The Jones County news., 1914-10-08
OUR R. F. D. CARRIERS.
A Plea for Justice to These
Faithful Workers.

4 AN AhAAONluk uASp SpdtSh II oLh w dSh-
ington to the Atlanta Constitution Is
of interest to every farmer in this
country and who are the especial
benefclaries of the Il. F. d. systam:
Postmaster General Burlesou has
made a proposal TO congress to abol-
ish the rural free delivery carrier and
have the work they now perform done
hereafter by contract.
There are now 1895 rural delivery
routes and the carriers on these routes
have come to weld a considerable
political influence. A strong fight
would be waged in congress against
such change being made.
Postmaster General Burleson
sorely disappointed the rural carriers
when he declined to allow maximum
salary of 81 200 this year as the car
riers had been led to expect. Instead
he worked out scheme whereby the
salary of carriers was b ased not np-
on the leugth of route, but the number
of packages handled and ais the
weight OF mails transported.
In a letter to the senate committee
on post Offices and post roads, MIR.
Burleson emphasizes the fact that the
government now faces deficit OF $100-
900, 900 and additional taxes must be
levied TO make up the amount. He
says if his proposed change we're put
into effect, there would be no impair
'ment Of the rural delivery service and
the government would have SIS, 8,000,-
coca year on this branch of the service.
We are opposed to any such propo-
sition as that made by Postmaster
General Burleson. In the first place
we don't understand why Cabinet Off
Ger should assume unto himself TO
override an act passed by both bran
ches of Congress fixing the pay of r.
F. d. carriers, We always thought
that congress was the supreme power
In our Republic.
Any one who has noticed the work
done by our faithful rural carriers
must confess that If any class of I'm
Gle SANS employees earn the pit
tanee given them it is these men.
There is rot debartment in Wash
ington or elsewhere under our gov
ernment. but where better salaries
are paid for the work performed than
received by these carriers; and than
it should not be forgotten that car.
riers must furnish and maintain their
own teams. If MIR. Burleson thinks a
reduction in expenses is needed in his
department he can find plenty of places
to apply the pruning knife, without
cutting down the paw of our K. +. ID.
carriers, who must endure all manner
of weather and discomfort to deliver
mail on their routes, There are in
cities letter carriers and they are not
required to furnish their own horse
and vehicles and keep up same.
Our Southern beople are unalter-
opposed to letting the rural delivery
of mails out by contract. 1t would
not cnly mean poor service, but
such change would mean the dismiss
every white carrier in the South and
the employment of cheap negro la
Dor to take their places. If any such
policy is resorted to Congress had as
well abandon the rural delivery sys-
tenn, so far as the South is concerned,
to abandon free rural mail delivery
for our people not tolerate any sucl
change. But with Hoke Smith, Var
beman and other friends of the carriers
in congress, we do not apprehent
that their jobs are in danger. VIZ
hope Congress will inquire as TO why
{ Mr.. Burleston has not carried out in
structiors in regards to fixing tn,
salaries Of rural carriers.