The Washington herald., 1907-02-17
Gigantic Losses Suffered by
the Present System.
FAVORS CORPORATE PUBLICITY
Criticism of the Postal Commission
Replied to by Chairman Overstreet.
Weighing the Mails to Save Many
aIiIIiOns-WaII Street Described.

post-ofice appropriation bill Mr. over
street chairman Of the Committee on
Post-offices, occupied more than two
hours in explaining the various provi-
siOns of the measure, especially the
now classification of clerks and car
riers whose salaries are increased under
the bill
He also devoted much attention to the
matter of compensation for railway
mail transportation. Under the lati-
tude of debate, Mr. James, of Ken
tucky, discussed the currency question.
and Mr.. Webb the treaty making
power with regard to the rights Of the
States, and Mr.. Lowden, of Illinois,
talked on publicity.
Mr.. Murdoch. of Kansas. made a
vigorous speech in favor Of a change in
the system of computing the weight Of
mails transported on railroads. By
reason Of an unbusinesslike system,
he said, the government had paid S60,-
100000, more than a fair compensation,
for this service during the last twenty
five years.
His PLAN which is incorporated in the
bill. but which is subject TO a point of
order he said. would save the govern
ment s5,O00 600 year
Mr.. Overstreet, chairman Of the Post
Office Committee, explaining the meas
use, said il was the largest appropria-
ton bin which had ever been brought
into the House. The amount appro-
priated by the bill is S209. 416.S02. Much
of the increase, he said, was made
necessary by reason of the enlargement
OF the rural free delivery service. While
the increase was growing, the receipts
were likewise growing. and were only
about one year behind the increase. Mr..
OversJreet explained at length the char
aCteT OF the increases made in the
salaries Of post-ofice clerks and car
riers provided in the bill. Practically
so per cent of the increase in the bill
Mr.. Overstreet said, was to be paid out
in increase of salary. Discussing the
work of the Postal Commission, he
said.
1T Is with great regret that I have OBJ
served from reading number of papers
throughout the country. in their criticisms
of the reports of the Postal Commission.
an absence Of a fair investigation Of the
report and an eXaggeration of details and
the effect upon the matter of the second
class
We will never be able. in my Judgment.
to reach any kind of satisfactory adjust
ment Of the great problem of the second
class matter of mail unless we can have the
cooperation of the great press OF the coun-
try, daily and periodical. 1t is in the in
teresJ OF those great enterprises that leg
islauon is needed The Anticipated laws
of to-day are scarcely enforceable SO long
as the newspapers and periodicals Of the
country insist upon wholesale criticism,
without fair and reasonable cooperation
on their part, I fear we viii always have
an unfortunate ENHANCEMENT, and a con-
test which viii bring about no fair re-
suits. Much of this INSTRUMENTATION has
been spread abroad with respect 10 the
action of the commission.
I think that the great volume of the
American press should be exonerated from
any such criticisms as / have just made
/ believe in the integrity, the influence,
and high purposes Of that press, and they
can subserve a splendid motive and aid in
cause which has been urged for their
benefit by giving better attention TO the
effoI s. Of honorable gentlemen Of Congress
in studying and seeking 10 bring about
some wise laws which viii result TO their
benefit"
Wall street Described.
Mr. James. of Kentucky in discussing
the currency question, opposed the Fowler
bill, recently reported by the Committee
on Banking and Currency. He said
measure of elasticity could best be OBJ
tanned by the Secretary Of the Treasury
lending to the highest bidder under a COM
pettive plan rather than by giving the
money to the national banks for no in
terest. Wall street, he said, reflected the
mind Of the Secretary of the Treasury.
$50 far as am concerned" continued
Mr.. James, "WaH street is a place where
man is a bull one day and a bear the
next and q hog every day UaughterD
Mr.. Webb, Of North Carolina, addressed
the House on the subject of the treaty.
making power and the States, and referred
10 the Japanese situation.
Mr.. SibIey. Of Pennsylvania, thought the
committee had made too great reduction
IN the pay TO railroads for carrying the
mails He estimated that the cut would
be not less than 50 per cent. which he
thought too heavy a reduction without a
more thorough investigation of the sub
jet
Representative Frank O. Lowden. Of the
Thirteenth Illinois district. made a speech
ia the House In which he held that pub
liCity of corporate operations was to the
interest of both the corporations and the
people. Mr.. LOWden is sOn-in-law of
The late George II. Pullman. and is con-
nected with the Pullman Company and
several large corporations For that rea-
son his remarks We're all the more inter
esting. He said.
Publicity of its affairs would lift the
M an .r.4.H &c
plane. The majority Of men who are
charged with the care Of corporations are
no different from other men II is moi
true that they carry other ideas of bust
ness ethics into corporate management
than obtain with them elsewhere.
1t must be confessed, however, that
there are men in control of CORPORATIONS
whom this visitorial power is needed 10
keep within their proper sphere. Publicity
would restrain them from much thar is
wrong. Equally important, however. is il
10 the great body Of honest corporation
officials. They shrink from taking re-
hates, but II their competitor has this adj
vantage they can see nothing but bust
mess ruin unless they too give way TO
this pernicious practice
Corporations should Desire PubIicI,v
1T is not time for the senseless war
between tEe corporations and the public
20 end? Abuses grow out of corporations
just as they do out of every other human
institution When those abuses come. ana
Congress feels constrained 10 act, what is
the answer Of the corporations themselves?
They suggest nothing but that they be
left alone Corporate ownership is on
trial The time has come when corpora
lions must decide whether they will
ieopardize the security of property for all
the future in order to gain a temporary
advantage to-day. On the one hand is