Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-01
KELLER REPLIES TO LOUD
President Of Letter Carriers Stirred Up
BY the Californian,
ACCUSES HIN or MISREPRESENTATION
Denies that the Postal Employees
Have Raised n Corruption Fund
TO influence Legis-
lation.
Rrom q star correspondent.l

written a letter to the oficial organ OF his
association, the Postal Record, which will
appear in the next issue Of that journal,
bitterly arralgning Representative Loud Of
California, chairman Of the committee on
postofice and post roads, for that gentle
mans opposition to the bill reclassifying
letter carriers. In anslyzing the last speech
Mr.. Loud made In the house on this subject,
Mr.. Keller characteriEes It as a most re-
marksble effort. Remarkable" he says,
Ironically, "for its inaccuracies as well as
Its Misrepresentation" Mr.. Keller, in the
most emphatic language, brands as a lie Mr..
LIQUIDS charge that the carriers are trying to
lobby their bill through congress by the use
OF money.
"Mr. Loud %states,' comments Mr.. Keller,
that an offer to return money collected
for this purpose was made, but that some
OF the branches refused to accept the re-
turn OF that money, and 1t still lies subject
to call This statement is false from be-
ginning to end and l doubt II such a state
ment would ever be made or have been
made were 1t possible for a carrier to per-
sonslly answer such an attack on the floor.
The carriers Of the country have no fund,
either direct or indirect, with which to pur-
chase their increase in salary or any other
legislation. Every carrier knows that, and
l believe Mr.. Loud knows it-at least. he
seems to know everything pertaining to
the carriers private as we'll as public life"
Takes Up Speech In Detail.
Mr.. Keller, in his letter. takes Mr.. LIQUIDS
speech by paragraphs, In order TO show
that the California congressman distorted
the real facts Of the case in a masquerade
OF language. He dismisses a great deal
- ~ -
sideration. but resents vigorously that por-
tion OF Mr.. LIQUIDS speech in which the
latter, according to Mr.. Keller's interpre-
tation. attacks the character Of the letter
carriers. THE portion to which l take
particular exception" says Mr.. Keller, us
that In which Mr.. Loud by inference, seeks
to brand the carriers Of the country as a
lot of criminals. We can pass over his
so-called statistical enumerations; we could
even respect the man for his consistent OPP
position to any measure which he consid-
ers wrong in principle, but we do reserve
the right to protest against the attacks
made upon the integrity Of the letter car
rier, especially when that attack is made
on the floor of the house in a manner and
under conditions which will not permit those
attacked to answer the charges brought
against them" Mr.. Keller speculates as to
the reason of Mr.. LIQUIDS deviation from
the subject under consideration, when the
general deficiency appropriation bill was be-
fore the house and his meandering into a
discussion Of the postal service as we'll as
the salaries of letter carriers.
why any man should 60 out of his way
to attack another" remarks Mr., Keller,
"or- why this question Of salaries OF postal
employees was brought up at a time when
1 raattapa anffralv forafon IN ~ uvara hainQ
considered, / do not know. unless 1t was
done for the purpose of making political
capital Of 1t, as stated by the chairman Of
the committee (Mr. Loud at the very be-
ginning of his speech"
Pleads for Fair Play.
The president Of the association, pleads
earnestly for fair play, an attribute, he
declares, Mr.. Loud Is not afdicted with, and
attacks Mr.. Loud for urging the carriers
be burdened with Increased Sunday work.
Keller goes into a technical discussion OF
the salaries Of letter carriers and their
substitutes, Offering substantiated facts
and figures to prove the emptiness OF MI.
LIQUIDS arguments. that they are sufficiently
remunerated. In conclusion, MI. Keller
says: lone thing. however, Is certain no
attempts to create dissension in the ranks
Of the carriers will ever meet with sue
cess. The carriers have met every con-
dition imposed upon them by presidential
or departmental orders. They ask for an
Increase of pay as a matter OF right ana
Justice. They want It 90 that they may
live, feed and clothe themselves in the
manner expected Of them; but they want
to get 1t honestly. and In striving for bet
ter conditions they will never be led to
abuse either the postofhce clerks or the
railway mail clerks. We believe that these
deserving representatives Of the postal
service are entitled to better conditions,
and. like the carriers, could get them as
a, matter OF right and Justice"
Observing the Issue.
Representative sulzer Of New York when
In Washington stated that among other
J matters which he proposed to discuss In
his campaign was. the bill for the CLASH
heation OF the letter carriers. 81 consider
1t very unseemly," he said. that congress
should continue to appropriate excessive
amounts for the carrying Of the mails by
the railroads and refuse justice to the men
on foot. / was astonished at the attack
made on the postal employees, and partic-
ularly on the letter carriers. by the chair
man of the postonhces committee, Repre-
sentative Loud, toward the close OF the
last session. Mr.. Loud has been a con-
slant opponent Of every effort to increase
the wages OF the postal employees, and Just
as persistent, in behalf Of the great rail
road corporations. Mr.. Loud maintains
that we should resist the assaults on the
treasury that are made by the employees OF
the postal service. especially the letter
carriers, and I would like to know whether
! this is a mere subterfuge In order to keep
US from the real issue, which is the pay
ment Of ten times as much for handling
! and carrying the malls as Is paid fol
carrying express matter. in the same cars
! behind the same engines. on the same
trains and over the same roadbed. / be-
lieve that II the government paid the rail.
roads a fair price. instead Of the present
7 exorbitant rates, we could extend the pos
? tai service beyond anything ever dreamed
: Of In this country, / believe we coult
! have free delivery service In every nOol
! and Granny OF this country and that vi
could have 1-cent postage. and I also be
lleve that for fear we might accidental!
discover what is the real strain on on
r treasury our attention is constantly
I diverted to the postal clerks, the railwa!
! mail clerks and particularly to the lette
carriers, for fear they might impoverisl
us. Mr.. Loud, in his speech on this sub
fact smoke of the substitute carriers earn,