The Washington times., 1910-01-28
Clash Arises on Plan to In
crease Second Rate
Mail Charges.
EDITORIAL CLIPPING
STIRS COMMITTEE
Herbert MyTick Fails TO Specify
Charges When Requested
By Representative Smith.

Such words as treason" anarchy
/ "GTaft," and robbery enIfveued the
hearing this afternoon before the House
Committee on Postofhces and Post
roads, which IS considering a probable
increase in the rate on secOnd-cIass
mail matter, with a view to reducing
! the postal deficit
The excitement in committee reached
its climax when Representative Smith.
OF California, a member Of the commit
tee. charged Herbert 0Iyrick one o.
the publisher witnesses at the hearing,
with melting the farmers OF the coun-
try TO anarchistic tendencies, and Of be-
ing guilt Of treason himself
It all cae about through an editorial
in circular for, which Mr.. 8Iyrick ad-
mitted he was responsible for, which
has been distributed throughout the
country and which sets forth the fact
that the proposed Increase On second
class after is "a fresh robbery about 70
be perpetrated upon the people
Treason Charge Made
When Mr.. Smith leaned across the
desk and said that the man responsible
for the editorial was guilty OF nothing
ore nor less than treason, Nr. Nyrick
rstorted:
question to the Supreme Court OF the
United States"
Yes, and so an T. replied Mr.. Smith.
IN a loud and excited tone. And. fur
thermore, 1 am willing 10 submit il 10
the people Of the country
OIner members Of the committee
seemed TO resent the attacks contained
n the Myrick editorial, taken from a
farmers publication, but Mr.. Smith
took the lead IN denOuncing and ugIes-
uOntng the witness Finally. ReDreSen-
tative Lloyd reminded his colleague that
this was not a court that the witness
was unprotected and that the question
should not be pressed further.
Mr. smith, who had been attempting
to have Mr.. Myrick explain who he be-
HeVed were IN the conspiracy TO rob
the people. said that he would Ndesist.
InaSmuCh as the witness had given an
example of skillful- side-stepping all
along
Mr. Myrick, who followed several 9th
er New York publishers who submitted
arguments that the magazines and peri
odIcals wee not responsible for the
cehclt and that the rate should not be
increased started on calmly De said
that he had the honor 10 represent the
National Agricultural Press League, the
American AETiculturist. the Orange
Judd Farmer, the New England Home
stead, Farm and Home, Good House
keeping and the Phelps Publishing Com
pany-
Il was then that Mr.. Smith flashed
the editorial from the Farm and Home,
which set forth that a new robbery was
about 70 be perpetrated by the Govern
ment. aI.5 that there would be no def
cit IN tle POstofice Department il
graft was eliminated
Explains His Meaning.
A half hour was consumed in en-
deavOring to get NIr- MyriclS TO specify
what graft he referred TO. He SAID that
he did not mean graft in the dishonest
sense. but that one species existing was
In the eXorbitaut rates paid the rail-
roads for mail transportation
The editorial, and also circular, said
that there was a coUUsion on 20 rush
the higher postage bill through Con-
gress before the people became aroused
TO their danger
90 That means nothing less than that
this committee must be in on such q
scheme" said Mr. Smith DO YOU
mean that. sir2''
Mr. EIyrick seemed inclined to hedge
a bit, but assured the committee that
he had utmost faith IN its honesty
Pressed still further, for some OF thB
members were DettIed by this time, Mr.
AIyrick said that n few newspapers and
some railroads interests were IN the
scheme to rush the legislation through.
de refused &c all any names, saying
he didn't ur00C-e 10 advertise them