Star routes

Last updated

Star routes is a term used in connection with the United States postal service and the contracting of mail delivery services. The term is defunct as of 1970, but still is occasionally used to refer to Highway Contract Routes (HCRs), which replaced the Star routes. [1] The term is mostly used in connection with a series of scandals in the 1870s involving bribes to postal officials. [2]

Contents

Background

Prior to 1845, transportation of inland mail, other than by railroad, was given to bidders who offered stage or coach service.

This was abolished by act of Congress on March 3, 1845, which provided that the postmaster-general should lease all such contracts to the lowest bidder who tendered sufficient guarantee of faithful performance, without any conditions, except to provide for due celerity, certainty and security of transportation. These bids became known as "celerity, certainty and security bids" and were designated on the route registers by three stars (***), thus becoming known as "star routes." [3]

Star Route Frauds

The Star Route Frauds scandal involved a lucrative 19th century scheme whereby postal officials received bribes in exchange for awarding postal delivery contracts in southern and western areas.

An investigation into the Star Routes corruption took place under President James A. Garfield in 1881. Two previous congressional investigations into the Star Route frauds had occurred in 1872 and 1876 during the Grant administration. The 1872 investigation results had been tainted by bribery, while the 1876 investigation managed to shut down the Star Route frauds temporarily. A resurgence of graft took place in 1878 in the Hayes administration, continuing into the Garfield administration. Among the major players involved were some of the large contractors, Bradley Barlow, a former US Representative of Vermont, the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, some of the subordinates in the department, and Arkansas Senator Stephen W. Dorsey, who became Secretary of the Republican National Committee during James A. Garfield's 1880 presidential campaign. After Garfield's death by assassination, President Chester A. Arthur pursued the investigation. A federal prosecution and trial took place in 1882, which was finally able to shut down the postal ring. [4]

Although the fraudulent scheme was widespread, there were few convictions. Many of the defendants in the Star Routes trials were successfully defended by noted lawyer and orator, Robert Ingersoll. [5] Public disgust over the Star Routes graft served as an impetus for civil service reform and the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883.

Post-abolition

Star Routes, now known as Highway Contract Routes (or HCRs) as of 1970, have become a mode of delivering mail directly to customers. Historically, Highway Contract Routes were used rarely for mail delivery to households. An exception was in rural areas with less than one customer per mile.

In modern usage, HCRs can be used anywhere to deliver mail directly to customers. They are often used to deliver mail in growth areas such as new housing tracts. Some of these routes are being started in areas where there are as few as 20 deliveries per day.

Since 2000, the US Postal Service has added the term "Contract Delivery Service" (CDS) as their newest version of the Star Route. These routes are established to serve newly-created urban communities. CDS carriers do not transport mail, and are being used in an attempt to find delivery drivers who will work for less than USPS carrier wages. As of 2007, several thousand of these CDS routes have been created, with plans for far more.

Many contractors are no longer individuals wanting to transport mail between post offices, or to deliver mail in a remote community where they live. This new concentration of more urban contract routes has made it practical for businesses to bid on multiple contracts, and then seek workers who will work those routes for less money than the US Postal Service pays on each contract. The US Postal Service is still attempting to find an equilibrium between the dependability of career postal carriers and the cost savings of contractors acting as a temp agency.

There is some debate as to how much control the Postal Service can exercise over these contract routes and have them remain contractors. Exactly where the line is that will mark the difference between an HCR being a contractor and an employee is not clear. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Postal Service</span> Independent agency of the U.S. federal government

The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U.S., including its insular areas and associated states. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the Constitution of the United States. The USPS, as of 2021, has 516,636 career employees and 136,531 non-career employees.

Canada Post Corporation, trading as Canada Post, is a Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada, rebranding was done to the "Canada Post" name in the late 1960s, even though it had not yet been separated from the government. On October 16, 1981, the Canada Post Corporation Act came into effect. This abolished the Post Office Department and created the present-day Crown corporation that provides postal service. The act aimed to set a new direction for the postal service by ensuring its financial security and independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Package delivery</span> Type of delivery service

Package delivery or parcel delivery is the delivery of shipping containers, parcels, or high value mail as single shipments. The service is provided by most postal systems, express mail, private courier companies, and less than truckload shipping carriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman LLV</span> American light transport truck model

The Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV) is an American light transport truck model, designed as a mail truck for the United States Postal Service, which has been its primary user since it first entered service in 1987, 36 years ago. It also was used by Canada Post. The LLV uses a chassis built by GM based on the S-10 with an aluminum body built by Grumman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mail carrier</span> Postal worker

A mail carrier, also referred to as a mailman, mailwoman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman, postperson, letter carrier, or colloquially postie, is an employee of a post office or postal service who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses. The term "mail carrier" came to be used as a gender-neutral substitute for "mailman" soon after women began performing the job. In the Royal Mail, the official name changed from "letter carrier" to "postman" in 1883, and "postwoman" has also been used for many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia Post</span> National Post services of Australia

Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is the government business enterprise that provides postal services in Australia. The head office of Australia Post is located in Bourke Street, Melbourne, which also serves as a post office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Noble Tyner</span> American politician

