The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
CONTRACT SYSTEM FOR
RURAL MAIL SERVICE IS
BEING CONSIDERED AGAIN
Loud'S Plan Seriously Discussed
by Officials of the Postoffice
Department.
RESTS WITH CONGRESS
May Be Discussed at the Next Ses-
sion-Itens of Interest 10
Indianians.
ianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Oficials OF the
Postoffice Department are seriously discuss
ing radical change in the rural free de-
livery service, which, however, cannot be
adopted without consent of Congress. The
opinion is entertained by some of the au-
thorites Immediately in charge of the
rural service that the time is not far dis
tant when in the interests of economy and
better efficiency it will be necessary TO
deliver and collect the mail on rural routes
| under the contract system. Such a plan
was proposed a few years ago by Eugene
T. Loud, Of California, then chairman of
the House committee on postoffices. The
matter has been informally discussed at
the Postoffice Department within the past
few weeks as a result of the present agita-
ton for increased salaries for the carriers
and a retention of the privilege of solicit
ing and acting a agents for hire. There
Is no material opposition in Congress to
increased salaries, but among the friends of
the carriers there is manifested dispose
ton to require them to devote their time
exclusively to the work of the govern
ment.
service under the contract system was agi-
tated few years ago ii was bitterly OPP
posed by August w. Machen and others,
who cOntended that such an innovation
would in time be productive of scandals
similar to those which cropped out in the
star route service in the seventies. 1t is
generally admitted by the postal authorities
that no branch of the system is conducted
more efficiently and at less cost than the
star route service The star route service
had one scandal after it had been in exist
ence for many years. Rural free delivery
had been in operation only comparatively
| short time when investigation was or
dered, and there followed one of the biggest
ScandalSin the history of the government.
| The activity of III. f. Cunningham presi-
| dent of the Rural Carriers Association. lii
appearing here as lobbyist is cited as an
under the present system. 1t had been
determined before Mr.. Cunningham had ar
rived that the carriers should receive great
| er compensat ton. Such report was form
| ulated by the House committee before Mr..
| Cunningham had uttered a word on the
subject. There has been some criticism
of Mr.. Cunningham on the ground that he
! has been more active in opposition TO the
| provision in the postal bill prohibiting the
| carriers rom acting solicitors than in
| urging increased salaries.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
! Bristow. now in charge of rural free de-
! livery, formerly favored the introduction OF
the contract system into the rural service.
| What position he now takes Is not known.
! That the matter will be vigorously urged at
| the next session OF Congress is believed by
I those who have observed the rapid devel-
! opment of the rural free delivery service.
|
Hemenway, chairman of the House COM
mittee on appropriations, great progress has
been made with the routine business of
| Congress. No one in a position to express
a reasonable opinion believes that Congress
| will be in session June l, and there are
q few who fix the termination of the pres
| ent session as early as the middle of April
| The consensus of opinion is that May is is
| more nearly correct. The leaders of the
! House have decided that very few measures
outside of the routine supply bills shall be
passed this winter. Representative Hemen-
| way canddly admits that this is the pro-
gramme. Half of the supply bills have been
disposed of by the House and sent over to
! the Senate, which body has itself acted upon
some of them. The appropriations in the
! House further advanced at this time
than in any long session for some years
| Chairman Hemenway started In early and
| has kept his committeeman close to the
| grindStone.
| The old claim in behalf of the Miami In
dams of Indiana has again put in an ap-
pearance. 1t is based upon treaty stipula-
tions with the government. A measure to
adjudicate it was introduced in the House
| several years ago by Major Steele, of Ma
| rion. In the bill just introduced the claim
| of the Indiana Miamis is linked with one OF
the tribe of the same name in Indian Ter
ritory.
There is vacancy in the postoffice at De
Pauw, Harrison county, caused by the death
of the postmas ter. Joseph Schippert, Z. w
Stonecipher and w. B. GurtZ are candi-
dates for the appointment.
Letters have been received by Senator
| Fairbanks from the Rev. j. Cumming
Smith. of the Tabernacle Presbyterian
Church, and the Rev. Joshua Stansfield, oil
/ the Meridian-Street NJ Z. Church, In.
| dianapolis, favoring the passage of the Hep
| burt-Dolliver bill.
William Beattie of Honey Creek Ind, i:
a candidate for a position at the st. Louis
/ worlds fair.
! Representative Charles B. Lands will ad.
dress the Ohio Society of New York on Sat.
urday
Frank ]. Blume and William A. Frost
both of Brazil, have been Endorsed by Sen
ators Fairbanks and Beveridge and Repre-
| sentative Holiday for appointment as
! guards at the ST. Louis fair.
Senator Fairbanks will call at the Post
office Department tomorrow to recommend
that a general system of rural free delivery
be established in Allen county He has re
ceived letters from Postmaster W. ID. Pag,
and Elmer Leonard, of Fort Wayne, urgint
|
| -
DR.. Edwin Hughes, of the De Paw Uni
| versity was presented TO President Roose
| Welt to-day. DR.. Hughes has just returned
from Philadelphia, where he went earlier il
the week.
James Hays, of Frankfort, is here or
business before the Postoffice Department
He is endeavoring to interest the depart
ment in patented deviee for tying mai
| packages.
The War Department will soon desgnat,
an army officer for duty in connection Will
the Indiana National Guard Such a reques
has come from Governor Durbin and il will
soon be acted upon. Among the applicant
for this assignment is Gen. Jacob Kline
who is the retired list. Some time az,
the Governor was invited by the secretary
of war to indicate his preference among tn,
available officers. He has been slow il
replying. 1t is understood the Governo
has asked for young officer for duty Will
the State Guard
1t is expected by Quartermaster. Genera
Humphreys that considerable progress will
be made during the coming summer in lay
ing out the ground which Fort BENJAMIN
Harrison will be constructed. Captain
! Cheatham is expected to complete topo
| graphical survey of the site by April
Later in the spring a board of army Off
GERS will visit Indianapolis and look owe
| the ground. General Humphreys will prob
| ably make an inspection there at the SAM
| time.
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