American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-03-12
To RELIEVE STAR
ROUTE CARRIERS
SENATOR BRADY TAKES UP QUES-
TI0N WITH POSTMASTER GEN
ERAL AND HOPES FOR BETTER
CONDITIONS
In Some Cases Contractors Have Been
Forced to Mortgage Their Homes
in Order to Meet Increased Expen-
ses-Parcels Post Responsible.

Sts-f hFttlS EOSt htspOUSlDies
Washington, D. C. March 10.-The |
hardships of the Star and Rural |
Route Carriers have been reviewed |
before the Postmaster General by Sen
ator Brady, who is exerting every eff
fort for the relief of the carriers of
the grave injustice which the in
creased weight of mails caused by the |
Inauguration of the Parcel Post sys-
tenn which has forced some of the car
riers to the extreme of mortgaging
their homes to meet the extra
expense of transporting the Unit
ed States mails over their respective
routes.
For some time past Senator Brady
has been receiving appeals from the
Idaho carriers for some kind of
relief. These letters review conditions
which are in a number of cases criti-
cal. One case which Senator Brady
brought to the attention of the Post
master General was to the effect that
one carrier in Idaho is paying out of
his own pocket from $50 to $50 per
day to handle the great quantities of
extra mail He has mortgaged every
thing that he owns in the hope that
the Government would soon come to
his rescue The Star Route carrier is
up against it in that he is bound to
fulfill his contract during its life,
there being no provision to permit
him to withdraw. He is bound with
his bondsmen to carry out his contract
at all events.
"That such a condition exists is a
disgrace to the United States Govern
ment," said Senator Brady, "and l
hope that the facts which l have pre-
sented before the Postmaster Cen
eral will move him to the immediate
relief of the carriers.
while it is a fact that circular
has been prepared by the second as
sistant postmaster general, for the
screen wagon carrier which calls
for a statement of the actual expenses
in detail for the period from Jan. 1
to June 80, 1913, of the carriers, even
under this plan the contractor gets
no profit or margin for the handling
of the Parcel Post, but only his actual
expenses, consequently he gives his
time, labor and materials for nothing,
receiving back only that which he has
been forced to pay out. This kind of
a proposition will not buy many loaves
of bread, and how many mouths can
be fed when man is compelled to ex-
pend $1,000 and gets only $1,000 back
However, on the Star Routes the
fourth assistant postmaster general
has adopted a scale whereby a GER
tain percentage Of increase on the ex-
listing contract pay is allowed for a
certain percentage of increase IN
weight of fourth class (parcel post)
matter, regardless of the actual ad-
ditional expense incurred by the con-
tractor in the way of purchase or use
of additional stock and equipment, OF
extra wear and tear caused by the
heavier loads. The contractor was
not consulted before or after weigh
ings, which were used to ascertain
this scale, and no protest or showing
made by him prevails against the ar
bitary percentage scale just explained
The allowance to be made on eact
star route on account of parcel pos
is determined by a sub-chief wht
works entirely by the scale which
cannot be said to meet the spirit o
the act of 1912, and in many instances
gives short allowance to the contrac
tor and does him a great injustice.
What should be done in all case'
is for the Department to get sworl
statement from each star route car
rier, verified by the postmaster, show
ing the actual expenses incurred ant
a reasonable profit since the inaugur
alton of the parcel post system, an
full allowance and return be made
The statutes permit this action OF
the part of the postmaster general, an
the departments admission and con
firmation of the fact is proved b
the action and orders of the secon
assistant postmaster general, whic
made them effective"
French Praised By Consumers Leagu
The work of Congressman Frenc
in the passage of the eight hour bi
for women in the District of Colum
bia has been recognized by the Pres
81 dent of the Consumers League
the District of Columbia which ha
been urging this humanitarian legisls
ton. The President of the Leagu
wrote to Mr.. French as follows:
"As President of the Consumer
League of the District of Columbi
l want to thank you in the name (
the consumers league for the ver
effective assistance you rendered
81 the passage of the eight hour bill fC
women in the District of Columb
81 when it was under discussion on II
floor of the house last week.
THE District of Columbia will
the first community east of ColoraC
to establish by law the important pril
ciples involved in a six day week al
an eight hour day for women worl
ers and we shall make every effo
to assure the successful execution
the law in order that it may stand b
fore the industrial states as mod
legislation
IN Fruits Eliminated From Cold Storai
Bill.