Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-01
RURAL CARRIERS, WAGES.

Assoeia Lon Is urging tbs establishment;
4 of scale for rura! carriErs and Mr..
F. II. Cunningham is sending letters 10
leading newspapers urging their sup
: OF $500 for the first year of carrier
service on lew routes, SEQ for the Sec
cnd and $3.50 for the third and ensuing
WARS, This. he thinks. would give the
new routes which are being estab-
lished chance to develop as the car
Tiers, salaries are increased.
NJ. Cunningham points out that the
rural carriers are holding on by their
teeth to Jobs whicf, do no. pay and
quotes as an eloquent argument in
support OF the rural carriers request
< 10. an Increase in salary which will en-
able them to remain in the service the
recent report of the postmaster general,
I IN which he shows tina; 2.Sl9 carriers
have resigned. Considering the fac;
that there were only 5000 carriers al
the beginning and $4,000 at the end OF
the fiscal year, the average resigna-
tons were nearly % per cent. There
are many carriers" he continues, who
would be willing TO make an afhdavit
that they have lost money While IN ths
service and thousands Of carriers after
having Invested their capital In horses,
wagons, harness and other equipment.
which have been worn out In ten serv-
foe, are only holding on with the hope
that congress will come to their relief
1t has been suggested that our organi-
cation is q powerful one; IL 1t is, what
makes Il such? Is 1t not the right and
Justice OF our cause? II we were ask
ing anything unreasonable. does any
one think that the farmer would give
US his support? The farmers. however,
who have been contributing their full
share in support of the government
and who have never received direct
benefits such as free delivery OF mails
which have been enjoyed by the cities
for years. realize that tirst-class men
can not be retained In the service at
ahe present salary and that II congress
should fail to give the carriers relief the
designations will likely increase more
than 50 pc rcent. and htus cripple a
service which Is cherished by them a.
one OF their greatest blessings"
Mr.. Cunningham. replying to the
statement that we will soon have &C.,
600 carriers at $500 per year. says that |
It would be very expensive IL we did
not receive any value In return, but |
let US stop and think how many farm
ers can have their daily mod delivered
at their door for this sum. The aver
age number Of people living on route |
% 500, which would mean that 25.800.-
900 farmers would be blessed with this |
modern postal service at per capita
cost to the government OF a little more |
than II each" In this his figures ap-
pear to be mistaken or juggled. Five |
hundred individuals on mail route do |
not mean 500. but 100 or even less
pumber of farmers The 100 box rule
would reduce Mr.. Cunningham's num-
her OF farmers to 100000 and multiply |
The cost per family by five.
There is no doubt that the rural car
siers should and will receive a substan-
tial increase in salary. The present sti-
pend is too low to Live decentay on.
Bills are now pending to raise their
wages from $500 to $500. and the latter
sum seems SUFFICIENT to draw pretty
efficient class OF men toward the car
yierships. The National Carriers AS |