The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-06
THE WATCHMAN AND soUIHRoN, DECEMBER g. 1905
\ Stupid Postal Law.

Writing on y General Transport
Service cn the Rural Post Rou-e.' in
Golfers fer November %, Mr..
James L. Cowles says:
Ga every weekday over 30. 900 post
wagons traverse the rural post-routes
of the United States, carrying to the
bones OF tie 125 American Citizen
Kings on the average route upward
of 1000, coo in all, and representing
population Of some 20, 900. 0G0) the
letters, magazines, ard newspapers
which, amorg others things, keep
them Informed as to TIE plans and
movements of their public servants at
the centers OF public business, and
which also advertise to them that
most important intelligence to the
modern man namely, intelligence as
to where best to satisfy his wants and
dispose OF his wares. Strangely
enough, however. while his public
SERVANTS bave provided the rural
American Citizen King with public
vehicle for the transportation of INTEL
ligence, they have excluded him from
its use either for his cwn transporta-
tion or for that of his supplies or of
his produce. The unconscionable tax
-l6 cents pound on merchandise
limited 10 four-pound parcels-ls prac-
tically nrohibitive.
On the first esta blishment Of the
service, many Of the owners OF the
rural pest agons, believing them
selves entitled. under the law, to the
right CT the old post coach, added to
the transport of the mails the regular
post-coach traffic. taking at their
own risk and at their own rates pas
sengers, baggage, large parcels Of
merchandise, ,antyhing that was offered,
up 70 the limits of their vehicles.
The business grew RAPIDLY and with
profit both to the carrier and to the
district which ne served.
Suddenly. however. in 1904, this
general transport business Of the rural
post-coach was abolished. \ provision
in the Postal Appropriation bill of 1904
cut down the ruaal-wagonservice to
that Of the city foot-post. Since then
carrier who has dared to transport
passenger or parcel over four
pounds in weight on his vehicle has
done so at his peril.
NJ. Cowles then shows what ignorant
and arrogant legislation we are OBJ
liged to submit to at the hands of our
Congressmeu and Senator's. He says:
This reduction in tie business Of the
rural postal wagon outside its regular
mail service necessitated, of course,
an increase in the carriers salaries,
and today salaries varying from S432
for an eight-mile route to s720 for
tw enty-four mile route are paid for
IL e
and wagon. transporting on the aver
age route quantities of mail matter
weighing il the aggreaate-matter
collected and delivered per day-less
than 20 pounds and in Dimensions
less than bushel, while the income
received from the less than two
pounds CT mail matter originating
on the average daily route IS not over
Al cents per day-tL;s against an aver
age cost o. over 52.o0 pc: day.
The fault, however, is not in the
salary of the rural carrier. His sal
ary would be low enough, in all con-
science, if ne we're obliged to make
I his tou. to eight-hour daily trip with
wagon altogether empty. The evil
of the situation lies in the fact that
public servants at Washington deny to
the rural public reasonable use Of
the public vehicle that passes their
doors. The American public are very
much in the condition of a farmer to
wnom his employee denies the Sc of
his OWL horse and wagon. Think OF
your employee informing you that not
only should you not ride IN your own
wagon, you should not transport
anything in it except few letters.
magazines. newspapers, books, and
four-poupd parcels Of merchandise!
And yet this is Just what the servants
of the american people United
States Senators aud Representatives,
are doing today Their restriction Of
the rural post-wagon service deprive
the people OF It's reas enable use, cuts
down its earnings. Ietarcs the devel-
opmenr of tie country, and causes a
deficiency in the nostal revenues,
which, for the year ending June 80,
1905, exceeded $1,000, 900.