Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-02
FOR RURAL CARRIERS
CONGRESSMAN COUSINS MAKES
STRONG PLEA FOR COUNTRY
MAIL MEN.
Fifth District Congressman, In Re-
markabIe Address in the House,
Pays High Tribute to the Rural
Delivery System and the Carrier.
TBY H. ]. MAHIN.1
Washington Bureau of the Courier.
Washinqton, D. c.. April 1

Bureau of the Courier.
Washington, D. c., April I.
Perhaps not in the history of our
government has any enterprise involv-
ing the expenditure of public money
proven so worthy and so useful to the
general public as the rural free deliv-
cry Of mail"
In strong appeal for more pay for
the rural carriers and a general defense
of the system, Representative Bob"
Cousins, of the fifth district made this
statement during the hot debate over
the postoff1ce appropriation bill when
it was in the house last week. The
action of the senate committee this
week in limiting somewhat the rights
of carriers to act as agents is going
to call forth serious struggle when
the house and senate committees meet
in conference next week over the meas
ure.
Referring to the details of the pend
ing measure appropriating for immedi-
ate needs" continued Mr.. Cousins,
'the proposition to increase the pay
of carriers is so obviously justified that
it cannot be intelligently or honestly
dSSdllSu, N6.llu DSluS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Wy
the department and as we'll by its mer-
it's it should prevail. a dollar and six
ty-six cents day as a proposition of
compensation for man and team is
ridiculous. 1t would be scarcely de-
cent recompense even for the member
who opposes this moderate increase.
"The proposition to restrict the priv
ileges and usefulness of carriers by
legislative provisions are, in my judg-
ment, wrong and unnecessarily meddle-
some.
'Why deprive the patrons of the
rural routes of any legitjRGatees d der 2Js
might repder? .II.,.5as.,,t5erked servants
~ ~ ~, eelace reret the carriers serve
fo9 the fullest extent the needs of the
people for whom this noble enterprise
is projected and maintained.
ut has brought the remote regions
of the country's best localities in touch
with the world and with themselves.
1t accomm odates the people who pro-
duce the things that this world eats.
1t serves the settlers who suffered
hardships in the early days, and their
sons and daughters living in the prairie
homes pre-empted by their fathers
the people who labor all the livelong
day and do chores half the night; those
who patronize our colleges, who save
from year to year the meager profits
of the dairy and farm and give it all
to the noble purposes of good citizen
ship-to education and to the building
and maintaining of comfortable homes
and schools for themselves and for
their posterity, who in turn repeat the
frugal process; the heads of families
whose children, educated in the genu-
inc spirit of unselfish patriotism, up
hold the law, and when necessity de-
mands bear arms with fortitude and
courage-in short, the folks who feed
the world and fight for law and order
and for homes, and furnish strong ma
terial for all the useful and command
ing avocations of our world, for states
manship and education, for art and
commerce, and for war; not all the
strong material, but most of it and
the best Of it, and for very good
reason, because they bring to these
various avocations the vigor of ma
ture and of manhood, with it's I'M
marred, original impressions and it's
inspirations of intelligence, integrity
and strength.
For such people and for such JUS
tifable purposes untrammeled serv-
ice and reasonable appropriation
should not be withheld and unreason-
able and unprecedented restrictions
should not be placed upon the agents
of such useful, laborious and worthy
service.
ut is gratifying that the early ap-
prehensions of certain people concern
ing the possible effects of rural deliv-
cry are at last appeased. During the
early days of the establishment we
occasionally received complaints from
certain dealers that .it would keep
the farmers from coming to town and
spending their money"
"But on reflection most legitimate
merchants approve the system now
They know that a countryman who
does not waste his time and money
coming to town every day or two is a
better customer and better able to pay
at the end of the year than the one
who loafs in town every day, and le-
Ultimate merchants who sell things
that country people really need have
learned that their customers are vast
ly strengthened by remaining at home
at least part of the Understanding
to their business. thriving and thus
enhancing their ability to pay.
GAS for the commercial pirate who
regards the farmer as a victim of
prey, let him take care of himself
"The establishment of rural free de-
livery has stimulated the betterment
of roads and the country telephone
system. 1t has converted the wide
stretching .solitudes of sections and
townships into villages of interesting
sociability.
mo longer does the weary house
wife wear her anxious heart away in
loneliness and isolation No longer
must she wait with painful and desc
late solicitude for belated messages
and greetings of her friends. While
many of the weary hearts who braved
the dangers and the burdens of the
earlier days are sleeping in the silent
churchyards of our land, the children
of those pioneers dwelling at the same
old firesides or -scattered in the null
titude of new abodes. enjoy today the