Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-18

phone lines of the land Alexandra Berard,
the present head of this wonderfully COM
plicated department. began life as bar
rister and doctor OF laws. He is a Prot
estant. from the department of the Ain, in
the mountains close TO Switzerland. and
he is the author % a minute and studious
History of the Waldensees, that curious,
old midde-agc Protestant sect. Of whom
many Americans have been taught a great
deal and who st'll flourish, seemingly a kind
of Quakers.
Berard is by taste a man OF study and
research. Besides Lis well-known History
he is author of many works of local history
and customs of the inhabitants OF his be-
loved mountains, well two books
political economy. He is much looked up
to in his native region. As a politician, I
have said. he was elected to the chamber of
deputies a radical republican-somethng
almost moderate in these days of socialists
and radical socialists. He has held his dep
utys seat twelve years, and still holds ii.
In 1893 he served a term assistant attor-
ney general at Grenoble. while he has been
a member of the general council of his de-
partment since 1855. Finally. he was
appointed to his present high position as
chief of the French post Office department
in 1902. at the formation of the late Combes
ministry.
I have said that he has been criticised.
The picturesque incident around which most
of the criticism clings may be set down
peculiarly PariSian- young and pretty
actress-Mademoiselle Sylvfac. was a tel
ephone subscriber. and the telephone is O.
government service, run by the post office
and therefore directly under NJ. Berard. In
Paris it is a crowded service One often has
delays. Mademoselle Sylviac, desiring to
telephone a lady friend. kept wait
ing that she began to demonstrate. a tel
ephone girl answered her back; and in the
end Mademoiselle Sylviac compared her to
a "cow-girl or cow herder.''
How the Trouble Started.
The telephone girl affirmed that the young
IT her - vyf NJ
word in French. To revenge herself. or to
maintain the dignity of the service. she
promptly unlocked Mademoiselle SyIviac
and reported the incident to her chief.
Mademoiselle Sylviac then found herself
paying for telephone service that she
not allowed to use. There was a big row
because the little incident involved the big
principle of the privilege of a state func-
tionary in the exercise OF his (or herr office.
Alexandra Berard stood by his telephone
girl
'She is state functionaryr' he laid down
categoricaily.
''She is only a petty clerk!" replied Made
moiselle Sylviac's lawyer. The papers took
it up, and theatrical play had its first act
built on the scene in the tribunal of the
Seine, which fined the actress and dignifled
the telephone girl as a true "functionary."
The supreme court, however, reversed this
decision: and the outcome of the row has
been the formation of a rich and powerful
Association of Telephone Subscribers"
that is at the present moment attacking
Subsecretary Berard for the antiquated
machinery and methods of the whole French
telephone service and the high price of the
Paris subscription They have even brought
a lawsuit against him, which is now pend
Ing
Tries to Do Too Much
''The French post office department tries
to do too much" This was the American
tourists conclusion after listening TO the
conversation of patient clerk and a scold-
ing grand dame. Her carriage and footman
waited. She wanted to make sure of get
ting at her house that afternoon uninter-
rupted telephone communication with the
stage of the Opera Comique-a Thursday
matinee.
Il tell you have subscribed to the thea
terphone service!' she repeated.
Yes, madame" answered the patient
clerk, but as your subscription is not for
the entire service you must order each par
ticular hearing from the theaterphone COM
pany In advance. We cannot do that for
you"
She went off storming against the post
office department.; yet the theaterphone is
private money-making concern, merely in
loose kind of partnership with the Paris
post office. 1t has established lines of tele-
phone receivers along the footlights of the
Opera, Opera Comique and leading cafes
concerts. Having "A contract with these es-
adjustments (Which it also advertises) 1t
serves their musical performances to tele-
phone subscribers willing to pay for its
complete or partial service.
We continued wat hing that postal clerk.
The next party at his wicket had heavy
package which the clerk refused too big.
ut weighs less than ten kilos." insisted
the party. Il want to send Ii to Brussels
by the colis-postal service
This Is not the place." replied the clerk
Take it to such-and-such an address,"
Going Into Details.
Then, if you will believe it, the clerk
actually explained to him how the French
government, granting monopolies to the
various railway lines 1t does not itself
operate, demands of them in return. inter
ALA to perform this parcels-post service at
a fixed tariff according to destination and
weight. The local execution of 1t in Paris
is confided to a great business firm organic
ed for the purpose, with 450 local depotS
established in tobacco-debits. wine shops,
etc. For cents it will deliver ten-pound
package to any address in Paris, and for
8 cents any package up to twenty pounds.
By paying cents more you can have the
price of the package collected on delivery.
This capped the climax of my American
friends establishment.
DO you mean to say that the French
post Office department does c. o. d. BUSH
ness for the public?' he exclaimed.
YES for Paris and all France" / an
swered.
ut will go into the collection and dun
ming business next" observed the Ameri-
can.
AS 1 had the pleasure of explaining to
him, it is in that business already, Sub
Berard having extended it to
all France in the second year of his post
The French post Office holds
itself ready to collect, in or out of Paris,
on all kinds of commercial paper whether
protestable or not, all sums up to and in
Guiding 500. And for this remarkable
service. regularly more effective than that
Of an ostensible dunning agency, it charges
only a fixed tax of cents on each par
ticular operation plus a commission on the
amount actually recovered.
1t is no disgrace to have bill present.
ed by the postman in Paris. 1t is an ev-
eryday happening. The disgrace lies in
not paying 1t. The postman is part of
the government. Will you let the govern'
ment know you do not pay your billsy
STERLING HELLO.
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