The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-11
After January 1, 1909, Letter
Carriers Will Not Be Supplied
With Communication Tickets.
POSTMASTER THOMAS
SOMEWHAT SURPRISED
General Manager Wells Be-
lieyes That the Government
Is Able to Pay.

The Utah Light and Railway com
nanv. IN = letter addressed to Post
master Arthur L. Thomas, Tuesday,
notified that official that on and after
January /, 1909, the letter carriers
would not be supplied with commuta-
tion tickets on the lines of the street
railway in this city at the present rate
of cents per ticket, the rate which
has existed for years. No reason was
ascribed for this step, and as conse-
quence Postmaster Thomas Is at some
loss to understand the action.
In nearly every city In the east oil
10000 or over the letter carriers are
either permitted to ride on the cars
free of charge in going to and from
their sections, or are supplied with
street railway tickets at figure less
than the general public can purchase
them for. This is done In order to ia
cilitato the delivery Of mail, and why
Salt Lake City should be singled out
to be an exception TO the prevailing
custom is beyond the comprehension OF
the postmaster.
Speaking of The matter to Tribune
reporter, Mr.. Thomas said: NThe Utah
Light and Railway company has served
nOIlCS Oh Ult ludb Du dDu 61bti ~ auus-t p
] the Communication tickets issued to let
ter carriers at 8 cents each, will be
withdrawn, and that the carriers
tickets must be paid for at the stan
dard rate furnished the public In
nearly every state IN the Union where
street railway companies have received
liberal franchises from the people 1t is
customary for them 10 aid the people
in receiving their mail as quickly as
L. 1-E4 h1-r
either tickets issued to them at reduced
rates. to be used only when on duty
and in uniform, or else they are allowed
to jump on and off cars at pleasure
accepting from the postof6ce depart
mont the compensation allowance made
for reduced Communication tickets.
''Salt Lake is a city of large blocks
and wide streets and extends over a
considerable territory. much of which
ment Will not increase the allowance
to carriers in accordance with tho de.
mands of the Utah Light and Railway
company, the delivery of mail in this
city Will be materially affected.
+" 7 am of the opinion that this entire
matter would not make a difference OF
500 a year to the street railway com
pany, but it will make q great differ
! ence TO the people
bcHCIA hdIdSeI UOSenD - w NelS o!
| the street railway company said in ref
erence to the matter: "We have sent
the letter to Postmaster Thomas for the
simple reason that we cannot see why
we should make any special rate to
the government. We are of the opinion
that the government is as well able tc
pay for their carriers riding upon oul
street car lines as the people are. Why
any discrimination should be shown IL
their favor is a matter which l am not
able to fathom. They have the right
to purchase as many commutatior
tickets as they want at the same rate
the public is charged cents pei
| tlcket-and the number of tickets is
sued III this way is wholly unlimited
They can buy one book hundred
books at Il time, more or less, Just as
| they desire. The public is accredited
this same treatment, and / can see nc
reason why the letter carriers or the
postofice department should receive any
different treatment from that accorded
the general public.