The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-11

ant postmasters. cashiers and other en-
ployes TO give bonds TO postmasters direct,
and holding pOstmasters responsible under
their own bonds for any and all acts and de-
faults occurring at their respective Offices
That an appropriation be made for the
purpose OF constructing lookouts wherever.
in the opinion OF the postmaster-general,
the same may be needed
THAT the interstate-cOmmerce law be
amended TO prohibit common carriers-to
wit. telegraph and express cOmpanies-or
any of their employees from aiding and
abetting in the green-goods or lottery swim
dies or any other scheme, carried on partly
by mail and partly by common carrier. and
which is in violation Of the postal laws.
That small appropriation be made by
Congress for the purpose OF enabling the
postmaster general to investigate the feas-
Utility Of telephone service II. connection
with the rural free-delivery service.
THAT legislation be enacted authorizing
the exclusion from the mails OF all matter
relating TO the class Of enterprises known
as guessing contests.
THAT Congress prohibit by law the use OF
the postal service OF the United States for
the promotion of gambling schemes.
THAT no change be made in the title OF
the assistant attorney general for the POST
Office Department but that the Office be
made presidential one and that its incum-
bent be made, in fact as well as in name,
an officer OF the Department OF Justice,
subject the authority and direction Of
the attorney general OF the United States,
that his salary be increased 10 5000 per
The Postmaster General has this to say
regarding Senator Fairbanks proposed
telephone service for rural free delivery-
The extension of the rural free-del.very
service and the consequent increase IN the
use of the mails by the patrons residing
along the rural routes, together with the
extension Of the telephone service into the
farming districts of the country. has sug-
gested the prOpriety of extending the privt-
lege Of the special delivery of such letters.
or the contents thereof, by means OF the
telephone, II being proposed that a special
stamp be provided covering the cost or
such transmission. the use Of which stamp
would authorize the postmaster at the or
nee of delivery TO open such letter and tele-
phone its contents 10 the person 10 whom
IL was addressed. It will be seen that IL
such plan Is FEASIBLE twenty-Iour hours
time VIII be saved IN the transmission OF
important messages TO many people resid-
ing along the lines Of the rural delivery
routes. / would recommend that a small
appropriation be made by Congress for the
purpose OF enabling the Postmaster Gen
eral 10 investigate this subject"
In regard TO rural carriers the report
says: Rural carriers required 20 keep
a count Of the mail of all classes handled
and the amount OF the cancellations on
mail collected by them. These statistics
for the last six months Of the fiscal year.
January to June, inclusive, have been COM
piled. During the period named, S9.416,l2S
pieces of mail were delivered and $3.50. 80
pieces or mail were collected. The value
OF stamps Cancelled mail collected by
rural carriers amounted TO $949,Oo4.Sl. and
the pay Of carriers for that period aggre-
cellations per route were $l1 p. and the
average pay Of the carriers $497S.
THE designations OF 2,S19 carriers were
accepted during the year, about 10 per cent.
of the whole number, many Of them stat
ing that they find il Improbable TO con-
! tinue in the service. Seventy carriers we're
removed for cause, of which number seven
were arrested for violation OF the postal
laws. The deaths of eighty-six carriers
were reported.
SALARIES.
Under the law the salary Of rural car
riers cannot exceed 5000 per annum, and no
other allowance can be made. but IL Is pro-
vided that they shall not be prohibited from
doing an express-package business. The
provision of law under which rural carriers
are permitted TO do an exprsss-package
business was intended by Congress 10 pro-
vide a means of additional compensation,
but it is so broad In its terms that the way
has been opened for a serious loss or
| revenue to the postal service. The depart
ment has endeavored TO restrict the ex-
press matter carried by rural carriers TO
such as Is not mailable as fOurth-class
mail matter, but advantage is taken Of the
law by business firms TO secure the dis
tribution of large quantities of advertising
matter by the rural carriers.
Such matter is shipped by express or
freight TO the carriers or some agent who
arranges with the carrier for its distribu-
ton. Thus rural carriers, employees of the
department, are delivering 20 patrons on
their routes matter which would otherwise
be mailed and become source OF postal
revenue. AS the result OF the express
package business. complaints frequently
come TO the department that carriers are
soliciting business for one firm 10 the dis
advantage OF others.
I'm many sections Of the country carriers
have become the agents Of newspapers,
soliciting subscribers. delivering papers and
collecting for the same. This has led to
complaints from other newspape circulate
ing in the same territory, alleging that car
riers discriminate against one paper In
favor of another. In one State there was
discovered an attempt on the part OF the
carriers organization 10 exact certain COM
pensation from daily papers and any paper
declining to meet such demand was 10 be
placed on the blacklist. The ultimate re-
suit OF permitting carriers TO transact ex-
presS-package business is great loss OF
revenue TO the department, and constant
annoyance from complaints of merchants
and publishers. In many instances the de-
livery of mail is now a secondary matter,
garded by the carrier as the more i'm
portant part or his work. He is secure il
his salary from the government, and what
business he work up news agent
or express messenger is clear gain. II car
riers are to be permitted to do an express
package business. then the entire system OF
compensation should be changed 20 the con-
service. on many routes a profitable ex-
press business is not practicable. while on
others IL becomes lucrative. and the present
system therefore results in great inequality
of mpensatOn.
1T is therefore recommended that rural
carriers be restricted 20 the discharge OF
their official duties, the same as city car
Tiers. prescribed by the department, and
TO provide a compensation commensurate
! with the service performed.