The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-30
CUT IN RURAL MAIL
ENRAGES FARMERS
Carriers Unable to Make 35
Miles a Day Ordered by
BurlesOn.
OLD EMPLOYEES OUsTED
Business Men Throughout the
State Join Protest at
Niggardly Policy.
Special Despafch IA Tsr arx

"poe'A Dcspotch 70 TIE Bun.
SYRACUSE, April 2s.--Recent orders
issued by the Post Office Department
from Postmaster General Albert Sid
ney Burleson resulting in the ellmina-
ton OF many rural free delivery routes
In central and northern New York and
the amalsamation of the territory with
other routes, have aroused a storm Of
protest from business men, farmers and
postal carriers OF this section of the
State.
Many say II viii be impossible for
rural sections of the State to have an
all year around mail delivery as the
new arrangements require the carrier TO
travel from twenty-eight to thirty-five
miles day. most impossible PROPOSE
ton In winter The farmers are in
disnant and do not propose to be made
the victims OF Burleson's further eco
nomic schemes. They feel they have
suffered enough during the war, and
that In this era Of reconstruction. new
growth and development they should
not nave to cope with q situation which
means retrenchment and impairment.
Changers See Unfairness.
The feeling is dominant among
farmers that they are not being treated
squarely, and that they are entitled to
a fair revision or reconsideration Of the
proposed plans regarding the rural mail
delivery. They see no excuse for the
present action except a mercenary one
on Burleson's part.
There also Is keen dissatisfaction on
the part of r. F. d. carriers, but they
are more cautious In voicing their senti-
ments. Many are men who have been
long In the Government service. They
do not see In the changes adequate
compensation for the extra work they
will be called upon to perform and those
who are to remain In the service do not
relish the discharge OF those who will be
forced out OF business by the amalgama-
ton Of routes.
Their dissatisfaction Is only another
wave in the rising tide OF bitterness that
is passing through all branches Of the
postal service. where men who have
grown gray in the work declare with
unmarked feeling that the heart has
been taken out OF the game through the
methods OF Mr. Burleson.
One instance showing the hardship
which will be entailed by individuals
comes from Moravia. There the route Of
a man who has been many years in the
postal savings has been abolished. A
protest was made to the Post once De-
partment on his behalf and after con-
siderable red tape had been unwound
he was told that there was a route
twenty miles distant from his home he
might have. Serious illness In his fam
lily. however, made II impossible for him
to accept the offer.
Information Lacking.
Another feature Of the proposed
changes causing Indignation Is the i'm
possibility OF obtaining accurate infor-
nation OF the changes. Rural mail
carriers are afraid to talk: other postal
employees say they are under orders to
refer all inQuirers to the Postmaster.
and efforts to obtain definite information
from those officials are met with the
reply that they are under general in
structions from Washington not to dis
close anything regarding the service
given by Mr.. Burleson. 1t Is not until
changes are actually made that those
affected by them are supposed to know
or them, and many times they know Il
only when II Is too late to make changes
in their postal addresses, or when they
md that instead OF having the mail
brought to the gate they must walk
from one-Quarter Of q mile to six miles
for It.
As nearly as can be learned some of
the changes which will be made on May
! include several in Onondaga county.
The r. F. d. route out OF Camiilus is
to be extended sos miles. and for the
extra work the carrier Is to receive
$1i4 year. As there are 313 working
days in the year, the postman will be
required to carry mail 1878 miles for
STA.
Changes that have been noted out