New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-21
LETTER CARRIERS LOSS.
Effect of Proposed Prohibition in
Rural DeliUery Service.
rrRo,r THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington March ol-The proposition TO raise
the salaries Of the rural free delivery carriers from
300 10 $40 a year at the same time prohibiting
them from acting agents or engaging In any
other business, has developed n formidable and
determined opposition. So serious have been the
objections raised by newspaper publishers, sub
scribers IN rural districts business men and others
interested against the abridEment OF the privileges
now enjoyed by the carriers that their influence
will be apparent when the item IS reached IN the
Postofrce Appropriation bill. now under cousidera-
ton IN the House.
Tho Committee on Postofces and Post Roads
provided IN the measure that letter carriers OF the
rural free delivery service shall receive a salary
not exceeding S73l per annum. and no other or
further allowance or salary shall be made 70 said
carriers; and and after said date said carriers
shall not solicit business q. receive orders OF any
kind for any person. firm or corporation. and shall
not during their hours Of employment, carry any
merchandise for hire: Provided. 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 discharge of their official duty and
under such regulations as the Postmaster General
may prescribe"
This provision is properly subject to a point OF
order which Will be raised and sustained This
will have the effect OF eliminating from the bin
the increased pay and the ACCOMPANYING restriction
OF privileges of the carriers before IL leaves the
measure comes before the Senate all prohibition
against carriers acting as agents will be removed
conference. II is not considered improbable that
some provision will also be made for increased pay
along reasonable lines II such be done without
striking a parliamentary obstruction.
Il is estimated that nearly half million pro-
tests have been made against the proposed prOhi-
bItion Newspaper publishers throughout the coun-
try are particularly emphatic I'm their opposition
They claim that their circulating systems have
been organized with r View to compromising car
riers for serving agents for their papers on the
rural routes. If this done away with il would
make necessary, they maintain. complete
organization of their circulation departments. en-
failing an enormously heavy expenditure The sub
scribers, too. it is contended. would suffer. for
route would be put TO great Inconvenience II car
riers were permitted to receive and execute
orders
President Cunningham q the Rural Letter Car
rers' Association has presented for the COnsidera
ton Of Congress statistics showing that. should
the privileges be taken away. carriers. notwith-
standing the increase of $50 q year IN their pay.
would suffer q large peCuuiaTv loss. he points out
that during the year 1903 10 per cent Of the rural
carriers resign "a. against Der cent o. the city
carriers. indicating the great dissatisfaction exist
ing even at the present rate Of compensation with
parcusites allowed In eight months OF the present
resigned and he predicts that. f. the committee
should succeed in cutting off the money earned by
them by engaging in outside business. fully % per
cent OF the force would leave the service.
Mr. Cunningham and other opponents OF this
LEGISLATION hold that the proposed SID salary in
crease would 10 81 significance rs compared with
the amount lost by the carriers through the prohi-
bition Of their acting as agents or receiving and
executing orders