The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-16
LoBBYING FOR THE RURAL CAR
RIERS' SCHEME.

The rural carriers organization TO secure
higher salaries and the right TO do a COM
mission business for their patrons may re-
suit in the president OF the organization
being dismissed from the service. The pub
lie has heard a good deal about this move
ment OF late. and both sides of it have
been pretty fully exploited in the papers.
Briefly, the carriers. or a portion of them,
are asking for an increase OF salaries with
the privilege Of receiving pay for handling
certain newspapers and also pay for
executing commissions for their patrons. A
majority Of the members of Congress favor
an increase of pay but are opposed to the
other features. on the ground that salaried
employees of the government ought to serve
the government alone
The carriers formed an association to
press their claims on Congress, and one
Cunningham. of Nebraska, was made presi-
dent OF II. He has been very active in
trying to bring pressure to bear on mem
bers to secure the desired legislation and on
Monday Representative Crumpacker, of
this State. denounced his conduct as a
violation of civil-service rules and an i'm
pertinent interference with the business of
Congress. Citizens generally have a right
TO organize and petition Congress for GER
tain legislation. but the case of offceholders
and employees of the government is differ
ent, especially when they undertake to
work for their own exclusive benefit.
Following is an extract from the Journals
Washington special on the subject:
Judge Crumpacker exhibited a letter from
a carrier III the Tenth district of Indiana,
together with circular received by the
carriers from President Cunningham. In
THIS Cunningham instructs the carriers To
send kilograms to their representatives and
a skeleton form of telegram is outlined.
G mere are the concluding sentences of the
believe we got things going our way
ana Will succeed IL you do your part. [
understand the situation. and the depart
ment VIII take no notice of any work you
DO In regard to pushing our bill"
cunningham states that prominent men
with millions of dollars behind them are
interested In the cause of the carrier.
Ii was developed during the debate that
representatives quite generally have re-
ceived kilograms, inspired by President
Cunningham, urging them to work for the
carriers.
Who are the prominent men with millions
to allow carriers to act as agents for GER
tain newspapers and to do a commission
business? They certainly are not trying
to benefit the public or improve the postal
service. Cunnngham's suggestion about
millions of dollars has a bad look, and
congressman should resent 1t.
Judge Crumpacker said he understood
that Cunningham had been in washington
lobbying for the scheme. If so, he should
be dismissed from the service An order
of the postmaster general issued early in
the present administration reads:
Hereafter no postmaster, postoffice clerk.
letter carrier. railway postal clerk, or other
postal employee, shall visit Washington
whether on leave with or without pay, for
the purpose Of influencing legislation be-
fore Congress Any employee of the postal
service who violates this order shall be
liable to removal. Postmasters and other
the government for attending to the re-
spective duties assigned them, which do not
include efforts to secure legislation That
duty is assigned TO the representa- tives OF
the people elected for that purpose.
This order is still in force IL Cunning
ham has visited Washington to lobby for
the carriers bill he has violated the letter
of the order and should be removed. Even
without visiting Washington his circular
letter and his efforts to bring pressure to |
bear on the members of Congress are in |
violation of the spirit of the order and |
would justify his removal from Office 1t |
would not be surprising if Mr. Cunningham |
should hear something drop before he is |
many days older.
The rural delivery service is part of the |
general postal service and should be kept |
on the same plane of dignity. 1t belongs |
to the people at large and should not lee |
allied with any other paid service or huck- |
sterfng business The carriers should receive |
adequate salaries, and be prohibited from |
engaging in other business during the |
hours they are serving the government.