Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-26
RURAL MAIL. CARRIERS.

:, According to- recently published
statements, says a2vrashngton letter
to fhe Greahvifle &9Ms aG Impressioh
prevails In. South Carolina and OTHER
states that the. policy of the postofice
department has been changed and thai
rural carriers who, 1t Is stated, were
formerly permitted to deliver newspa-.
pers free Of charge for thirty days
thus enabling country newspapers to
obtain new subscribers-are now re-
stricted to three days. delivery, great
ly to the injury of the country press.
Postmaster General Cortelyou says
this Is a mistake. 1t Is not now and
never has been the policy Of the de-
partment, to permit newspapers or any
other second -class matter, except coun-
ty newspapers in the county Of publ
cation, to pass through the malls and
be delivered by rural carriers free of
postage. Sample copies Of newspapers
plainly marked as such, are allowed to
be sent through the mails at pound
rates, but not to the same person more
than three times year.
The erroneous impression probably
originated 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 car
riers to act as agents for newspapers
and other publications and sell news
papers and other publications on, their
own account. The newspapers they de-
livered in this way did not pass
through the mails. This practice was
not changed by any ruling Of the de-
partment; but by law. BY the act of
congress making appropriation for the
service of the postoff1ce department
for the fiscal year beginning July l,
1904, 1t was provided that on and af-
ter said date rural carriers shall not
solicit business or receive orders of
any kind for any persons, firm or cor
poration," and instructions were there
fore given prohibiting rural carriers
from soliciting or receiving subscrip-
tions to newspapers or other pertodi-
Gals and from acting as agents for any
deliver newspapers TO patrons Of their
routes only when such newspapers
were individually addressed and the
required postage was prepaid.
The act making appropriations for
the service Of the postofflce depart
ment for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1905, and for other purposes, provided:
For pay for letter carriers and clerks
In charge Of substations Of rural free
delivery service, s20.000,000; provided,
that not exceeding $12,500 Of the
amount hereby appropriated may be
used for compensation Of clerks In
charge OF substations. On and after
July /, 1904. letter carriers Of the rural
free delivery service shall receive q
salary not exceeding $720 per annuni,
and no other or further allowance or
salary shall be made to said carriers;
and ON and after said date said car
riers shall not solicit business or re-
ceive orders of any kind for any per-
son, firm or corporation, and shall not
during their hours of employment car
ry any merchandise for hire; provided
that said carriers may carry merchan-
disc for hire for and upon the request
Of patrons residing upon their respect
I've routes whenever the same shall not
interfere with the proper discharge OF
their Sofficial duties and under such
regulations as the postmaster general
NAV prescribe