Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-16

Offices, $11,254,943, of which sum s1O,-
600 shall be applied, under the direc-
ton of the postmaster general, to ex-
detrimental free delivery in rural COM
munities other than towns and viii
lagos.
Further examination of the Congress
sional Record shows the following col-
loquy to have taken place between
members:
Mr.. Holman: l reserve q point OF
order on that amendment.
Mr.. Watson: This reduces the ex-
penditure provided for in the bill.
Mr.. Henderson of North Carolina:
desire to reserve a point of order.
The Chairman: A point of order has
already been reserved.
Mr.. Watson: Mr.. Chairman, the
paragraph under consideration pro-
yides for the expenditure of $11 ,254, SAB
for free delivery service. My amend
rent reduces the amount OF that cx-
penditure and simply directs that The
postmaster general shall apply S10,0OQ
of the appropriation to experimental
free delivery in rural communities.
Mr.. Loud: That is already provided
for: the gentleman will accomplish
nothing by his amendment.
Mr.. Watson: 1t is not provided LOT
in rural districts other than towns ana
villages. There is no experimental
service in rural communities other
than towns and villages.
Mr.. Buchanan of New Jersey: You
mean truly rural"
Mr.. Watson: Yes, sir; the real coun-
try.
Mr. Holman: | think there is some
misapprehension as to the law on this
subject would like to ask the gen.
tleman from North Carolina in charge
of this bill what the existing law is!
Mr.. Henderson Of North Carolina'
There is no law on the subject proVla-
ing for rural free delivery or expert
ments in that direction. There Is a
law which provides for experiments In
small towns and villages, and forty
eight of these now have free delivery.
That condition is preserved in this
hill. but no provision is made for rural
free delivery.
Mr.. Watson: The present law pro-
vides for an experimental delivery IN
rural communities; but as l under
stand it-and the chairman of the COM
mittee, the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Henderson,, makes the
same statement to the house-the la"
has been construed to mean citles'
towns. and villages. and there are now
IN operation experimental free deilV-
cries in certain towns and villages.
The law expressly provides for rural
communities and it seems to me
where the general laws make such pro-
-ision there is no hardship in taxing
4 small amount from the approprla-
ion. only $4,000, and appropriating II
For governmental free delivery IN aD-
,olutely rural communities, that Is 10
-ay. in the country pure and simple
amongst the farmers, in those neigh
borhoods where they do not get their
nail more than one in every TWO
weeks, and where these deserving peo-
ole have settled in communities one
hundred years old and do not receive
4 newspaper that is not two weeks be-
hind the times.
The amendment was adopted by a
rote of 70 yeas to Al nays. Mr.. Wat
on introduced his amendment to eX-
pertinent in the free rura! delivery
service, carrying $4,000 for this pur-
nose, less than ten years ago, which,
rom the best information have been
bile to obtain. carried the first appro-
,riation ever made by congress for
rural free deli"ery.
Wanamaker's "Rurap Delivery.
Mr. Wanamaker had tried what he
allied free delivery in towns and VII
ages, but the experiment had not been
made for free delivery Of country
nails. Who would have thought that
he good work begun by this dis
'inguished Georgian ten years ago
would have grown to such magnitude
n SO short a period of time? When
his amendment was introduced the
public mind had not grasped the i'm
3ortance of this subject and few COM
pretended the great good that would
| low from this humble beginning In so
short period.
Astonishing Growth.
In 1897 the appropriation grew to
| $4,000, and only forty-four routes
we're in operation In 1898 the appro-
,riation was increased to $4,000. and
'48 routes we're established. In 1899
he appropriation was increased to
100000, and the routes had grown to
o91. In 1900. $45U,000 was appropriated
for this purpose, and the number of
'outes increased to 1876. In 1901, ST.
1000 was appropriated, and the
'outes had increased to 1901. And in
1902, $3.993,74O was appropriated for
the same purpose, and the routes laid
III and put in operation had increased
| 70 S.476.
On November /. 1850 routes had
been established. and the carriers en-
aged in taking the mails to the farm
ers travelled 275,OO0 miles of country
roads to serve about 100000 of the
-trictly rural population of the United
States. The area covered by these
routes is fully 100000 square miles.
| The popular demand for the further
extension of this service has been so
great as to force congress to appro-
pirate $12,00O,000 during the present
session to further extend this service.
There is no reason to expect de-
crease in this popular demand for rural
rec delivery until all available Sec
-. l.. a