Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-22
RURAL MAIL CARRIERS
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL COR
RECTS AN IMPRESSION.

According to recently published state
ments an impression prevails In South Caro-
INA and other states that the policy of the
Post Once Department has been changed
and that rural carriers who. IL ia stated
were formerly permitted to deliver news
papers free OF charge for thirty days-thus
enabling country newspapers to obtain new
subscribers-are now restricted to three
days delivery. greatly to the injury of the
country press
Postmaster General Cortelyou saws this
is mistake 1t Is not now and never
has been the policy of the department he
says, to permit newspapers or any other
second-class matter, except county news
papers In the county of publication. to pass
through the mails and be delivered by rural
carriers free of postage Sample COPIES of
newspapers, plainly marked as such, are
ahowed to be sent through the mails at the
pound rate, but not to the same person
more than three times in year.
The erroneous impression probably origi-
mated In the fact that in the early days of
rural delivery when the pay of carriers
was much less than now the department
permitted rural carriers to act as agents
for newspaper and other publishers and to
sell newspapers and other publications on
their own account. The newspapers they
delivered In this way did not pass through
the mails This practice was not changed
by any ruling of the department, but by
law. By the act of Congress making APP
preparation for the service of the Post
ONCE Department for the fiscal year begin
ming, July l, 1904, 1t was provided that on
and after said date rural carriers shall not
solicit business receive orders of any
kind for any persons firm or corporation"
ana instructions were, therefore, issued
prohibiting rural carriers from soliciting or
receiving subscriptions to newspapers or
other periodicals and from acting as agents
for any publishing company, and permitting
them to deliver newspapers to patrons of
their routes only when such newspapers
were individually addressed and the re-
CURED postage was prepaid.
The making OFT
service Of the Post Office Department for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1905 and for
other purposes, provided:
For pay Of letter. carriers and clerks In
charge of substations of rural free delivery
service, $50. 10000; provided that not ex-
ceeding $4,000 of the amount hereby appro-
prlated may be used for compensation of
clerks in charge Of substations. On and
after July l, 1904, letter carriers of the
rural free delivery service shall receive a
salary not exceeding $40 per annum, and
no other or further allowance or salary
shall be made to said carriers; and on and
after said date said carriers shall not So
ltcit business or receive orders of any kind
for any person, firm corporation. and
shall not. during their hours of employ
ment, carry any merchandise for hire; pro-
vided that said carriers may carry mer-
chandise for hire for and upon the request
of patrons residing upon their respective
routes whenever the same Shall not inter-
fere with the proper discharge Of their off,
cial duties and under such regulations as
the Postmaster General may prescribe