Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-18
MAIL ROUTE CHANGES
IOG0S1 WILSON VOTES
FARMERS OF NATIONS UP IN
ARMS BECAUSE OF REoR-
CANNED SERVICE.
WHOLE QUESTION TO
BE AIRED IN CONGRESS
members or Both "ou.s and Senate
Gathering Material to Make Fight in
Interests Of Rural Constituents
Vote Of Rural Population Being
A!ienated by Administration.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Nov. 1S.-Orders of the
postoffice department for the reorgani-
cation of the rural routes of a number
of the states Will constitute one of the
important subjects of debate and dis
cussion in the coming session of con-
gress. Criticism of the sharpest kind
is going to be directed against the
postmaster general for the reorgani-
cation.
Many protests are reaching Wash
ington from the patrons of rural
routes Some of these are being sent
10 the postoffice department. Others
are being sent 10 members of congress
to be by them turned over TO the de-
partment.
Naturally. democratic members OF
congress are not inclined to Jump on"
the postoffice department. But the re-
publican members have no such
scruples. In fact, repu ,licans, both in
house and senate, .ooh on orders for
the reorga nization Of the rural routes
as political dynamite for the demo-
Gratis. To say that they will not be
averse to exploding the dynamite
aforesaid is putting il mildly. Repub-
lIcan mem bers who are arriving for the
session are plainly inclined 10 believe
the reorganization of the rural routes
is going to cost the democrats a lot
Of votes in 1915.
Alternating Farmer Vote.
According to the republican version
Of it. the farmers of the country are
not pleased with democratic policy as
to the tariff and now to have the rural
routes reorganized. is going TO turn
them still more away from the party in
power
The reorganization Of the rural
routes is defended by Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Blakeslee,
under whom II directly comes. and by
the postmaster general. on the score OF
economy combined with efficiency. 1t
is charged that the republican adj
ministration of the rural routes was
needlessly extravagant and that in
the reorganization it has been the
purpose not to deprive the rural part
of the population Of service but at
the same time TO cut down needless
expenses. For this reason, routes have
been in some cases combined. Auto
mobile routes have in a great many
instances been established and the
carrier given more persons and more
territory 10 serve. Rural mail patrons
have 10 some extent been put on routes
reaching from a different town or city
from the one to which they were pre-
viously tributary. And other changes
have been worked out.
Complaints Gaiors-
The protests which are being sent to
the postoffice department and to MEM
bers of house and senate allege numer-
Gus defects and faults in the re-
arranged and reorsaniZed routes. One
OF the most frequent complaints is
that the rural resident who was for
merry close to his mail box now finds
he has TO travel a mile or more for his
mail. Another complaint is that
patrons are made tributary to towns
or cities different from the one they
were previously tributary to and that |
this is extremely troublesome and an
moving. 1t is alleged that in some in
stances the routes are made SO long
the carrier can not deliver and collect /
the mails on them in day and do it I
g,,ooarrf,,l1v and tn the convenience of |