Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-20
THE r. r. D. SALARIES
New APPortionment Docs Not Give
General Satisfaction,


The rural free delivery carriers who
nave been looking forward to the in
crease of their salaries to s7oo which
was to take place. July l, are a some
what disappointed set of men. True
the new law has gone into operation
but under the Interpretation that has
been placed upon it by Washington de-
partment officials. but three of the
seven Augusta r. F. D. carriers receive
1920
The following is the section of the
law pertaining to the subject:
ION and after July 1. 1904. letter car
riers of the rural free delivery service
shall receive salary not exceeding
S120 per annum, and no other or fur
Their allowance or salary shall be made
to said carriers; and on and after said
date carriers shall not solicit business
or receive orders of any kind for any
person, firm or corporation. and shall
not, during their hours of employment.
carry any merchandise for hire
Postmaster Lane when seen by a
10 lrnal representative, Yesterday
said that of the seven rural carriers
running from the Augusta office. three
have been given $72O each, and the
salaries of the seven, all of which prior
to the increase. were $500 per annum.
have been increased from s66 to $50.
Mr.. Lane said that he did not feel at
liberty to go into detail, but he did adj
init that. SO far as the Augusta office
is concerned, the salaries had not been
apportioned on the number of miles
Travelled by carrier; as, in one instance.
a carrier who travels half a mile far
Their and has q larger population to
serve and whose records show a much
larger amount of work done. receives
SIS less than another carrier who trav-
els less miles, and does less work. He
said he had supposed. and all the car
riers had expected, the same increase,
viz, to s72O
1t appeared from information the re-
porter obtained from party familiar
with the rural service in this city that
of the three carriers. who under the re-
arrangement are to receive $72O, but
one had an especially long or difficult
route. though all are long enough and
hard enough.
1t is understood that Mr.. Lane has
DiouSAl tHlS apparent discrepancy De-
tween salary and miles travelled and
work done to the attention of the de-
partment. also to the notice of Con-
gresham Burleigh, who" he added
besides securing for Kennebec county
the first and only county service i'm the
State has been tireless in his efforts to
assist in improving the service and
will do anything in his power to ad-
just any inequalities in the present ar
rangeincnt of salaries, which under the
department Interpretation of the law,
may be done"
Another source of disappointment to
the carriers is that, under the new law,
they must devote themselves wholly
land entirely to the delivery service of
the government. Carriers frequently de-
rived considerable revenue from small
charges for doing errands for people
along their route. after the practice of
stage drivers. Passengers cannot be
carried.
The carriers feel that if they are not
to be allowed to do these things, their
salaries should at least be sufficient to
compensate them for giving their
whole time.
The Interpretation that has been put
on the now law is causing general re-
gret and there is hope that some
change may be made to obviate its ap-
rarently unjust operations.