New Britain herald., 1916-05-29
TIdlnV1lIG NEWS AUTO UPKEEP HIGH; RED. MAN RESIGNS Carrier Mercy Quits Postofice
 After Several Years GASOLINE TOO EXPENSIVE
t AS0LINE TOO EXPENSIVE

Compensation Not Sufficient Con-
 sidering the Cost of Operating Car
 -"Vets" Ready for Memorial Day
 -NeaI's Condition Unchanged.
 Increases in the cost of gasoline have caused Rupert s. Mercy to ar rive at the conclusion that the rural earrlers position in Plainville is not sufficiently lucrative to warrant the rejection of tempting offers made for labor by manufa curing concerns and he has rendered his resignation to Postmaster P. J. Prior to take effect cn June 10. MT. Mercy is determined to give up the place and he plans to devote his time to the machinist trade.
 Mr Mercy has been serving patrons or the post office in the outlying dis tr1cts for a number of years and Postmaster Prior accepted his resie- natlon with considerable reluctance. The carrier does not believe the com pensatlon paid by the government is sCrnclent under the existing con- dltlons, the advanced price of gaso- line making the operation of an au- 'o1loolle too expensive for a man working at the salary paid to the rural postman in Plainville.
 me postmaster is in something of quandary as to what to do regard Ing the filling Of the position Frank s~aocll1e, who seved as substitute TOT some time, resigned when the route was changed recently and his piace has not since been filled. The postmaster delayed making an ap- polntment as the government ad- vanced the time for putting the changes into operation until July l. and he thought it possible MT. Rad CHI might reconsider.
 Under the present conditions the rural carrier covers approximately twenty three miles a day. He is paid S1,152 a year for his services but has to furnish his own automobile. The change proposed by the posta1 de- partment will increase the mileage to tWenty-seven miles and $1OO will he added to the carriers salary
 The carriers pay is determined bv the number of miles he has to drive and seemingly there is no possibi1itv of getting an increase for the local man.
 When gasoline was selling at normal cost, the position was worth while. The carrier begins his duties at o'clock in the morning and in- Farlably has his route covered bv 1 O'CLOCK, when he is through for the day..
 MT. Mercy declares that it costs too much to run an auto at the gasoline prlces now prevailing to make the place profitable. He is a machinist oy trade, anyway, and at the present time the services of men of his craft are in such demand that fancy salaries are being offered them.
 Mr. Morey's successor will be chosen from civil service list and candidates will have to take the usual examination. Unless the list is ready by the time Mr. Mercy leaves. the postmaster will make a tenn porary appointment.
 Memorial Day Plans.
 Memorial Day will be observed in Pla1nville tomorrow in the usual manner. There will be a general suspension of business. Some of the stores will be opened for a time in the morning for the accommo cd ation Of the trade, and the post office will no close until noon although there Will De no rural carrier service. The barber shops will be- open until II o'clock tonight, closing for Memorial Day.
 Members of Newton Manross Post. G. A. k. and its auxiliaries will have the usual exercises in honor of the memory of the deceased veterans Tn the morning at 8:30, the veterans members of the Relief corps, Sons Of Veterans and the school children Will assemble at the Town hall With R, C. Usher as marshal the line will form on Pierce street The partici- pants, led by the Eureka Drum, corns Will then proceed to Broad street to Whltlng, to the soldiers monument where appropriate exercises vii, be held.
 There will be reading of memorial orders by Adjutant Ralph R. Roberts the G. A. R. service by Commander J. Fayette Douglass; prayer bv R. c Usher and words of sentiment bv William H. Relyea, patriotic instruc- tor of the post. Lincoln's Gettvshure- address will be read by Never Snider- held hv the N|ay rr D