The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-09-25

zones IL Is necessarily TO certain extent
experimental, and one of Its best features
is the power II gives the postoflice de-
partmert 10 change these II necessary for
a proper working of the plan.
"Tbe weight limit for the present was
fixed at II pounds, that being the inter-
national weight limit, and with this limi-
tstion in weight the department can be-
gin business at once with its present
equipment, and II found practicable the
weight limit can be increased later. 1t
will no doubt increase the revenues from
the rural routes, thus reducing or wiping
out the loss that has heretofore resulted
from their operation, and will, believe,
enable the department more rapidly to
extend the rural servics where asked for
and pay better salaries to the carriers.
II sm glad that l was a member OF the
Congress which finally enacted parcels
post law. and that 1t is OF so liberal a
character. Ii is nearly twenty years
since the agitation for parcels post leHisls-
ton began, but while favored by the
postotice department and demanded by
people generally, yet the opposition of the
express companies, IS well as of local
merchants who feared they might he in
jured by it, has prevented its adoption. l
found the majority leaders of the House,
snd some Of the minority leaders, much
opposed to it and by sharp parliamentary
prsotice they prevented q roll call on this
issue in the House until about the close OF
the session, The fight against It WAS very
bitter and skillfal, one method being 10
divide those fsvoring parcels post legisls-
ton into different groups, supporting
different bills and Thus preventing their
being united in favor Of some fair and
honest proposition.
Il made short speech in favor of
rule which enabled US to incorporate
parcels post provisions into the post othce
appropriation bill and afterwards spoke
in fsvor OF liberal measure, not only
for rural routes hni for general parcels
post and against the provisions Of The
House Bills Ss originally brought in.
These originSl provisions were in every
WSy unsatisfactory; for service on rural
routes they were sosurd Snd the general
pE-osls posi- provision Was merely for $
"a, rats of y cents pound all over the
coUnsry, which would he Of no value.
TIE usjoriiy in the Souse would not
permit smsodnsats 10 be made. The
bal vssi - tbs SsoSie, where il was
sDs0iei oy Substituting The bill pre-
pared by Ssossor Bourne, who has made |
sn exhaustive study on the subjec, and |
the workings Of fssch lsws in other coun- |
tries. As finally passed it is substantially |
BoGrne's bill, with amendments |
giving greater powers to the department
n order to regulate its workings.
This measure consider real progress
i've legislation. ] have been in favor of
1t for years, aud during the campaign in
which ] was elected to Congress l prom
sed to support it. Notwithstanding the
opposition of the special interests opposed
10 it, did so. l not only spoke for it,
but solicited support from other men,
bers, which is the most effective way to
aid the passage of bill. l made good
my promise to the people of my district
in this respect and sm now a candidate
for reelection, and it remains for the
people OF my district to make good to me.
~ also favored the creation of PERM
anent non-psrtissn tariff commission to
gather reliable information so that Con-
gress may act intelligently upon tariff
bills. l regret that the majority of the |
House defeated this measure, which l
consider the most progressive legislation |
ever proposed along this line, and 1 am
confident that the rank and file of all |
parties agree with me.
81 voted for the bill providing for the |
election of U. S. Senators by vote of the |
people, for the campaign expense pub
Lefty bill, for all progressive measures in |
Ihe interest of the lsboring men and for
The betterment of the condition of the |
people.
"lf any one wants to know my position |
as to progressive legislation. l point to |
my record, and l believe the people of
my district are sufficiently intelligent to
realize that record of votes is more to be |
relied upon than world Of promises. In
my case have made good every |
promise"