Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 209, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1910 — Farmers and Rural Route Patrons Thoroughly Aroused. [ARTICLE]

Farmers and Rural Route Patrons Thoroughly Aroused.

Wheatfield Review. The farmers.turn patrons are g^jr f tlje proposed plan of the postoffice department tiHtfffire rail ’of the rural free delivery service under the contract system, or whaf is known as the star route mail service. Those enjoying the convenience and fruits of rural free delivery are alive to their efforts to thwart, if possible, any action that may be proposed in this respect says the August number of the R. F. D. News, the official organ of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association. The News is in receipt of many protests and senators and members of the house in practically every state are being importuned by farmers and patrons through word end letter requesting them to vote and stop any legislation proposed that would either abolish or curtail the extension of rural free delivery. While there has been no official announcement made as yet by the postofiice

department of the postal committee of congress that such a program is contemplated in the near future there have been open statements made by leaders in both parties of congress that the change is bound to come at a time not far off, for the sake of economy. It is estimated that a saving of something over 6,000,000 could be effected annually by putting rural free delivery under the contract system. The plans are being secretly guarded by those who have them in preparation, and no official announcement is expected to be made public until after the coming Congressional elections this fall. Probably no information given out on the subject until congress reconvenes next December, and it will then come out in the President’s message of recommendations and in the annual report of the Postmaster General to congress. Congress freely declares that the administration could not afford to disregard the earnest appeal of 20,000,000 or more people who would be affected by the discontinuance of rural free delivery service. Farmers are

worked up to a high pitch of feeling in the matter and candidates are being compelled to give their faithful promise, if elected, that they will vote to defeat any interference with the present rural delivery service. Some members of. the House and Senate are telling the voters they have no knowledge of any plan on foot to substitute rural free delivery with the contract system. The Congressional Record gives evidence of the fact that the question for economy sake was discussed in the House during the consideration of the annual postal appropriation bill last Spring, and the subject received some consideration by the House committee on postoffices and postroads when it was preparing the bill. At the present time there are nearly 42,000 rural delivery routes now in operation throughout the States and Territories. The number of star routes now under contract are in the neighborhood of 7,900. During the past year or two the postoffice department has strongly evidenced its hostility toward an extension of the

rural free delivery service, and during the past twelve months there were less routes established than at any like period since the service was created. Ther<? were only three refutes established and put in operation from January 1 to July 1 of the present year. The department records during the past six dr eight months also show that star routes have been established in large numbers, particularly in the middle and western states. So it is up to you, Mr. Rural Route Patron, to get busy with the candidate for congress if you desire the continuance of the present free delivery system.