Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-02
State Convention Held in Des
Moines to Discuss Impor-
tant Matters
ATTENDANCE WAS VERY SMALL
Plans Were Discussed for Increasing
the Membership of Iowa Association
of Rural Mail Carriers-Membership
Fee and Annual Dues Reduced-Mat-
ter of Increase in Salaries Discussed.
speclal to Times-Republlcan.

Special to mes-Republlcan.
Des Moines, Jan. 2.-The state con-
vention Of the Iowa Association of Ru-
raj Mail Carriers was held in Des
Moines yesterday. Plans were discussed
to secure an increase in membership.
There are about 1900 carriers in Iowa
and an attempt will be made to secure
the enrolment Of each one as mem-
Der of the association.
1t developed at the meeting that there
are now six regular women carriers In
the service in Iowa. These are Hattie
Crisp, Alden; Nettie c. Matson, Bur-
llington; Ruby Haughey, Charles City;
Anna L. Tibe, Correctionville; Carrie
Marsh, Pleasantville.
After the meeting and in an informal
discussion several carriers complained
that they are required to supply post
offices that should be supplied by star
route and to carry sack mail out to
meet star route contractors.
The attendance was very small only
about forty members being present.
President B. p. Wood, Of Cherokee.
and Secretary John B. Gray, of Eagle
Grove, were in attendance, and Presi-
dent Wood presided over the sessions.
After heated debate it was voted
to reduce the membership fee to so
cents from 81 and to reduce the an
nual dues from so to Is cents.
1t was voted to have printed 1000
copies of the constitution and bylaws
and large number of membership
blanks. and the secretary was directed
to mail these to each of the rural car
riers, while those in attendance We're
also instructed to wait upon the other
mail carriers departing from their re-
spective offices to induce them to join
with the association in it's work.
President Wood made short adj
dress in which he stated that with TO-
900 rural mail carriers in the country
and a proportionate increase of SO
per cent in the business over that of a
year ago it could be said that the rural
route has come to stay. In Iowa, he
said that over 10000 rural inhabi-
taEts are now served daily by rural
carriers, and that over 10000 daily
papers are delivered over the routes.
The matter of increase in salaries
was discussed, but 10 definite action
was taken. The carriers figure that with
IAN increased membership they viii be
in a better position to secure an adj
vance. -----e,--s---y------zr---
Ezre Young spoke Of the advantages
of the system of bringing the farmers
nearer to the city and to each other,
and in touch with the world.
Governor Cummins and Judge Josiah
Given delivered short addresses COM
mending the rural service and the bene-
fits accruing from It,
AT the afternoon session the conven-
ton resolved itself into an experience
meeting. Boxes formed the principal
topic. The present system of permit
|ting the use Of a number of different
boxes with different locks was severely
criticised Carriers complained that
they had to carry from three or four to
a dozen keys. to fit the boxes. and that
as result much time was lost in sort
ling over keys to find the one to fit the
particular box. The result of this dis
cussion was the appointment of COM
mittee composed of D. III. Males. Earl
ham; w. H. Howell, Des Moines:
George S. Thompson, Ankeny, ana %.
P. Wood, Cherokee, to prepare a report
combining the best features of all box
es and to pass upon q uniform lock with
the intention of presenting 1t to the
postof1ice department. and urging that
lit exert its influence at Washington to
secure legislation necessary to permit
tie department to either make or con-
tract for a uniform box to be furnished
at cost to patrons. The report of this
committee will be submitted at the
August meeting.
The types of wagons used In the serv-
ice were discussed and the good and
bad features Of the several classes dis
cussed.