The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-03-29
FUNCTIONS OF RURAL CARRIERS.
Miseoneeption of Their Limitations
Exists i'm Many Places.

Exists in Many Places.
Nov that the rural free delivery
system has been so extended in this
country-in fact, it will be but a short
cry carrier will be trotting over the
SHOWS and icy peaks of Alaska-the
department. is in constant receipt of
letters as to what rural carriers may
carry on their routes besides them
selves and their mail" said a post
porter.
In the first place, they can carry
any liquid that stimulates either on the
inside or the outside of their persons;
intoXication means instant dismissal,
and they are dismissed when they are
detected drinking even off their routes.
Nor are they permitted to carry spirit
uous liquors for the accommodation of
their patrons; personal friendship does
not go With the department in these
cases, and no exceptions are made with
this rule.
Rural letter carriers must carry the
mai and nothing else, even though
business houses seek ofttimes to make
errand boys of them. Carriers must
not. either in person or through others.
directly or indirectly, by any method
Whatever, solicit money. gifts or pres
ents; nor issue for 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 director
les for public use. Business firms with
large mail lists have caused us a great
deal of trouble in attempting to en-
gage 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 ia
vor to any business establishment, or
to n 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 V 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
service was established for. Carriers
are not permitted to carry passengers,
nor to permit 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
during their prescribed hours of SER
vice. 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 rightly bar them from acting as
pooh GIN 'nsoS w SollClCClS,
sewing machine agents or acting as
agents of any kind in any occupation.
We allow carriers to carry merchan-
disc for hire upon the request of pa
trons residing upon their respective
routes whenever it will not interfere
with the proper discharge Of their Of
fetal duties under such regulations as
the department may prescribe. Coun-
try storekeepers try to use the car
riers' vehicles as delivery wagons, but
the government is not in that sort of
business. We allow the carriers to re-
ceive no compensation from the seller
of merchandise, and where merchant
disc is carried ON the request of the
patrons the hire for the carrying must
be paid by the patron.
we get thousands of letters from
all over the country just on his one
point-what carriers may carry on
their routes. If the rural delivery pa
irons would only remember tina the
government is not in the express BUSH
ness they would save themselves, the
carriers and the department a great
deal of trouble"