Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-15
DELIVERING PAPERS.
Rural Carriers Cannot Serve as Agents
for Newspapers.

What might appropriately be termed "a
temnest in a teapot" has been stirred up IN
the rural free delivery division of the Post
Office Department over the several orders
that have from time to time been issued TO
rural free carriers forbidding them to de-
liver newspapers that were addressed TO
them and not to any individuals on their
respective routes. The orders have been
issued as they were deemed necessary by
w. r. Spiman, superintendent OF rural
free delivery.
There are many of the rural carriers VINO
are agents of newspapers. and Tor their
employers have been receiving papers tor
subscribers and delivering them along their
routes The papers for certain route
would be addressed to the agent, or car
rier in one bundle, each separate paper
not being marked In any manner 10 SNOW
for whom it was intended. This makes
of the carrier who is an empioye OF the
government, an agent for the paper at the
EXPENSE of the government, ana the oroers
Were issued to put STOP 10 the en pfa awss
papers to address each paper separately,
although the entire lot intended Tor any
route may be addressed to the Garner on
that route or to the number OF the route
Many complaints have come to the rurdi
free delivery division from newspapers tnat
their rights were being infringed upon py
Joseph l.. Bristow, fourth assistant post
master general, unUef WHOSe JuiiSuiNtAoAA
the rural free delivery branch of the service
has been since the Machen scandal ana
subsequent investigation by reason or these
orders to rural carriers. The matter nnally
came to the attention of congressman from
newspapers in their districts, and from
time to time there has been considerable
excitement in the division until matters
were explained by Superintendent Spilman
The officials say there can be no obJec-
ton, and, in fact, it is quite within the let
ter of the law for newspapers to ADDRESS
their packages of papers to rural routes
and expect the carriers to deliver them TO
the persons for whom they are intended
But each paper must be separately ad-
dressed and not left entirely to the carrier
to deliver without this important feature
necessary to it's transmission through the
mails
There was some time ago quite a discus
sion between the department and newspa-
per of large circulation in central New
York regarding the order referred to, the
paper holding that a great amount of ex-
ira work was entailed upon its employees by
the order of the department that each pa
per should be separately addressed
Several representatives who have had the
orders called to their attention have assur-
ed their constituents that the matter would
be attended to without delay. Others have
been quoted as saying that If the law called
for such action on the part of the fourth
assistants Office the law ought to be
changed and they would make an effort
to accomplish that end. As the law stands
every package intended for any person
whatsoever, and sent through the mails
for delivery, must bear the name and adj
dress of the person for whom it is intend
ed. This is the meaning of the law, not it's
language. No carrier or other agent of
the governments postal service is expected,
or has ever been officially called upon. to
deliver mail matter sent in his care and
bearing no address, and until the law may
be amended orders will, the department
asserts, be issued to all carriers who are
n "a IL
ages to persons not named on the address
OF the package so sent through the mails
The hardship comes upon the newspapers
compelling them to have every paper adj
dressed before inclosing it in a bundle
with others to the carrier on the route
of the subscribers.