The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-30
LEVER on RURlL DELIVERY.
Plain Talk Of the Congressman
from The 9Th District.
Er. Lever Warmly Advocates the Free
Rural Delivery System, but Does Not
Hesitate to Say iaat t has Been
administered Without Dne
Regard 70 the Interests
of the South.

Washinpson, march "a represents
tiye Lever participated today II one
of the most exciting debates OF the
session over the postof6ce apEToprla-
tioa bill AT the close lof sharp con-
Gsorersy between Leaders Payne and
Williams the Young South Carollnlan
VAS recognized By the. Speaker. MT
IaFsr is extremely popular on both
SIDES Of the chamber, so that he COM
maaded the attention Of an un1suslly
large attendance Of members. He
delivered q carefully prepared speech.
Showing his familiarity with the
oractical workings Of the postal SER
Tsce, and made q convincing argu-
mens To- show that unjust dlscrimina-
tsons are constantly being made against
the south IN the administration OF the
postal service. He was frequently
interrupted with questions, but ne
Vas ready with answers which pro-
voked applause on the Democratic
side he was granted several extern
ssans Of time to ccnclude his remarks.
Hesaid In substance:
Chairman We are about to
appropriate oTer twenty million dollars
IS for The maintenance and further
ssnanguration Of rural delivery service.
Et IS wise and Just expenditure
reasonable concession to the just
demand of the rural population Of the
country for an equal share OF the
benefits Of the postal service.
rs is OF much concern to me, as Il
rerss be 10 every fair-minded and just
member Of shis Congress, to know II
sshis great sum is to be distributed
fairly among the States and In proper
tion TO their raral population. and
The actual need CT the. service, or,
;udeing the future by the past. along
The lines Of greatest 8 pull !" Is each
Sssafe so be treated with even approx
:snafa inssice and fairness In the
EgenaraI division of the fund, or.wiA
those States with Republican major
ities and Republican Congressmen, as
heretofore get the long END OF the
roper
S. Is had never occurred TO me that the
snegtofTice aepartmens was other than
: s great business restitution, under
Federal control, operating for the good
a5 The people. OF the country, re-,
eardlsss Of State, sectional or political
lines or afaliaion. ] was especially
Impressed with the idea that this rural
;tseiipaty service, inaugurated for the
sneciai benehS OF the farmers and IN
response to; widespread demand for
fair treatment among ali classes o.
paoole, was being distributed without
regard TO- politics or sectaonaiIsm.
How often are We mistaken IN our
U1dsrsSanding Of the workings CT
this great piece of machinery known
ag the Federal Government The
idea was q dream.-one Of the kind
belonging only to youthful innocents
and YontE1ns eredulity in the fairness
and Goodness Of mankind. What a
serere shoc' it is to young man to
have his cherished notions shattered
BY the Geld merciiess logic OF incon-
tresEertible facts!
On December l5, 1903, just after the
Opening of the present session OF Con-
Egress, Judge Maddox, OF Georgia, IN
his speech on the floor Of this House,.
RACED the issue that fayorltism and
rnfairness had been used IN the loca-
sson OF rural rouses, and charged dis
crimination in the disbursement OF
sshe money appropriated tof this SER
vice.
In an open letter to the fourth assls-
sans Postmaster General the energetic
gentleman from Alabama, Represen-
tasiFe Bowie, also charged fragrant
discrimination. not only in the location
of routes. bnt in the report OF the
agert upon the the petitions lnvestl-
gated, and in the consideration OF pc
fitions FLED in tie department..
among other things he says:
With these statements, coming from
such eminent and RESPONSIBLE sources,
IN mind. I began en- investigation on
my own accord, and it has resulted
IN convincing me, and l believe when
4 have given the facts to the House
they will convince every falr-ninded
man here and throughout the country,
that the Iankest injustice has been
done my section and State In the
distribution of rural routes, and that
the discrimination charged by the gen
tleman referred to does exist in an
outrageous degree. The protest | am
about 80 make may result IN no good,
for it is hard, / know, to penetrate
the hide Of q departmental official,
who is. supported by the Admins
tration in power. and whose politi.
cal head depends upon the amount Of
service he shows himself capable Of
rendering to that party. l conceive
s Is to be my duty to lay some ct the
facts I have gathered before the House
for the information of members, in
order that they may know what treat
ment is accorded them, and how the
money they vote for this service j:
being used to the advantage of certain
sections as agsipst their own.
Now, Mr.. Chairman. We shall le,
the facts speak for themselves and
shall be satisfied with the showing
they make and the proof they afort
of the policy of Discrimination tina
exists in the postofice department, O.
at least has existed.
n There were 1,660 routes In opera
tion on Febraary Is this year. How
are they distributed, and what sec
tion has gotten. che lions share o
them? shall insert in the Record
fable prepared By the postoftice depart