The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-30
ATTORNEY TO
I DEFEND MAIL CARRIER
UGH Will he the Case Unless City
Officials Come To An
Understanding.
GO U NLIoENs ED
Atsovernment and City Conflict MS to
4. Law Affecting Delivery of Mail
- and Parcel Post Matter.

arrest OF United States mail
DR. in the Southside on the charge
L-0J he was running an automobile
hout a license has aroused new
estion In the Postoffice Department
Mich may be taken TO Washington.
less the city makes a compromise
It'll mail carriers. The question of
neither the city may arrest mall
arrier of the United States govern
tent for running an automobile carry
-ig United States mail, whether he has
49, license or not. Is also involved.
|NH Postmaster Thornton has under his
II ontroi one hundred mali carriers and
uHswenty-five substitute carriers. Natu-
Tally there are frequent changes or
As,outes Men who carry mail on foot
hire substituted for those who drive
fhe seven automobile mail wagons
which collect mail al boxes ana denver
parcel post packages.
Now the postmaster wishes to Know
lie he must make II part OF a mail
carriers examination TO pass an auto
mobile examination for the city. In
,ther words must hts department be
subject TO, the police regulations so
:. that one hundred and twenty-five mail
nrtarriers and substitutes will have to
rave licences to operate automobiles
ChaufYeurs Are Competent.
a Mr.. Thornton says that no man is
fAut In charge of mail wagon unless
= In competent to drive car. It
oiald he foolish, he says, to suppose
Wfherwise. He does not object to the
~ Aere formality OF having his men take
4nt d license TO drive car. But he
pes NOT think the city should require
IN the case OF mail carrier Az It
eriously hampers the service In the
vent he had to exchange men unex-
and the man To be changed
appen NOT TO have license.
lie AS the men are all uniformed ana
,nded. Mr.. Thornton regards n mail
ITO irler In the discharge Of duty for
lie government "a official IN
bynse, and entitled 10 privileges that
himself as postmaster has NOT
ked and does not desire. Personally
:. operates machine and hns IL
.ssnse TO do so.
reg VIVA, the Police Think.
y. The police have summoned the ch!et
sMf the seven mail wagon autonohlls :. :
mel IN aufYeurs to appear In the Sout Inside
stse curt The police claim that mail car
snriers, like others have accidents and
Hnhouid he regulated.
RI 1T Is more than probable that District
II ATTORNEY Hiram Smith will appear Tor
wsshe government In the SouthBide court
htif anv attempt Ia made to force local
III matt carriers 10 take out a chauff"urs
70 license
N Postmaster Thornton SAYS that Rich
{ rurnd is one of only fe" cities NJ
u its size that ts equipped with automo~
Il bile delivery for parcel post and col
!. faction from mail boxes The ma
! chimes he says have enabled the local
department to make the service doubly
fns. with consequent public benent.
Tha automobile service for the local
ro..n~trs was secured through tho
n ner.onal efforts Of the postmaster, who
!. made a trip to Washington for the
i purpose The machines cost to operate
\ vuuch more than the wagons formerly
used. but the service ts improved IN
/ proportion.