST CARRIERS
POURING IN.
The, Act as selling Agents for Msll.Order
Firms IN the BiG cities and Threaten
10 Destroy the Business of the Countr!
stores md other Local Unjust ries.

W.su,scrox. Nav l3-The question
which Is AT present engaging the attention
Of officers of the Post Office Department
and which dwaris IN interest even the in
yes,igatiors Of alleged scandals in the
DEPARTMENT. is tie threatened extinction
of country general" STORES and local in
dus, ries generally by the rapidly growing
rural free delivery service, which threatens
the popularity of this service,
The first step taken by the Department
TO remedy the acknowledged evil was the
issuance of an order yesterday by Fourth
Assistant Post master-GeEernl Brlstow DIS
continuing the practice OF sending to
large number OF manufacturing concerns
and mail order firms throughout the coun-
try daily bulletins containing Information
regarding the establishment OF rural routes,
their locat ion and the names Of the carriers
This practice Of distributing information
wholesale under a Government frank was
held to he un Just discrimination in favor OF
the big concerns of the country and against
the indust ries Of the rural communities.
The second step in the endeavor to correct
the exist ing conditions will be taken by Post
mast er General Payne within few days.
when he will issue an order calling he atten-
ton Of the employees Of the rural free de-
livery service to that section OF the
postal regulations, which prohibits car
rier on rural route from acting as agent
for any firm in the sale Of commodities to
patrons along his line Of route.
The third step will be taken by the Post
master-General some time in the near flu
turc by resembling the order issued some
months ago instructing each postmaster to
post in a conspicuous place in his office the
names and addresses of patrons along
the rural routes branching out from his
headquarters.
Ever sine this last order was issued.
the depa rtment has been deluged with
compla ints and petitions. requesting urg-
ing. and even demanding it revocation,
and threa tening all sorts Of dire political
corseouenccs il some action were not taken.
These petitions were from general store
keepers. merchants, blacksmiths. wheel
wrights, nursery and seed men. millers.
and, in fact, from the represent atives of
every conceivable industry OF a ma
ture which makes it local in character,
and all contained the Information that as
soon as the rural free delivery lists we're
bulletined in a post Office, representatives
Of mail order conce rms in the big cities,
which sell everything from can of con-
de nsed milk to a modern steam roller,
including horseshofs, groceries and cloth
ing, copied the names and sent them to
houses represented by them, Some time
afterward the patrons living along the
lines OF the routes, and whose names had
been copied, would receive cata-
logues and other advertising literature
from the mail order firm or firms offering
inducements to them to divert their trade
from the country stores to the vast business
houses of the big cities. That these induce
ments were often successful, and that the
volume Of trade diverted in this manner
from local industries was large. is clearly
shown by the number and character Of the
complaints received from all parts where
the rural free delivery service has been
in operation for any length Of time, and
where the routes are sufficiently numerous
to have anappreciablee effect in this direction.
The strong sentiment among country
merchants as expressed to the Post ONCE
Department has been unsuccessful 80 far
as regards the order requiring the names
Of rural free delivery patrons to be posted
his refusal to take the action on the ground
that he is DESTROYS of doing the most good
to the greatest number. and says that owing
to the confused conditions resulting from
the installation Of rural delivery, the change
in the names OF offices and the transfer
of patrons from one Office to another in
he adjustment OF routes, II has been necces-
sary to continue. for time at least the
practice of making public the names OF
persons living along these routes. But
this confusion has been Strengthened out,
But both he and Fourth Assistant Post
master-General Bristow believe that the
remedial step made by Yesterdays order
disseminating the daily bulletins to mail
order firms and manufacturing concerns.
could be taken without prejudice and would
afford some measure OF relief.
One OF the most serious aspects OF The
case is considered to be that with regard to
rural carriers acting as agents for various
than any other has enabled the mail-order
firms 10 secure a strong foothold in rural
communities and to make great inroads
into the business of their local competitors.
Many OF the petitions received said that
rural carriers in certain communities acted
az purchasing agents for COM
mission houses which dealt in
eggs, butter and cheese; others
who represented large dairymen, went
about on the lookout for bargains in cows
railroad stations, while still others bought
hay. corn. wheat and other farm products
for the firms represented by them. And
these same carriers or others, the COM
plants asserted, acted as agents for some.
times as many as dozen firms and sold
more dlffcren, things than they
i Hus both for men and women.
canned goods. -four, stoves, lamps, harness,
sewing machines. in fact everything
that is included in the assorted stock Of a
country store and many things that are not.
One carrier even went 30 far a. to act
as agent for a coal company, and on oc-
cas0ns last winter his mail wagon was
followed by several farm wagons loaded
down with anthracite, which had been
previously contracted for and on which
he received commission for its sale and
delivery.
Other agents carry passengers along
the routes, and the mail cart Of one who
was ment ioned is asserted to be regularly
followed by big stage, driven by his son
and usually full Of passengers whose fares
he has collected.
All these things are a direct and aerious
violation OF the postal regulations and
sufficient to insure dismissal, but inasmuch
a. another section of hese same
regulations expressly stpulates that
and do other voluntary acts TO
aid in the comfort and convenience of his
patrons. il has been found very difficult TO
secure evidence to convict particularly
as the pal rons along the routes who derive
the benefits from this close communication
with the modern business houses in the
big cities will not give information against
the carrier.
But the situation which has grown gu, OF
the above conditions is daily growing more
serious. not only with relation to it's effect
s,ilting political sentiment, which may or
may not be an important outcome OF the
growing feeling among the really influential
citizens Of some sections OF the country
against the rural free delivery service.
Every effort will be made by officials OF