New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-08-22
DON'TASKTOOMUCHOF Them
Department is Particular About
Duties of Carriers.
Rural Carriers Are Not Delivery
Men For Merchants.
Service Must be Exclusively in the
Government Business.

Now that the rural free delivery
system has been so extended in this
country-in fact, it will be bat short
time when the merry rural free de-
livery carrier will be trotting over the
SHOWS and ice-peaks Of Alaska-the
department is in constant receipts OF
letters inquiring what carriers may
carry on their routes besides them;
selves an their mail, said post Office
department. official to d Star reporter.
''In the first place, they can't carry
any LIQUID that stimulates either on
the inside or the outside Of their per-
sons: intoxication means instant dis
missal, and they are dismissed when
they. are detected drinking off their
routes. Nor are they permitted to
carry spirituous liquors for the accom-
mediation OF their patrons; personal
friendship doesn't 60 with the depart
ment in their cases, and no exceptions
are made with this rule. :.
"Rural letter carriers must carry the
mail and nothing else, even though
I business houses seek ottimes to make
errand boys Of them. Carrier must
not either in person Or through others,
directly or indirectly, by any method
whatever, solicit money gifts or
presents; nor issuefor profit souvenirs
or postal handbooks nor cooperate
with or assist the publishers. of the
same to secure the patronage of the
public They are also barred from
compiling or assisting in the compiling
of directories for public use; Business
firms with large mail lists have caused
us a great deal of trouble in attempt
ing to engage the carriers as their
agents, so we have strictly prohibited
them from furnishing the names and
addresses Of patrons on their routes
for pay or favor to any business estab-
ment, or to any Individual except to
department officials who are entitled
to them under the regulations.
"The department has received letters
from patrons complaining because the
carriers have refused to carry thei.
milk cans. This is funny but it is tsue.
and it shows what some people in the
country think the rural delivery was
established for. Carriers are not per-
mitted to carry passengers, to per-
| nit any person other than authorized
! postal officials to ride with them Or to
have access to the mails. They must
| not engage in any business durin G
| their prescribed hours Of service, or
conduct any business after hours
| which offers the temptation to solicit
! patronage on their routes, or which,
by reason Of their position in the
government service, gives them special
advantage over competitors.
"We rigidly bar them from acting
as book canyassers, insurance solicit
| tors, sewing machine agents or acbing
| as agents Of any kind in any occupa
ton. We allow carriers to carry mer
chandise for hire upon the request O
patrons residing upon their respective
routes whenever it will not interfe re
with the proper discharge OF their OH
/ cial duties under such regulations az
the department may prescribe. Coun
try storekeepers tryto use the carriers
vehicles as delivery wagons, but thu
I government is not in that sort of bust
ness. We allow the carrier to receiv,
no compensat from the seller o
merchandise. and where merchandis,
| is carried on the requested the patron!
i the hire for the carrying must be PAID
| by the patron.
4 1--WE get thousands of letters from
all over the country just on this on,
Ipoint what carriers may carry OF
/ their routes. II the rural deliver,
i patrons Wouldso only remember that tn
government is not in the express bust
ness they would save themselves, th
carriers and the department., gres
deal of trouble. ~ ashington Star