The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-12-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

A limited parcels post for the rural free
delivery routes will be recommended by
Postmaster General Hitchcock in his
forthcoming annual report In announc
ing this the Postmaster General foresees
the establishment of general parcels
post throughout the country as soon as
the postal savings system'is thoroughly
organized.
As the preliminary step in the develop.
ment of such a service Mr.. Hitchcock
will ask Congress to authorize the de-
livery on rural routes Of parcels weighing
as high as II pounds. which is the weigh,
limit for the international parcels post.
This form of service, it is maintained,
can be conducted with little, if any, adj.
ditional expense to the Government. IL
will not require the appointment of more
carriers, for those already. employed have
the necessary equipmepsto distribute the
parcels as we'll as the ordinary mail.
A rural PARCELS post Of the kind pro.
posed, if successfully conducted, probably
would lesdthe department 10 attempt a
more general system. Mr.. Hitchcock
believes, however, that before the parcels
service is extended to the whole country
definite information should be obtained
fas to the nature and volume of the bust
ness to be handled
~
One result of the recent election, which
promises to occupy large part of the
time of the President, is the number Of
prominent Republicans whose retirement
to private citizenship is not to their lik ing
and who will look to him to take care
Of them" BY use of the appointing power.
Already the friends of defeated Repub.
licsn Senators and congressman whose
terms are about to expire are urging them
for positions. and there promises to be the
liveliest fighting for places this winter
that has been seen in Washington in a
long time. Tremendous pressure will be-
brought to bear upon the President 10
nave him provide for the scores Of Re.
publican statesmen who went down 10 the
Democratic avalanche.
Many of these men have been holding
public Office for years. A numher of the N
have served 50 long in Congress that The,
have come to regard themselves as FIX
lures here and have bought handsome
homes in Washington, which city they
consider their winter home. There are
others, plenty of them, who have been so
long connected with the Governmen,
payroll that the sudden separation from
it leaves them stranded and without real
means of support. So long has the Re-
publican party been in power and so &C
customed have these men become TO
drawing public salaries that the approach
of the day when this salary ceases leaves
them aghast. Naturally their chief
thought is to form new connection with
the payroll. 1t is going to be hard,
hard winter on Mr.. Taft. for many of
these jobless statesmen are old friends OF
his who have stood y the Administration
from the start and who went down to de-
feat shouting for Taft and the tariff.
Many defeated Republican Congress-
men will try to land Federal jobs in their
home States. Oilers aspire 10 Federal
Judgeships; others to positions in the dip
ioma,ic service, and still others to posi-
lions on either the House or Senate side
Of the Capitol. In Maryland Congress-
man Pearre, who was one Of the original
raft men nthe State. got out of the fight
in the primaries at the expressed desire
of the President, and his friends believe
he is entitled to recognition. Both q
judgeship and diplomatic position have
been suggested for Mr. Pearre
Signs indicate that the demand for
Office is going to be almost without
parallel. Some of those who will give up
their seats on March 4 cannot conceive of
a life without Washington. and they are
not going to live. that sort If there is any
way out for them. Taft is the only way
out. and before long he is going to be
greatly bothered.
-.
That Robert M. La Toilette, beginning
with the coming session Of Congress. will
become the most conspicuous figure in the
Senate regardless of party is the deliber
ate judgment of men of clear political