The Forrest City times., 1910-01-28
RURAL ROUTES
ARE QUITE SAFE
PoStOffice Department Has No
Thought of Cutting Them,
Despite the Deficit.
WORTH THE COST INVOLVED
Balinoer.Pinchot Row Stirs UP Much
Bitterness in Washington-Public
Hearings Are Likely to Be
Lively.

Washington-C Congress is making
every effort that it can TO find a way
to cut down the expenses of govern
ment. In former years there has been
the appearance of striving after
saving rather than a real saving it
self, but this year results are being
accomplished. 1t can be said. how
ever. that while there will be pairing
Of expenses in practically all the ar
preparation bills there will be ne at
tempt to curtail expenditures which
will cripple the rural mail deliveries
OF the country.
Postmaster General Hitchcock was
the last of the cabinet chiefs to hand
in his annual report He had a hard
problem to solve. The demands made
by the people on the postoffice de-
partment are greater year by year,
and there is always resentment of any
recommendation that an increased
price should be added to any service
rendered by the department to the
people. Perhaps the country will have
one.cent frst-class postage some time
In the near future, for while the cost
OF maintaining the department is in
creasing 1t is hoped that means will
be found to make the revenues great
er and yet to allow decrease In the
cost Of letter postage.
The postmaster general is a firm
believer in the rural route system.
The delivery OF letters through tbs
country districts costs the govern
ment several millions Of dollars year
more than the returns, but the Inn
mense convenience to the people who
live outside OF the great centers more
tnan oVerbalances. in the eyes OF the
department chiefs. the extra money
needed to continue the service.
Ambitious Plans on Foot.
Demands will be made during the
next year to find some place in which
Tue 1ostoftice department expenses
may be cut materially, and some
medhs by which the income may be
increased without affecting the purses
Vi the great body of the people If
tue present postmaster general can
put his department on a paying basis
he VIII count II a victory sufficient to
make his administration stand in
pright light There seems to be little
'"dhce, however. that affairs can be
% arranged that the pages OF the
iedger Of the postoffice department
VIII balance themselves at the end of
the next year.
O2e thing can be taken for granted
'"t rural route service of the country
vii De strengthened year by year,
even though it be necessary to weak
ca some OF the other branches of the
service.
Satisfied with Antitrust Law.
PRESIDENT Taft seems to have found
10 MS own satisfaction. as shown by
us recent message. that the Sherman
'i,lf1st law is equal to every de-
maau mat the country makes OF II.
ms is the presidents legal opinion.
"uu ahtll some greater lawyer or law.
!efs or group of judges find to the
Nou'iafy 1t probably will have to
s'anu. The fact that the interests
,'"l nave attacked the Sherman law
oeeh so diametrically opposed to
VN0 another seems to have convinced
N'e president that the law must be a
Pety good one. At any rate he has
au''Sed that it remain unchanged on
une statute books.
mere are several celebrated cases
1ly ~" Nhlch the supreme court Of the
uui'ed states has yet to pass judg-
Dieut' cases which came into the
ui'S as result Of the entering of
Hheht prosecution under the
'lhdh law The case OF the Stand
,u oi Company, which was decided
1u'efsely TO the great corporation
WIN come before the high court with.
VT, siioi' elme. The lower court.
o,n "'en sat IN the city of st. Louis, de-
b. "ieu the Standard Oil Company TO
~, corporation in restraint of trade
4'e was a Sherman law case and II
- eApected that within a few weeks
supreme court will decide it.
sitterness in Pinchot Row.
"hen the members of the committee
M ~ investigation into the Ballineer.
hnot controversy get into the real
60. ot thelr work the case unoues.
Sonaoiy will prove to be one of the
.ost interesting which has ever been
,os atu IN the capital 1t would be hard
~ ~. anyone at distance to realize
g. ae intensity of feeling that there is
srSl . 'nis city over the matter, which con.
Sss mas finally taken into it's own
ss nas at the request of Secretary of
ene Interior Ballinger.