The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-04
BRIsTow AND RURAI. ROUTES.

BRISTQW AND RURAL ROUTES.
In a letter TO the Hutchinson News
r. H. Faxon, secretary to Senator
Long. takes I'D the charge that has
been made by some of the leaders among
the rural route mail carriers that Jo-
seph L. Bristow, formerly fourth as
sistant postmaster general. is hostile to
the rural mail service.
Mr.. Faxon says that the charge grows
out Of the fact that Mr.. Brfstow dis
missed from the service F. H Cunning
ham. president of the National Associa-
ton Of Rural Route Letter Carriers.
Cunningham, who is a Nebraska man,
left his route against the rules Of the
department and went to Washington
to lobby for an increase in the salaries
of rural carriers and to keep them from
being prohibited from acting as agents
for various things. It was also alleged
that Cunningham tried to get a promise
from Chairman Cortelyou of the Re
publican national committee, and from
Mr. Overstreet, chairman Of the COM
mittee on postoffices in the house, that
the rural carriers salaries should be in
creased, and when they refused to
promise. Cunningham got such a
promise from Chairman Taggart of the
Democratic national committee in case
the Democrats should control the house.
Cunningham is said to have then urged
the rural carriers throughout the eOun-
try to support Democratic nominees
for congress.
For thus violating the rules of the
postofhce department Cunningham lost
his head and ne and his friends began
to organize against Bristow.
To show how Bristow was an
enemy of the rural service Mr.. Faxon
cites that he was fourth assistant post
master general nearly eight years and
during sixteen months of that time he
had charge Of the rural mail service.
When he took charge of it there were
1855 rural routes in Kansas. In sixteen
months Mr. Bristow established $50
more, nearly doubling the service. And
he did the same thing for the rest of
the country. When he took charge
there were in all 1904 rural routes.
Brfstow increased the number in only
a year and four months to 29,6S7. When
Bristow took charge OF the rural de-
livery system the work was so behind
that some of the petitions for routes
had been aending for over four years.
When he went out of office not petit
ton over three months old was on file
that had not been taken up and in
vestigated.
AS to Mr.. BristoW's attitude towards
the carriers themselves Mr.. Faxon cites
that in his report Bristow recommends
that the salaries of the carriers be in
creased from $500 a year to $3.50. Con-
gress made the increase to $720.
LAS to other things" says Mr.. F'axOn,
cit is well known that Mr.. Bristow was
the most successful man who ever held
the office of fourth assistant post
master. general. He dignihed hitherto
almost unimDortant bureau at Wash
ington, and made it as important as
nearly any department of the govern
ment He took into his office his char
acteristfc energy; his ability to perform
a huge amount Of work. He retired
from office cordially hated by every
wrong-doer in the public service and
with regret on the part of every CHIEF
and associate, from Theodore Roosevelt
down to the humb1est departmental
messenger in the great postal depart
ment. The trail of enemies, os fraud
and peculatfon uncovered, of small pill
fering and gigantic loot laid bare, Of
schemes disturbed and gratis uproot-
ed that marked his pathway for eight
long years, is proof of how we'll Joseph
L. Bristow did his duty"