The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-30

a deliberate purpose on the part o1
some one, somewhere, to cater to the
influence of Republican members and
Senators from these States? Perhaps
the department. has been operating
under duress. Or perhaps it has been
unable to resist the persuasive de-
mands CT these States for pap" and
then for more "pap.''
And yet [ cannot bring myself to
believe shat this great business departss
ment of the Government which.is more
closely related to the people than any,
cJner branch of the Government. could
permit itself to lend it's influence in
partisan contests. And yet, [ con-
fess again, that the finger of facts
points sharply in that direction and
have been constrained to ask if the
'slowa idea,'' and the havoc it seemed
about to play n the Republican camp,
played any part in the location of
over 1900 routes in that State? How
inspiringly eloquent must the Iowa
stump orator grow in descanting upon
the glorious record of the Republican
party and the blessings it has brought
to the country. and, when before an
audience Of farmers, enumerating as
one of the chief blessings this rural
delivery service, and the benefit that
these 1,700 routes have brought to the
170, ,000 framres ia that great State.
What persuasive argument that
would be! That crowd would go home
with the idea that the only thing
great In this world was the Republican
party, and the only thing great in the
Republican party was that stump
orator. And yet gentlemen, this rural
delivery service was not born ont OF
the womb of any political party. 1t is
here as the RESULT of the earnest and
honest demands Of the farmer every
where that. the Government treat him
with absolute fairness in the distribu-
tion of its benefits. It is the answer
Of the Government to righteous
demand; and it is debased to partiasn
and party purposes. It could receive
no harder blow than policy of injus.
tice in connection with its admins
tration. Non political in its character
and equally non sectional, it should
be administered with absolute fair
ness to all the States according to
their rural population. The service
must be kept out Of politics.
Several attempts have been made
at different times to guard against
this very danger, but each time the
amendments covering the case and
offered to the post Office appropriation
bill have been ruled out OF order.
Hence, from year to year the postoftlee
department. has been intrusted with
the disbursement of the enormous
snm appropriated for this purpose,
and has had full authority, without
any restrictions Of Law, to administer
the service and to promulgate such
rules and regulations as seem best to
it. Is there any reason therefore, that
discrimination has crept into the
service, and that charges OF unfair
ness are openly made? The service is
too important, covers too wide held
and the appropriation too great to be
placed in the hands of any one man,
however unassailable his character
may be or however great his executive
ability, without some legislation
directing its administration. When
members vote for this appropriation,
as all of us will do, they ought to
have some assurance that their dis
tricts and States will receive their
proportion Of it. We ought to know
that half dozen States are not to be
allowed to gobble up the hoggish share
of it.
But. Mr. Chairman, I have digress-
ed from my line Of inquiry. Let us
get back to the figures and we will
show that the department has not
treated Us fairly in taking and investi-
eating petitions fled from the South.
Again the policy of discrimination
stands out in glarinfg light.
Of the total number OF petitions
fled with the department. from the
two States of Iowa and Indiana only
4C4 remain unacted npon, or 81 per cent
of all petitions from these States have
received some kind of consideration,
while 25 per cent. of all petitions fled
from the South are still pending-not
having received the notice of the de-
partment-and only IS per cent. have
been acted upon. Again the question,
why this discrimination? is pertinent
and interesting.
The country has heard much of the
rottenness that is supposed to have
existed in the postof6ce department.
We have heard of Investigations
there, and We have heard of some
whisperings of it here, but gentlemen,
it seems to me that this discrimina-
ton in the administration of the rural
delivery service furnishes a fertile
field for the exercise Of the genius OF
the departmental sleuths for invest!-
eating things. It seems to me that 1T
would be a much better, and certainly
more profitable. investment of their
talents to ferret out the mysteries of
this matter than to strain oyer-worked
brain in launching an assault upon
the line of the eneruy, as we have 1t
in the miserable assault they have
made upon the character and Integrity
of the membership of this body.