Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-04-14
WASHINGTON NEWS.

(From Northwest Press Association
Congressman French is preparing to
make the fight of his life to prevent the
discrimination of the poorer rural free
delivery routes in the remote districts
in Idaho. The postotf1ce department.
is preparing to cut off routes that are
not self supporting in the west and
south and when the matter comes be-
fore congress, which will be within a
week or two, Mr.. French intends to do
everything in his power to save to the
people of the rural sections this great
convenience. Admittedly many of the
routes in the western states are not
self supporting, and cannot hope to be
for many years to come. Nor were
they intended to be self-supporting
when the rural free delivery act was
passed by congress. The fact of their
remoteness from popular centres and
the smallness of their postal business is
a good reason why they deserve to be
fostered and encouraged in every posi-
BILE way by the postal authorities. The
rural free delivery service is almost the
only method of public communication
between many rural sections and the
great world without. Many of them
are days journey from a railroad
station and have no access to trolley or
telephone lines, now, so common in the
east, Many Of thefarrlers living along
these routes do not find time in the busy
season to go to the nearest postoffice
once in week or once in month, and
their isolation could not we'll be more
complete. Rural free delivery service
has become great factor of sociability
as well as a positive convenience of
communication. 1t keeps the people in
touch with the outside world. 1t is one
of the refining influences of civilization.
Mr.. French says that in Idaho since
the establishment of the rural free de-
livery service many of the remote
places have shown marked improvement
in many ways as a result of the i'm
proved postal service. 1t has doubt
less to a certain extent checked the
tendency of the young men to leave the
farms and rush to the cities, and the
population has increased as the result
of new families moving in and new
farms being opened. Land values have
advanced and renewed air of progress
and enterprise has, resulted. The gov
eminent pays ouS great amount Of
money to keep up mail service with
South American countries. and while
this is for international convenience, it
ought to be the government s first duty
to supply conveniences for its own peo-
pie. So if anything has to go let it be
the foreign mail service. Friends of
rural free delivery should rally to its
aid and by arousing PUBLIC sentiment
show the postofice department that the
people of the country are opposed to
cutting down this service.
The railroad rate bill in the senate
has served to develop the most interest
ing debates that have taken place in
congress in many years. These discus
sions will naturally strengthen the esti-
mate in which the senate is held, anc
doubtless tend to counterfeit the recent
severe criticisms that have been made
upon it by this fresh proof of it's great
capacity to meet and deal with great
public questions. 1t has already exer
cised good influence by moderatinf
the demand for radical legislation. The
difficulties Of the question are nov
better appreciated and the necessity O
a court review, which the presiden
himself now favors, is better under
stood. A debate that adds to the repu
tation of the participants and that de
termines the final form that Legislation
shall take is most profitable DISCUS
sion. This is especially true wheniigl
portant bills are rushed througbuSk
house with practically no discussio
whatever