The Republican journal., 1914-11-12
CONTRACT MAIL SERVICE.
Postmaster General Burleson and the q
x. F. D. Carriers.
[Piscataquis Observer


GPiscataquis Observer
We have some knowledge of the work
which comes to the carriers on the rural
delivery routes and some idea of what it
must mean to 90 over the routes day
after day, through heat and mud and
cold and snow. We also have an idea of
what it costs to keep the two horses
necessary to cover a route and to keep
the carriages and harness in repair; con-
sequently the Postmaster Generals plan
to run the Rural Free Delivery by con-
tract does not appeal to US at all for the
carriers work low enough now.
While we thought of the matter we
saw the following editorial in the Frank
lin Journal which we submit as covering
the subject well:..
The Rural Free Delivery carriers have
real grievance, and they are not speak
ing any too highly of Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson just now. Congress ap-
propriated 81, 100000 for the purpose of
giving each carrier 500 increase, but
the Postmaster General took the matter
into his own hands and made the allot-
ment only to those who make delivery of
certain amount of mail matter. Again
the Postmaster General suggested that
the system ought to be run by contract,
like the old Star Route method, by which
the transportation of mails in the rural
districts was let out to the lowest bidder,
and he claims that by such an arrange
ment the Government can save fully
$18, 100000 year.
1t seems as though the moment level
headed man in most matters gets at the
head of the Postoffice Depar tment, he is
possessed with the idea that it must be
seIf-supporting, regardless of the SER
vice. We had a specimen of this picay-
une policy under Hitchcock, who claimed
that under his management the depart
ment became self-supportihg for the
first time in its history. Perhaps it was,
or nearly so, but at what cost? The
postoffices. never over-efficient. were de-
nuded of clerks and the patrons were the
victims of vexatious delays and errors,
all brought about by mans desire to
make record.
We had great hopes in Mr.. Burleson.
Those who knew him best pronounced
him sagacicus business man who would
! bring to the department the wealth of
his experience. Sagacious business men
always see to it that economy is practic-
ed in all departments, but it must be
economy without sacrificing efficiency,
f, A cheap man is not necessarily an eco
nomical man, and he may and probably
will be costly man in the long run,
! simply because Of his inability to do any:
! thing we'll. We can many of us recall
| the old Star Route days, when one con-
! tractor down in Kentucky. or the devil
! knows where, submitted bids on the
| routes by the thousands, depending or
F.. the gullibility of local drivers to sublet
+! the routes at even lower rates than he
, bought them for. We can also recall
j the ramshackle contraptions that at one
! time came limping into Pennington
| bringing mail from nearby towns. II
was shameful way of conducting Gov
eminent business, and while it may have
! been cheap way for the department II
was costly for the service.
| The Rural Delivery carriers are moi
overpaid by any means. A carrier witt
any length of route must own two horses
and all the rest of the eq llpment neces
sary to take him over the country, ant
(, he is expected to go over the route ex
! peditiously as well as accurately. He i:
! exposed to all kinds of weather, and al
sorts of impositions. Surely under sucl
circumstances he deserves good compen
sation, and the very best of treatmen
by the Government and by che patron:
| of his route.
We fail to see any reason why it is alb
solutely necessary to have the Postofflc'
Department self-supporting. Bette
make it more efficient even if the public
has to pay the bills. They must do 81
anyway, and when they are paying tn.
bills they rather like to see the job wei
done. The whole trouble with the Rura
Free Delivery system is that it was no
started right and In the passing years i
has become patchwork of rules ant
regulations Without order or system
Let US urge upon our Congressman thu
need of paying living wage to these
men who have done so much to bring thu
rural life nearer to the town.