The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-02-24
MORE PAY FOR RURAL oARR1BRs
Congressman Hanna Makes Brilliant
Speech In Favor Of Increasing
Pay.

9&fOVNAA "a : SvVA Va ASANAVssoAAA8
Pay. q
Cong. l.: B. llama of Fargo wants
the rural letter carriers of the country
to get just compensation. On Jan.
"a he made the following speech in
congress in favor Of increased pay for
the carriers:
Mr.. Speaker: We have before us
for consideration bill which carries
a very large appropriation of money
in the aggregate, but the money to
be used for n purpose which enters
into the everyday life of every citizen
in our country.
The mail service of the United
States is vast and complex machine,
and yet it has been so systcmatizcd
that it runs, rs a rule, smoothly and is
one of the great factors in the devel.
opment of the business and social life
of our people. We can not get along
without our mail, and we insist upon
having it regularly and on time. To
those who live in the cities and towns
and get their mail once or more times
day, unless they have at some time
in their Ives lived in the country, they
have but little idea of what it means
to receive their mail but once or per
haps two or three times a week.
A few years ago the government
took up the proposition Of the rural
distribution Of mail. It was not at first
thought that this would be a practical
thing to do, but short trial proved
and demonstrated that it WIS practi-
cal, and it was of great benefit, and
that the people thoroughly appreciated
it, and the rural service has grown by
leaps and bounds until today there are
some 10000 rural routes in operation
throughout the United States. Many
more routes have been applied for, and
from TIM etc time new routes are bein,
established.
We have before us for consideration
the question of paying the men who
cary the mail upon these dudal routes
a fair compensation for the labor
which they perform. In the last SEES
sion Of this congress I introduced bill
which provided that the sum Of $500 per
annum should be paid to every rura
mail carrier in the United States in
addition to the salary which he is now
receiving, this additional money to he
used as an expense account for; feed for
his horse or horses, for the npkeep, Of
his carriage or wagon, and all other in,
eidentals, which at the present time he
has to pay out of the small salary no
is receiving
In the state in which I live, North
Dakota, we have several hundred
routes in operation. Our winters are
long and cold; the carriers must be
dressed warmly, and it costs them a
large amount Of money to prepare and
provide themselves in an adequate man.
ner to Withstand the cold and to keep
their horses in proper condition.
have sometimes wondered that the 1nen
have the courage to go out with the
mail in the cold, rough; stormy weather
which the northwestern states are sub.
ject to at any time during the winter,
yet they do it day in and day out, and
to the farmers living on the prairies,
many of them long distances from town
the getting of their daily papers and
letters is blessing to them, and brings
them closer in contact with the great
world, of which they are yer yesen
tial part, and makes life upon the farm
just SO much better, and tends to helr
and keep the farmer on the farm.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, it has been urg
ed that there is no difficulty in getting
plenty Of men to carry the NAL OF
these rural routes at the salary which
the men are now receiving I person
ally consider this no argument at all
believe we should pay the men who d.
thi sservice, who carry the mail rail-
or shine, in bad weather as we'll a.
good, fair compensation. There ar,
many ways by which the government
can. if necessary, economic and saw,
the little amount that is asked for t,
help these men. The chairman of tn,
committee on the postofice and pos
roads has stated that he is willing t,
accept an amendment which will in
crease the salary of every rural carrie
of mail 500 per annum. This is ste
in the right direction, but it does no
go as far as would like to have it, blu
do not believe that by the house tax
ing this action at this time that mex
year it will be possible to raise the RI
raj carriers of the country up to salar
which will give to every one of the1
$1,000 per annum, which would suer
to me to be only reasonable romper
sation for the splendid service whic
they are rendering to the paoplc of th;