Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-06-16
RURAL CARRIER REGULATIONS
Under the New Law Going Into Effect
July I, 1904.

Suty ~ 'SSfs
1t will be remembered that when
Congress increased the salary Of rural
carriers it provided certain restrictions
the interest of which was to place the
rural carrier in the same category as
, other postal employees, allowing him to
do certain favors to patrons on his
route but expecting him to look for his
income chiefly from his salary.
The following order of the Postmas-
ter General defining these restrictions
Order No. 500.
The act of Congress making appro-
priatiOns for the service of the Post
Office Department for the fiscal year
beginning July 1st. 1904, in connection
with the appropriation for the pay of
the rural carriers, provides that
"On and after said date Uuly 1, 1000
said carriers shall not solicit business
or receive orders of any kind for any
person, firm or corporation, and shall
not. during their hours of employment
carry and merchandise for hire: Pro-
vided, That said carriers may carry
merchandise for hire for and upon the
request of patrons residing upon their
respective routes, whenever the same
shall not interfere with the proper dis
charge of their official duties, and un-
der such regulations as the Postmaster
General may prescribe.
In pursuance of the above provision
of law it is Ordered:
That rural carriers are not permitted
to solicit business or receive orders of
any kind for any person, firm or cor
pOration.
No mailable matter may be handled
by rural carriers while serving their
routes, unless the proper postage has
been prepaid, with the single exception
OF county newspapers, which, under
the law, are permitted to be carried
free throughout the county i'm which
they are published, to actual sub
scribers, and such newspapers ad-
dressed to subscribers, residents on
rural routes, must be deposited at the
post office the same as papers for other
subscribers.
The hire for merchandise carried on
request Of the patron of rural free de-
livery must be paid by the patron.
Carriers will not be permitted to re-
ceive any compensation from the seller
of such merchandise.
Articles or packages, which are mail
able, which are handed to the carrier
or deposited in the post office or i'm a
rural letter box or in Il collection box
located on a rural route, with request
that the rural carrier deliver same, are
subject to the rules regulating mail
matter, including the payment of pos
tage thereon.
Articles or packages, that are not
mailable, which the patron desires the
rural carrier to carry must be delivered
to the carrier in person. and in carry
ing merchandise for hire rural carriers
are not permitted TO leave their routes
as officially laid out or to accept any
thing that will in any way delay the
delivery of mail, or in any way inter-
fere with the efficiency of the service.
Carriers while on duty. are not per-
mittcd to carry spirituOus liquors
either for themselves, for sale, or for
the accommodation of their patrons.
Rural carriers are required to per-
nit post office inspectors. or other
duly-accrcdited agents of the post
Office Department., to accompany them
| on their regular trips over their routes.
They must not carry other passengers
nor permit any person, other than au-
| thOriZcd postal officials. to ride with
them or to have access to the mails.
Rural carriers must not engage in
any business during their prescribed
hours of service. or conduct any busi-
ness after hours which offers tempta-
tion to solicit patronage on their
/ routes. or which, by reason of their
position in the Government service,
gives them special advantage over
| competitors, such as book canvasSing,
| soliciting insurance, selling sewing
| machines, or other kindred occupations.
Carriers must not. either in person OF
through others, directly or indirectly,
| by any method whatever, solicit
| money, gifts or presents; nor issue, for
profit. souvenirs or postal handbOoks:
nor cooperate with or assist the pub
| fishers of same to secure the patronage
| of the public; nor compile directories
| for public use or assist publishers To
| compile them; nor furnish the names
| and addresses of patrons of their
| routes. for pay or favor, to any bust
| ness establishment, or to any individ
| ual. except to those department Off
| cials who under the regulations, are
| entitled to the same.
Signed II. G. PAYNE,
| Postmaster General.