Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-03-28
FUNCTIONS OF RURAL CARRIERS.

Now that the rural free delivery
system has been SO extended in this
country-in fact, it will be but a short
time when the merry rural free delfv-
cry carrier will be trotting over the
SHOWS n icy peaks of Alaska-the
department is I'M constant receipt of
letters as to what rural carriers may
carry on their routes besides hem.
selves and their mail" said a post.
office department official to a Star re.
porter.
In the first place. they can't carr,
any liquid that stimulates either ON tina
inside or the outside of their persons:
1n~toxfcatfon 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
cases. and no exceptions are made witL
this rule.
Rural letter carriers must carry the
mail 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, b. any method
whatever. solicit money. gifts or pres.
ents: nor issue for profit souvenirs OF
postal h~andboolis. nor cooperate with
or assist the publishers of the same ia
secur the patronage of the public
They are also barred from compiling OF
assisting In the compiling of director
les for public use. Business firms witt
large mai lists have caused US a great
deai OF CUB in attempting to en-.
gage the carriers as their agents. AZ.
we nave strictly prohibited them from
furnishing the names and addresses OF
patrons on their routes for pay or ia.
vor TO n business establishment. OF
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 have refused to carry thei,
milk cans This Is funny, but 1t Is
u and 1t shows VIVA some people
In the country think the rural delivers
service was established for. Carrier
are not permitted to carry passengers
nor to permit any person other thar
authorized postal officials to ride witt
them or to have access to the mails
They must not Engage in any business
during their prescribed hours Of ser.
vice, or any business after
hours which offers the temptation to
solicit patronage or their routes. OF
which by reason of their position In
the government service gives Their
special advantage over competitors.
we rig1dly par them from acting as
book canvassers. insurance solicitors
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.
irons residing pom their respective
routes whenever 1t will not interfere
with the proper discharge of their Of
fetal duties under such regulations al.
h department may prescribe. Coun-
try storekeepers try to use the car
ricrs' vehicles as delivery wagons. but
the government is not in that sort OF
business. We allow the carriers Ia re-
ceive no compensation from the seller
of merchandise. and where merchan.
disc Is carried on the request of the
patrons the hire for the carrying must
be paid by the patron.
w get thousands Of letters frop,
all over h country just on this on.
point-what carriers may carry on
their routes. II the rural delivery M.
trons would onl: remember thai the
government is not in the express bust.
ness the would save themselves, the
carriers and the department a sress
deal Of trouble" 500