The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-01
PoL1rIos-RURAL DELIVERY.

From the washington Post-l
Certain members of congress. both Re-
publicans and Democrats, have refused
to accept the assurance of Postmaster
General Payne and Mr.. Bristow, The
fourth assistant, that there is to be no
curtailment of the extension of rural
free delivery service where the demands
for the service warrant the establish
ment of it. These dissatisfied congress-
men are planning a fight against Gen
Bristow and propose to seek his political
scalp because, forsooth, he has declined
to allow political considerations to out
weigh the needs of the service In the os-
Enlistment of additional routes. Under
the last two years of Mr.. Machen's
management of the rural free delivery
service there was riot Of politics and
peculation. Members of congress Joined
in what was a clear loot of the postof-
flee appropriation in the establishment
of rural routes which were not war
ranted and for which there was no pop
ular demand from patrons. Men with
material to sell. contractors who had
wagons and horses to be unloaded upon
the government at fancy prices. and
agents who had postoffice boxes to sell
to the farmers Joined in working up pc
titions for the establishment of the SER
vice even in districts where but very
limited number of patrons could be
served, and the obliging officials in the
department at Washington promptly
granted all applications. The approprIa-
ton for the service was exhausted and
the appropriation for next year mort
gagged in this campaign of extravaganza
and loot.
AS a result of this reckless extension
of the service, Mr.. Bristow is confronted
with an overwhelming demand from all
parts of the country for the stablish-
ment of new rural routes and the extern
sion of existing ones. At the present
time there are about 1900 applications
for the establishment of the service, or
just about double the number that can
be established this year with the avail
able funds. The dissatisfied congress-
men may as well understand now as la
ter that the service must be reduced to
system. Extensions will be made in the
public interest and the cost kept within
the appropriations. The routes will be
extended to 80 miles, and no route will
be established without 100 families to be
served. except in cases where it can be
clearly shown that a smaller number of
families can be served upon route and
the efficiency of the general service not
be impaired. In each case of this kind
exceptional conditions will be consider
ed. 1t is a matter of congratulation that
such decision has been reached under
the present administration. With the
exposure Of extravaganza under the late
management of this department, it is
almost surprising that the public senti-
ment has not been aroused to the point
of demanding the abolition of the entire
rural free delivery service. Under the
plan proposed by Gen. Bristow the sys-
tenn will be extended as rapidly as busl-
ness conditions warrant. The congress-
man who persists in waging war against
Gen. Bristow's plan is in danger of be-
ing classed as a sympathizer, if not
participant, in the system that came so
near to wrecking the entire service.