The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-06-09
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
(From Our Regular Cores pondent.)
Washington. June 2. 1911.


The United States is close to that pos
tai utopia, a one-cent sealed letter rate.
For the first time in thirty years the Post
Office Department is not only self support
ing, but is bringing large revenue to the
government. When we remember that
only two years ago there was deficit of
more than seventeen millions Of dollars
and that there is now surplus OF three
millions, involving a change of twenty
millions, we can have some appreciation
of what Postmaster General Hitchcock
has accomplished. He can do much
more if Congress will but second his
efforts, and by the establishment of
parcels post 90 per cent of the people of
the United States will be benefited and
the federal government will turn what has
heretofore been loosing business into one
of great national profit, AT the present
time there is besides the three million
dollars turned back to the Treasury a full
million in the national postoffice and un-
less the expenses during this month should
prove extraordinary, the surplus will be
still greater for the fiscal year. Let ii not
be forgotten that the present administra-
ton inherited deficit of more than SI7,-
500, 600 dollars, the largest in the history
of the postal service. This deficit was
soon changed after Postmaster General
Hitchcock took charge. In the past it
always has been the custom for the gov
ernment to set aside at least ten millions
to meet the deficit of the general post
office. but Mr.. Hitchcock found that he
would not have TO use any part of the
amount and sent il back to the Treasury.
An accounting plan was adopted about a
year ago, which insures the prompt de-
post in the Treasury of postal funds not
required for disbursement al postoifices.
and to this reform in the financial system
of the Postofice Department the present
much desired condition Is inpart indebted.
To be able to send a sealed letter for
one cent will mean something to almost
every man, woman and child in the
country, To large business organizations
which spend thousands Of dollars yearly
for postage stamps, it will mean great
saving. but it is not at all improbable that
the government will make more through
the one-cent postage and its effect in
largely increasing correspondence than
under the old system Now, let us have
the parcels post. Ofcourse there will be
a swarm Of lobbyists opposing it. headed
by the express companies and the railway
companies and all who have stock in
them, but 90 per cent. of the people of
the United States, while they may not now
know it or forsee it, will be greatly bene-
fited ythe parcels post.
There has been no little interest in an
apparent. fight within the Democratic
Honse majority, concerning the tariff on
wool in the new bill which Mr. Under
wood is expected to present early next
week. Mr. Bryan has been in Washing
ton and has tried to influence the Ways
and Means Committee in favor of free
wool Mr. Underwood holds that small
tariff on wool is necessary for revenue.
The contention was waxing warm aud
Mr. BRYAN has been criticized for his in
reference Mr.. Underwood pointing out
that when Bryan was in Congress he
voted for the Wilson Bill, which levied
tax on wool. 1t is expected that the
Democratic caucus will approve the Un.
derwood measure and that Mr. Bryan
will as usual be defeated.
The Attorney General stated yesterday
that the Department of Justice in its efforts
to control all unlawful combinations in IN
terstate trade. would bring criminal
charges under the Sherman law against
responsible persons. The Attorney Gen
eral gave this Information in his testimony
before the House Committee on Expen-
ditures in the Department of Justice. He
then declared that as result of the
Standard Oil and Tobacco cases decis-
ions, juries will now be disposed to con
vict and judges to impose sentences
under the penal provisions of the law
Representative Beall, of Texas, had ask
ed the Attorney General why there had
been so few criminal convictions under
the Sherman anti trust law. The Attor
ney General answered that in the past
juries had shown reluctance to convict
and the courts to impose prison sentences.
He attributed this to the uncertainty as
to the import of the law, now made clear
bv the Supreme Court decisions.