The Winslow mail., 1912-03-09
DOINGS
at THE
CAPITAL.
,t9l
S@e<S(/-


been before the Senate Postofflce Com
mittee which is investigating. Parcels
Post. He declared himself in favor Of
beginning with rural system, then to
operate city systems and then take
over the railway express business
within year, thus making a general
system. BOssing mails, savings banks,
government monopoly of express bus
mess and telegraphs, Gen. Hitchcock
would have a considerable army of
Government employees. The reason for
entering upon an era of National Socia-
lism is about the same which Caesar
gave for crossing the Rubicon, "the
general welfare. Some people are
wondering what President with less
respect for the Constitution than Presi-
dent Taft might do with such an army.
The Democratic Editorial Associa.
ton of Indiana in session has asked
the Republican Editorial Association of
Indiana to cooperate in opposing the
Postmaster Generals recommendatio
for doubling postage rates upon news
papers, "leaving for future determina-
ton such additional increase as may
be found necessary. II asks instead,
that charges for Garage of second-class
mail be made according to distance.
A. d. Moffatt, of Elwood, Ind, is chair
man of the Committee. He will be glad
to receive expressions. Meanwhile the
Postoffice Department advocates rails
ing the merchasdise limit now to eleven
pounds with charges regardless of dis
tance.
Harmon headquarters will be in
charge of Ex-Congressman Gordon of
Ohio. Congressman generally say that
Gov. Wilson has written too much
which would be prejudicacial to can
didate. Roosevelt headquarters are be-
ing established here.
The Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion has asked representatives of all
express companies to give it detailed
information upon thrity-four questions.
Its hearings have been discontinued
few days to allow information collect
ed. Meanwhile the Senate Postotfice
committee is examining representa-
tives Of express companies. The gen.
eral sentiment is that the Interstate
Commerce Commission has ''made
good. When it was organized, some
people said commissions accomplished
gets through with the express compa-
MES, there will be as little use for Par
cells Post as there was for government
ownership and operation of railroads.
after it regulated railroad rates, and
that thereby Uncle Sam will save from
fifty to seventy-f1ve million dollars per
year required for equipment and re-
built postoffices and an operation de-
ticir $50, 100000 yearly. 1t proved that
the Government did not have to own
the railroad to prevent railroads own
ing the Government. Possibly the com
mission may investigate the cost OF
Parcels Post systems abroad. It to gen.
orally known that Government opera
tion is most expensive. Such expend-
itures, it is said, would necessitate con-
t;nuance of high traiff duties to afford
revenue; and, to save few cents year
ly to each person on carriage of parcels
the people would thus saddle them
selves with load of Government debt.
In comparing rates, the commission
would, of course, consider that labor
and similar costs are much cheaper in
Europe
Following the recommendation of
Postmaster General Hitchcock that the
Government condemn and operate the
telegraph systems = the wireless and
air ships not being specified :. Presi-
dent Taft has recommended that the
Government build and own railroads
in Alaska. Defense of the recommen-
dation is made that. because merchau-
disc is carried incidentally to matter
of intelligence, advocates of Parcels
Post say the nation is already in the
transportation business and that we
now have Parcels Post. From Alaskan
to nationwide railroad operation would
appear to he simple.
At joint meeting of the Board of
Grade, Chamber of Commerce and Re-
tail Merchants Association of Lynch
berg, Va, the Southern Home Develop.
ment Association was started. Dele.
gates will tour Virginia, organizing
The Association opposes enlarged Gov
ernment carriage of merchandise for
distant concerns as cheaply as for
nearby industries and further en-
trance by the Federal Government into
fields of private enterprise. Represen-
tatives of these organizations saw in