The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-20
TOCATCH VOTES.
ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO VIOLATE
THE POSTAL L4ES

And Create the Impression That All the
Powers Of the AdmlnIstratiOn Are
Invoked To Defeat Hlm-wAnts 20 Use
Rural Carriers 10 Deliver HIs Papers.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ia-Evidences o
tinue to accumulate in Washington hat
the managers OF William Randolph Hearst
have deliberately set about TO create the
impression that all the great power and
influence Of the Federal Administrators are
being invoked to defeat him in New York
this fall
For example, the information has been
received here that, despite the fact that they
must know it is in violation Of law, the
Hearst managers are attempting TO use the
rural carriers in New York State to further
the interests Of the Independence League
Tammany candidate. Advices TO this et-
feet come from State Chairman Timothy l..
Woodruff in the form Of a complaint that the
Hearst managers are ~endeavoring TO inn
press rural carriers into their service TO
deliver Hearst newspapers otherwise than
through the mail to people living on their
routes.
There is a statute prohibiting rural car
iers from performing service for hire along
their routes except for patrons. For in
stance, II a man living On a rural route
wants a plug Of tobacco for himself or some
cough syrup for the baby he may oon-
mission the carrier to bring such an article.
But carriers are prohibited from delivering
merchandise for storekeepers or papers Tor
newsdealers unless such matter comes to
their hands through the mails. This law
was the result OF a bitter fight in Congress
a few years ago, q fight in which every
newspaper publisher in the United States
either participated or OF which he had
knowledge. Probably no one knows better
than Mr.. Hearst that a carrier detected in
deliv ering for hire mailable matter upon
which postage has not been prepaid is Ger
tain to lose his place.
When rural free delivery was started as
an experimental service and The pay OF the
carriers ranged from $500 and $500 mp to
a limit of s4O0 a yea the experimental car
riers we're permitted and to some extent
encouraged to increase their compensation
by undertaking duties outside thed delivery
and collection Of the mails. They were
allowed to carry passengers, to solicit sub
scriptions and to act as agents for news
papers and to perform a general express
business by delivery Of merchandise In the
line Of their respective routes. When ~
became evident that the experiment o
soon nave to be accepted as a permanent
feature Of postal administration and when
Congress with that object in viewgndually
increased the maximum pay OF rural car
riers to 5000 and them to $72O. q year a
CORES Ondln CurtalLment OF tne ouUsioo
privileges was attempted.
Under authority conferred by the act
making appropriation for the Post ONCE
Department for the fiscal year 1905 an order
was issued providing that no mailaole
matter should be handled by rural carriers
while serving their routes unless the proper
postage had been paid and that they should
not during their hours Of employment carry
merchandise for hire, except at.the request
Of and cost Of their patrons, and then only
when their so doing would not interfere
with their official duties. Newspapers are
maiLable matter and therefore a carrier who
delivers them unless they are sent through
the mails with postage prepaid is a vio-
lator Of the law.
What action will be taken on the complaint
Of Mr.. Woodruff the officials decline to
say. The Hearst papers yesterday printed
astory 10 the effect that NJ. A. Fitzgerald, the
Brooklyn letter carrier, whowas nominated
for Congress by the independence League
in the Fifth district, had been forced to
resign his position in the postal service
on the ground that his acceptance of the
nomination constitutes -pemicious activity
within the meaning Of the civil service
rules. The officials demonstrated that
Mr.. Fitzgerald retired voluntarily and that
he thanked that official for many kind
nesses and courtesies.' II is understood
that since the publication in question Mr..
Fitzgerald has disclaimed to the New York
postal officials c"y responsibility for it.
The authorities were not surprised when
informed of the action taken by the Hearst
managers in connection with the rural
carriers. They recognize II as a part OF a
deliberately planned movement to place
the Federal Administration in the posi-
ton OF prosecuting Mr.. Hearst in order
hat the candidate may claim, for the
purpose of capturing votes, that in addi-
ton to the money deal he also faces the
opposition OF President Roosevelt and his