Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-02
FREE pELIVERY.

realized in actual results.
This perhaps could have been ex-
pected. Too much is usually claimed in
advance for these innovations--even
the most valuable Of them. Novelties
are always attractive. A combination
suitcase, fre-eseape, and graphophone
always appeals to the credulity Of those
persons who are ever on the lookout for
something new and startling.
The distribution of mail matter to
the agricultural population was a
scheme so attractive as to command in
advance the enthusiastic plaudits of all
who wished well for the growing in
telligence of the country. That some
prophecies have not been fulfilled is no
impeachment of its general utility, but
is simply an incentive to more careful
administration and proper adjustment
to the necessities of the case.
The farmers, and such periodicals as
are printed for the purpose of rejecting
their views, already criticise the rural
service for some of its unexpected
short t-comings. They point out that
when it was started, the country was
honey-combed with star routes, and ev-
cry man was within convenient distance
of a post office. 1t is asserted that the
postal system instead of being amended
and enlarged, is being torn up by the
roots. Postoffices which had existed for
years and still served their purpose,
were threatened with extinction, com,
pelling people to accept the rural de-
livery, whether they wished to accept
it or not, and giving the favor on these
terms to only small proportion of the
population.
One objector says "Where heretofore
every soul was satisfied, no serious
coming from any quarter,
vast multitudes of people are now so
greatly disturbed at the ill-advised
changes made or threatened that the
country is filed with excitement and
lamentations.
The destruction of the old system by
shutting up postofiices in the rural COM
and having the mail deliv-
cred wholly from the larger towns was
,f h. Na ~ Halt
scheme, which the people were not pre-
pared for, although it was made a
leading argument in its favor. To COM
pei farmers to do their business, includ-
ing the purchase of stamps and money
orders, registering letters, and other
things of that kind in the public roads
in all sorts of weather, where they pre-
viously had convenient office under
shelter, is denounced as a glaring in
justice.
One incident Of populous country
is given, where after several years of
Ire delivery there were still $50 post
offices of which IL were starting points
for rural routes. There are in all 33
such routes, the carriers travelling dis
ance of 500 miles a day in the aggre-
gate.
The original intention was to close
most of the offices, thus, it was alleged,
saving money enough to largely provide
for the expense of the rural carriers.
SO far in that county only two of the
ola Offices have actually been wiped out
They are kept open and running. Nearly
all the old star routes are retained. This
offers a duplicate service at an inn
mense additional cost, with little in
crease in efficiency, yet bringing many
heart-burnings and neighborhood quar-
rels
The effort was made early in its his
tory TO have the delivery service placed
ON contract basis, similar 20 that Of
the star routes, so that there would be
competition between carriers, as there
now is between mail contractors. This
plan was strongly supported, but was
defeated by large majority in con
gress.
One representative, advocating the
plan, warned his colleagues that the
time would soon come when there
would be $4,000 carriers at $1,000 each
per year, total $5O,OOO,OOO for salaries
Alone, besides allowances for wagon
repairs, horse hire, etc, plus s hours a
day and millions for overtime. He pre-
dieted a solid combination of $4,000
carriers, elamoring for more pay and
organized as an aggressive political
machine.
None Of these predictions has yet
been realized, but it cannot be denied
that t.A..;s.ss ssssss tendencies arc more ST iuss
ominons Carriers salaries were in
creased at the last session Of congress
from 5000 to $7s0 per annum. Further
tneraaaas will ha aakaA aud xvhan the