The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1910-03-24
Congressman Morgan Favors
Extension of Rural Delivery

Washington, d. G., March -, 1910
The house has passed the postofiice
Appropriation Bill. There was a spir-
tied discussion over the item in the
bill as reported by the committee pro-
viding for the support and extension
Of the rural delivery and the pay of
rural carriers Congressman Dick T.
Morgan is staunch friend of the rural
delivery system and the carriers, and
expressed his views as follows;
am IN favor of extending the rural
delivery system. In this service there
must be no halting, no hesitation, no
delay. The work must go on. We
must give to every citizen OF the
United States the advantages of daily
mail as rapidly as suitable public high
ways shall be provided. The people
now understand the value of this SER
vice. If the service is not sustaining,
this will not justify any backward step
relative thereto. The people are will.
ing to pay what is necessary to secure
this service. The people wh' reside in
the rural districts are entitled to a
daily mail to place them to soma ex-
tent upon an equal footing with the
splendid free-delivery system fur
nished the inhabitants of our towns
and cities. But aside from the ques-
ton of justice, this system is a good
investment for the Nation. 1t is worth
far more than it costs. The Postoffice
Department, as a rule, should be made
self-supporting. In the main it should
be managed as business institution.
But there are exceptions to every rule.
The manifest and manifold benefits OF
daily mail to our people bring the
r rl delivery system within
the exception. We can afford to pro-
vide this system even if it is not self
supporting. If we have in view the
welfare of the people of this Republic,
we will continue to develop, extend
and perfect the rural delivery until
all of our people enjoy its advantages
and benefits.
PAY OF RURAL CARRIERS
In my judgement the pay of the
rural carriers should be substantially
increased. They perform a very inn
portant service for the people. The
position is one of great responsibility
and requires men of uDquestioned in
tegrity. These men come in close
contact with the people. The success
of the service and the reputation OF
the department depends upon their
fidelity to duty. The rural carrier il
required to make quite an investment
before he enters upon his work. He
. must maintain this investment. There
is constant danger of loss. There il
the wear and tear of his vehicle anC
Equipment, and he never knows when
large portion of his annual salary mus
go to purchase a horse to replace tn,
one that has died. He is often exposed
to inclement weather. lie must 60
, rain or shine, in heat or in cold. Tn,
| lHc pdIIOno vi tut TOute eApSCC Mn
: every day at the proper time. Th
records show that he seldom fails. Th
present schedule of salaries was fixe,
when the equipment of the rural car
rier cost much less than it does nov
I when admittedly the cost of living wa
not nearly so high. Unless these me
receive better pay, in my opinion, tn
lservice will lose many of its best mer
This would cripple the service, Thi
we cannot afford to allow. The rurs
service must be both exten1ed and in
proved. We must pay sufficient sslar
to induce the right kind of men I
seek and remain in this service. FL
- TWO important reasons the pay of I'll
rural carriers should be increased
first, in the interest of an improve
service and, second, in justice to IL
carriers who are not now, in jud gmel
. receiving pay commensurate viii
. the service performed.