The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07
MAIL CARRIERS GET MORE PAY
There Are Less Contracts Carried for
Nothing NOWADAYS.


Washington d. c., Sept. Especial:
Competition in bidding for mail con-
tracts particularly in rural districts,
is fast becoming matter of history,
according TO postoflice officials. For
merly Uncle Sam found carriers for
many of the smaller routes for prac-
tically nothing hut in nearly every
such case TT {, Tho holds the Job
nowadays recen IN, 'e or less ade-
quate compensal. III, 1r the old
regime, the most ext foll condi-
ton of affairs often eX, SUo az in
stance, the mail carrier IN Lake
Charles, Ia, was under contract for
four years to pay to the government
the sum of $50 year for carrying the
mails by steamer distance of fifty
five miles three times each week, the
value to the carrier being found of
course, in the business standing
which he derived from the service.
This contract has just ended and the
new incumbent is to receive a salary
of $4,000 a year for doing just the
same work that cost his predecessor
$50 annually. A still more curious in
stance of the old order is found in
the case of West Bridgeton, VT, where
the carrier, for going twelve times a
week to Woodstock, six miles away,
received the princely remuneration
of one cent each year for his services.
His successor now receives $100 A
former carrier of Freedom, N. H.,
also distinguished himself by carrying
the mails several miles daily for two
and half mills year. The job now
pays $3.50. Altogether, Uncle Sans
letter carriers are coming into newer
and better conditions, to which the
automobile as future means of dis
tribution forms very attractive if
not yet actually existing addition.
ShrtWaist in Army.
The shirtwaist man who came
Struggled against criticism, and dis
appeared is likely to find in the
United States army the prepetuator of
the custom he attempted to set. Sol
diers in shirtWaists, that is the gist
of the suggestion recently made to the
war department by General Leonard
Wood, commanding the Philippines
division. His suggestion in particular
is that the troops of his command be
authorized to wear the rank insignia
on their shirts under conditions which
make it admirable to dispense with
the coat. Unfortunately, there is no
money available for the purchase of
additional insignia, but the war de-
partment has authorized the use of
khaki chevrons on the shirts, and
General Wood will be allowed to regu-
late the practice of leaving off the
service coats, uniformity, however,
being insisted upon in the matter in
the interest of discipline and neatness.
Sgsbee to Retire.
The navy is to lose through retire
ment in the next twelve months just
an even dozen of its twenty-five rear
admirals, among whom will be found
Rear Admiral Sigsbee, who was in
command of the old Maine at the
time of her destruction in the harbor
of Havana. The effects of the age
limit will not stop with the admirals,
either, since with one exception the
commandant of every navy yard in
the country is to be retired. Fighting
Bob Evans, as he is generally known,
will be forced to take a back seat in
a little less than two years, for on the
fifteenth of September Lieutenant
General Corbin will cease to be the
active head of the army, fact render
ed rather more interesting when it
is remembered that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
have been more of the exception than
the rule in the United States army
and that before long the title will
cease to exist.