The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-02
Missouri Congressman Points Out
That Administrations Cam
paign Document Is Full
OF Errors.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY FACTS.
First Appropriation Made by
Democratic Congress and Was
Not Used Till Democrats
Elected President.
The Republic Bureau.
Nlsh c. ma Ila. a =.

Washington. Sept. chairman Cowherd
OF the Democratic Congressional Commit
tee. and member OF the House Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads. to-day
gave out the following statement:
Among the numerous misstasements
Of the Republican campaign book is the
one claiming for that party the origi-
nation OF the rural free delivery for the
benefit OF farming communities There
was TO rural free delivery prior to Iss2-
Postmaster General wanauaker had rec
commended its extension to smaller cities
and villages. but had not recommended
free delivery TO the farming communities
The first suggestion OF that kind was
proposed BY L. f. Livingston. Democratic
member from the State OF Georgia, when
he offered the following amendment 20 the
Pos;-O.iice appropriation bill on Juno -
1892:
Amend line 10. page .. by striking out
the word six" and inserting the word
eight" and also after the word dollars"
In line II. these words: Provided. that
$4,000 shall be used for experimental free
rural delivery outside the towns and VII
That amendment was ruled out on a
point OF order and other similar amend
nents offered by Democrats met the same
In the following session % the succeed
ing Congress. February Il. Iss5. an amend
rnent 10 the Po5t-pfice appropriation bill
w ss onered by Thomas L. Watson. at
Georgia. providing that $1,000 be expend-
ed b. the Postmaster General as an ex-
pertinent for rural free delivery TO the
farmers.
IGNORED BY HARRISON.
This being Democratic Congress. the
amended became a law Mr. Harrison was
then President and Mr.. wanamaker Post
master General The appropriation. how
ever. was not used during their term OF
ONCE. nor during the nrst two years I'm
der Mr.. CIev LAND
democratic Congresses continued max
Ing appropriations. and in 1885 Soc1O was
appropriated for this purpose and. during
the fiscal year lssS-lsT under Postmaster
General Wilson. a Democrat, the first
ninety-four rural routes were established,
the first route being established In
bartholomew County. Indiana. in Isss
PAYNE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the record OF March IS. 1904. in
cluded in the remarks OF C. r. Thomas
Of North Carolina. will be found q let
ter from Postmaster General Payne.
dated February 8. letoaddressed to L.
F. Livingston. containing the following:
Sir: Replying TO your letter Of the 18th
instant. making certain inquiries relative
to the history OF rural free delivery sery-
ice. 1 would refer you TO the acts making
appropriations for the postal service. Cor
the fiscal years 1884. lss4-5 iss5-s and
1861. from which quote as follows: 80
isS-sl. for free delivery service in
all. 02.si5.2oo provided. further.
that Si1y0J Df this amount may he used
to defray the expenses Of experiments IN
rural free delivery. under the direction OF
the Postmaster General and that the
amount heretofore appropriated for this
purpose and still unexpended be available
for said experiment
During this fiscal year, eishty-four
rural routes We're esta blished on the order
Of Postmaster General Wilson
ALL CREDIT DUE DEMOCRATS
This was therefore the inception os
rural free delivery TO the farmers IL was
originated BY democrat. first appropria-
ated by a Democratic Congress and ir,s,t-
tuted By Democratic executive Ike all
reforms OF that kind in the postal service
IL began. Of course. in a small way as an
experiment 1t was continued as an ex-
detrimental service. the appropriations ran
idly Increased. received In the House al
ways practically unanimous Democratic
vote and several times the APPROXIMATION.
were increased upon the motion of
Democratic member.
Having demonstrated its usefulness 70
the farming communities the service was
two years ago. placed upon a permanent
footing.