The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-11-28
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, November 28, 1906.
SOME NEW RULINas
What Rural Carriers Must and Must
Not do-A Postoffice Official Gives
Out a Statement as to Their Duties.

'Now that the rural free delivery
system has been 80 extended in this
country-in fact it will be but a short
time when the merry rural free de-
livery carrier will be trotting over the
SHOWS and icy peaks of Alaska-the
department is in constant receipt of
letters to what rural carriers may
carry on their routes besides them
selves and their mail,n said post
Office department. official recently.
I'm the first place, they can't carry
any liquid that stimulates either on
the inside or outside of their persons;
intoxication means instant dismissal,
and they are dismissed when they are
detected drinking even off theirroutes.
Nor are they permitted to carry spirit
uous liquors for the accommod dation
of their patrons; personal friendship
doesn't go with the department. in
these cases, and no exceptions are
made with the rule.
'sRural carriers must carry the mail
and nothing else, even though busi-
ness houses seek offtimes to make er-
rand boys of them. Carriers must
not either in person or through others,
directly or Indirectly, solicit money,
gifts or presents, nor issue for profit
souveneirs or postal handbooks, nor
cooperate with Or assist the publish
ers of the same to secure the patron
age 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 attempting to engage the
carriers as their agents, so we have
strictly prohibited them from furnish
ing the names and addresses of pa
irons on their routes for pay or favor
to any business establishment, or to
any individual except to the depart
ment officials who are entitled to them
under the regulations.
The department has received letters
from patrons complaining because the
carriers refused to carry their milk
cans. This is funny, but it is true,
and it shows what some people in the
country think the rural delivery SER
vice was established for. Carriers
are not permitted to carry passengers,
nor to permit any person other than
authorized postal officials, to ride
with them on to have access to the
mails. They must not engage in any
business during their prescribed hours
Of service or to conduct any business
after hours which offers temptation
to solicit patronage on their routes.
or which by reason of their positions
in the government service gives them
special advantages over competitors.
We rigidly bar them from acting as
book canvassers, insurance solicitors,
sewing machine agents or acting as
agent of any kind or occupation. We
allow carriers to carry merchandise
for hire upon the request of patrons
residing upon their respective routes
whenever it will not Interfere with
the proper discharge of their official
duties under such regulations the de-
partment may prescribe. Country
storekeepers try to use the carriers
vehicles as delivery wagons, but the
government is not in that sort of bus
mess We allow the carriers to re-
ceive no compensation from the seller
of the merchandise and where the
merchandise is carried on the request
of the patrons for hire for the carry
ing, carrying must be paid: by the
patrons.
ssWe get thousands of letters from
all over the country just on this one
point-what carriers may carry on
their routes. If the rural delivery
patrons would only remember that
the government is not in the express
business, they would save themselves,
the carriers and the department a
great deal of trouble"