The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-07-02
,,uES FOR RURAL CARRIERS
ARE REVISED.
pr,vilege of Carrying Express Mat
,er Almost Wiped Out--Carriers
Cannot BE Allowed to Enter In
10 Competition With the Gov.
ernment.


arnment of rural mail carriers, which
will tend to cut off large source of
revenue which they have heretofore
anioyed. 1t is not expected that the
now regulations will be entirely obey
sd without protest, but the department
will do its best to see that they are
strictly lived up to.
According to the new rules, the ex-
press package privilege is completely
wiped out and through combination
Of provisions of sections one and two
the privilege of carrying merchandise
for hire "at the request of patrons" is
reduced to minimum.
The postoffice department takes the
nosition that the rural carrier cannot
ne permitted to enter into competition
with the government in the carrying
of mailable matter, and the privilege
If CARRYING merchandise for hire is
therefore limited to nonmailable arti-
cles.
New Regulations.
For the information of carriers, mer-
chants and other patrons, the new reg
ulations are here given in full:
/. Under the law rural carriers are
not permitted to solicit business or re-
ceive orders of any kind for any per-
son, firm or corporation, and cannot,
during the hours of their employment,
carry any merchandise for hire, except
that they may carry merchandise for
hire for and at the request of patrons
residing on their respective routes, pro-
vided the same shall not interfere with
the proper discharge of their duty, and
under such regulations as the postmas
ter general may prescribe.
2. No mailable matter may be ham
died by rural carriers while serving
their routes, unless the proper postage
has been prepaid, with the single ex
ception of county newspapers, which,
under the law are permitted to be car
ried free throughout the county in
which they are published, to actual
subscribers and such newspapers ad-
dressed to subscri bers resident on rural
routes must be deposited at the post
office the same as papers carried for
other subscribers.
g. The hire for merchandise carried
on request of the patron of rural free
delivery must be paid by the patron.
Carriers will not be permitted to re-
ceive any compensation from the seller
of such merchandise.
4. Articles or packages which are
mailable which are handed to the car
rier or deposited in the postoffice or in
a rural letter box or in a collection
box located ON rural route, with re-
quest that the rural carrier deliver the
same, are subject to the rules regulat-
ing mail matter, including the pay
ment of postage thereon.
5. Articles or packages that are
not mailable, which the patron desires
the rural carrier to carry, must be de-
hvered to the carrier in person, ana,
IN carrying merchandise for hire rural
carriers are not allowed to leave their
routes as officially laid out or to accept
aynthing that will in any way delay
the delivery of the mail or in any way
interfere with the efficiency of the
service.
s. Carriers, while on duty, are not
permitted to carry spurious liquors.
either for themselves, for sale, or Tor
the accommodation of their patrons.
Z, Rural carriers are required to
permit postoffice inspectors or other
duly accredited agents of the depart
ment to accompany them on their reg
ular trips over their routes. They
must not carry other passengers nor
permit any person other than author
lied postal officials to ride with them
or have access to the mails.
8. Rural carriers must not engage
IN any business during their prescribed
hours of service, or conduct any busl-
ness after hours which offers the tenn
ptation 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
8. Carriers must not, either In per-
son or through others, directly or IN
directly by any method whatever, So
hcit money, gifts or presents; nor Is
sue for profit, souvenirs or postal hand
books; nor cooperate with or ASSIST
publishers of the same to secure pat
ronage of the public; nor compile al
rectories for public use or assist pup
hshers to compile them; nor furnisn
the names and addresses of patrons OF
their routes. for pay or favor, to any
business establishment, or to any indi-
Vidual, except to those department ON,
Gals who, under the law, are entitled
to receive it.
No Commission From Merchants