James Noble Tyner was a lawyer, U.S. Representative and U.S. Postmaster General from Indiana. Tyner was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1869 serving three terms until 1875. While in the House, Tyner opposed granting railroad subsidies, promoted gradual western industrial expansion, and spoke out against Congressional franking privilege. In 1873, Tyner voted for the Salary Grab pay raise and bonus that prevented him from getting the fourth-term Republican Congressional nomination. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Tyner Second Assistant Postmaster General in 1875 then U.S. Postmaster General in 1876 serving until 1877. Tyner served as Assistant Postmaster General under President Rutherford B. Hayes until 1881. In October 1881 Tyner was forced to resign his Assistant Postmaster General position by President Chester A. Arthur, for his assumed knowledge of Star Route postal frauds and for giving his son, whom Tyner had appointed Superintendent of the Chicago Post Office, a $1,000 salary increase. Afterwards, Tyner served as Assistant Attorney to the U.S. Post Office Department from 1889 to 1893 and from 1897 to 1903. Tyner was forced to resign his office of Assistant Attorney by Postmaster General Henry C. Payne in April 1903, whereupon under investigation Tyner was indicted and put on trial for fraud and bribery charges. Tyner was acquitted from all charges for lack of evidence after his family controversially removed pertinent papers from his office safe. In poor health, Tyner died the following year. After a brief biographical article of Tyner in 1906, modern historical research on his life and career has been limited. Initially coming into Washington as a mid west Representative and reformer, Tyner's political career would be associated by controversy and scandal. He was the last surviving Grant cabinet who served in federal office into the 20th Century. Tyner, an expert in the Postal Service, was appointed and served as a delegate to the International Postal Congresses in 1878 and 1897, having the confidence of Republican Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post office box</span> Rented mailbox at a post office

A post office box is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office.

Mail fraud and wire fraud are terms used in the United States to describe the use of a physical or electronic mail system to defraud another, and are U.S. federal crimes. Jurisdiction is claimed by the federal government if the illegal activity crosses interstate or international borders.

Rural delivery service refers to services for the delivery of mail to rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Association of Letter Carriers</span> U.S. labor union

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) is an American labor union, representing non-rural letter carriers employed by the United States Postal Service. It was founded in 1889. The NALC has 2,500 local branches representing letter carriers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Design–build, also known as alternative delivery, is a project delivery system used in the construction industry. It is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design–builder or design–build contractor. It can be subdivided into architect-led design–build and contractor-led design–build.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Mail scandal</span> 1934 US political scandal

The Air Mail scandal, also known as the Air Mail fiasco, is the name that the American press gave to the political scandal resulting from a 1934 congressional investigation of the awarding of contracts to certain airlines to carry airmail and the subsequent disastrous use of the U.S. Army Air Corps to fly the mail after the contracts were revoked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Packet trade</span> Type of oceangoing cargo wherein shipments are made on a regular schedule

Generally, packet trade is any regularly scheduled cargo, passenger and mail trade conducted by ship. The ships are called "packet boats" as their original function was to carry mail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rural Free Delivery</span> American mail delivery program

Rural Free Delivery (RFD), since 1906 officially rural delivery, is a program of the United States Post Office Department to deliver mail directly to rural destinations. The program began in the late 19th century. Before that, people living in rural areas had to pick up mail themselves at sometimes distant post offices or pay private carriers for delivery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rural letter carrier</span> Letter carriers in rural areas

Rural letter carriers are United States Postal Service and Canada Post employees who deliver mail in what are traditionally considered rural and suburban areas of the United States and Canada. Before Rural Free Delivery (RFD), rural Americans and Canadians were required to go to a post office to get their mail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Rural Letter Carriers' Association</span>

The National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) is an American labor union that represents the rural letter carriers of the United States Postal Service. According to its statutes, the purpose of the Association is to "improve the methods used by rural letter carriers, to benefit their conditions of labor with the United States Postal Service (USPS), and to promote a fraternal spirit among its members."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star Route scandal</span> 19th century U.S. Postal Service delivery route contract award scandal

The Star Route scandal was a political scandal in the United States, stemming from allegations of bribery and bid rigging in the United States Post Office Department which came to light as early as 1872 and which were the focus of public scrutiny following the election of President James A. Garfield. There were no fewer than four federal investigations into bribery in the postal service from 1872 through 1883. The scandal and public reaction to it contributed to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Fields</span> American mail carrier (c. 1832 – 1914)

Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary, was an American mail carrier who was the first Black woman to be employed as a star route postwoman in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Package tracking</span>

Package tracking or package logging is the process of localizing shipping containers, mail and parcel post at different points of time during sorting, warehousing, and package delivery to verify their provenance and to predict and aid delivery.

References

  1. ↑ National Postal Museum. "What is a Star Route?" Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  2. ↑ J. Martin Klotsche (December 1935). "The Star Route Cases". The Mississippi Valley Historical Review 22.3: 407-418. JSTOR   1892626.
  3. ↑ "What is a Star Route? | National Postal Museum". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  4. ↑ Grossman, Mark (2003). Political corruption in America: an encyclopedia of scandals, power, and greed . ABC-Clio. pp.  308–309. ISBN   978-1-57607-060-4. A.J. Creswell Scandal.
  5. ↑ Ingersoll, Robert. Opening remarks to the jury in the second Star Routes trial December 21, 1882. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  6. ↑ Hendel, David; Mangel, Laura (October 2005). "You Think You're a Postal Contractor – But Maybe You're an Employee!". Akerman Senterfitt. Archived from the original on 2007-11-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.