Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-01
'FAV0RS MEYER Plan
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Pleads for Limited
Parcels Post
BENEFITS WOULD BE MANIFOLD
peGraw Says System Could Be In.
auqurated With Present Facilities
and Would Benefit Farmer and coun-
try Merchant AIike-Rural Routes
Have Reduced Country Postoffices.

washington. Dec 1.-Touching the
heart of the agricultural communities
In every state of the union the annual
report of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General p. V. DeGraw, made pubic
last night announces increased use
fulness of the rural free delivery serv-
ice and the unprecedented bringing OF
the work of the bureau up to date and
recommends rural delivery of packages
of eleven pounds maximum at spe-
cial postage and the uniforming OF
rural carriers. The package provision
suggested requires congressional legis-
lation and is designed to be effective
between the distribution; postoffice
and the patrons of any rural route
emanating from such postoffice.
Such service, according to the re-
port. would benefit alike the rural de-
livery patrons and local merchants
without injuring or competing with
any other service. at can be given"
adds Mr.. DeGraw. with the facili-
ties now employed and would mater
tally increase the revenues of the de-
partment A special reduced rate OF
postage for merchandise carried only
by rural carriers would unquestionably
be os material value to the retail lner-
chants on rural routes and at rural de.
livery distributing centers as we'll as
enhance the influence of the rural serv-
ice in making life in the country more
attractive
Duties Are Restricted.
Rural carriers at present are not
permitted to carry for hire any matter
or package that is mailable, but con-
gress increases the salaries Of the car
riers. The demand for a package
service by them. fostered in the first
years of rural free delivery, still ex-
lists. 1t should be met, according to
Mr.. DeGraw. not 4 in the old way,
which permitted She use of the govern
ment's agency for private gain, but by
the establishment of a system for the
carriage of merchandise by rural car
riers at such rates as will be a fair
compensation for the service per-
formed, the revenues to be credited to
the postal receipts. Patrons and mer-
chants, he adds. desire to have small
packages delivered by rural carriers.
but will not pay the present fourth
class rate which is prohibitive as ap-
piled to this class of service.
Uniformed Force Favored.
The rural carriers in the service, OF
which Mr.. DeGraw is the head. daily
pass 100000 homes. and he recon-
mends once more the adoption of
uniform suitable to the conditions I'M
der which they must work as undoubt-
edly adding to the dignity and eff
fciency of the rural service. Their
high standard of efficiency is attested
by the fact that only 1865 carriers out
of a total number of 39,143 We're dis
missed for cause during the past year.
Rural delivery is now in operation on
945 ,OS7 miles of road, over which car
riers are required to travel daily. OF
these roads $4,000 miles are macadanl,
the remainder being earth, sand or
gravel Since the service was first
established s7O632.162 has been ex-
pended on roads traversed by rural
carriers. Road officials and patrons
are notified whenever repairs are nee
essary on rural routes. More work
has been done on such public high
ways and more Expenditures made In
their Improvement during the past year
than in any previous year in the his
tory Of rural delivery and the official
,11o ,>11 4
in road Improvement is being
generally manifested turnout the coun-
try.
Money Needs Of the Service.
The estimate of appropriations nee
essary for this service for the next
fiscal year, as submitted by Assistant
Postmaster General DeGraW, is $3.50.
246 900, an Increase Of 1913 900 over thtI
current appropriation. OF this esti-l
mate s54053,159 is for continuing thu
service on 1921 routes in operation
on June 80 last, $626,S41 for continuing
the service on 723 routes which it IS
estimated will be established during
the current fiscal year at an estimated
average salary for carriers of 1857 per
annum $4,000 to inaugurate new
service during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1910, s1.360O0O to pay sub
stitutes for 1880 carriers on vacation,
at an estimated average rate of 1857
per annum less per cent deducted on
account of carriers not in service
twelve months, $4,000 to pay clerks in
charge of stations of rural delivery
service, and $4,000 to pay tolls and
ferryage charged for carriers who
traverse toll roads or turnpikes or
cross streams over toll bridges or fer
ries.
Kill Country Postoffices.
During the past year there were
1872 new routes established, seventeen
routes discontinued prior thereto were
re-established and 40 routes discon-
tinued leaving the net increase in
1,549. During the year 1858
postoffices were discontinued and the