Catoctin clarion., 1911-06-08
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1911.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

The United State is close to that
postal Utopia, one-cent sealed let
ter rate. For the first time in thirty
years the ,postoftice department is not
only self-supporting, but is bringing
a large revenue to the government.
When we, remember that only two
years ago there was a 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 appricia-
ton of what Postmaster General
Hitchcock has accomplished. He
can do much more if Congress will
but second his efforts, and by the
establishment of a parcels post 99%
of the people of the United States
will be benefited and the federal
government will turn what has here
tofore been.a loosing business into
one of great national profit. At the
present time there is besides the three
million dollars turned back to the
Treasury. full million in the nat
ional postoffice and unless the expen-
ses during this month should prove
extraordinary, the surplus will be
still greater for the fiscal year. Let
it-not be forgotten that the present
administration inherited deficit OF
more than $l7, 100000 dollars, the
largest in the history of the postal
service. This deficit was soon chang
ed after Postmaster General Hitch
cock took charge. In the past it
always has been the custom for the
government to set aside at least ten
millions to meet the deficit of the
general postoffice, but Mr.. Hitchcock
found that he would not have to use
any part of the amount and sent it
back to the Treasury. An account
ing plan was adopted about a year
ago. which insures the prompt deposit
in the Treasury of postal funds not
required for disbursement at post
offices, and to this reform in the
financial system of the postofiice
department. the present much desired
condition is in part indebted.
To be able to send sealed letter
for one cent will mean something to
almost every man, woman and child
in the country. To large business
organizations which spent thousands
of dollars yearly for postage stamps,
it will mean a great saving, but it is
not at all improbable that the gov
ernment will make more through the
onecent postage and its effect in large
ly increasing correspondence than
under the old system. Now, let us
have, the parcels post. OF course,
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
99% OF the people of the United
States, while they may not now know
it or foresee it, will be greatly benefit
ed by the parcels post.
There has been no little interest in
an apparent fight within the democrat
ic House majority, concerning the
tariff on wool in the new bill which
Mr.. Underwood is expected to present
early next week. Mr.. Bryan has
been in Washington and has tried to
influence the Ways and Means Com
mittee in favor of free wool. Mr..
Underwood holds that small tariff
on wool is necessary for revenue.
The contention was waxing warm
and Mr.. Bryan has been criticized,
for his interference. 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 Underwood measure
and that MIR. Bryan will as usual he
d,.feated.
The, Attorney General stated yes
terday that the Department of Just
ies I'm its efforts to control all unlaw-
ful combinations in interstate trade,
would bring criminal charges under
the Sherman law against responsible
persons. The Attorney General gave
this information in his testimony
before the. House Committee on
Expenditures in the Department of
Justice. He then declared that as
a result OF the Standard Oil and