Church, State, and the Postal Service: The Contentious History of Sunday Mail Delivery

ReligiousLiberty.TV ^ | 5/12/2011 | Michael Peabody

[ReligiousLibertyTV]

The delivery of mail on Sundays in the United States has a fascinating history, and most people do not know that until 1912, the Postal Service routinely delivered mail on Sundays. It was only under pressure from religious and labor organizations that the USPS gradually transitioned to the now-familiar Monday through Saturday schedule.

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Between its inception in 1775 and 1912, postal employees delivered mail seven (7) days a week. In the early 1800s, religious leaders became concerned that employees were forced to work on the “Christian Sabbath,” or Sunday, and began to petition Congress to use its Article I powers to disallow Sunday delivery. This concern reached a fevered pitch in 1810 when Congress required post offices to open at least one hour on Sunday.[1] Outraged that Congress had thus “enforced Sunday desecration,” religious leaders began to clamor for legislation that would outlaw Sunday operations.

[svcw]

Interesting. When I was a kids (a millions years ago), I remember getting mail twice a day, and the mailman was really nice. Boy, have things changed.

[Oratam]

Home delivery of the mail is “relatively” new. The RFD service was a big deal when it was introduced around the turn of the century. How often did rural folks make a trip into town? They most definitely did on Sunday. Why not stop at the P.O. and pick up the mail.

[muawiyah]

Kansas had an area where Sunday delivery still prevailed into the Mid 1970s.

When USPS acted to regularize delivery schedules in that area their two senators and a member of the House went absolutely nuts.

I was involved in that one. Felt good to help eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.

It's never surprising to find members of Congress standing at the ready to perpetuate waste. Many of them are such scum.

[fella]

This gives me an idea. Make all federal employees part time without benefits some would work 4 days a week and others 3 days a week and have the government work 7 days a week. Also do not add any more employees in total numbers.

[Vermont Lt]

In my town they make the carriers walk in most neighborhoods. If they put boxes at the end of the street, or at least the end of the driveway (and this is a suburban area) they could double route and save a ton of money.

I spent four summers delivering mail when I was in college. It was eons ago, but there are tons of ways to save money on normal mail delivery.

And since I now receive 80% of business payments via the postal service...on Friday...I am apprehensive about eliminating Saturday payments. If I miss the Friday deposit cut off the checks are not cleared and in my account until the following Wednesday. And my clients are not apt to care that I lose four days of float. Because they get to keep it.

I AM willing to walk or drive to the end of the street to get my mail. Not a big deal at all.