The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-01-29

1
other provisions of the parcel post
law are necessary, the postmaster gen
eral. after consultation with the In
terstate commerce commission, and
1 on It's approval, can make such
changes by executive order as he sees
| at.
| It, is known that Mr.. Hitchcock is
| extremely advanced in his ideas of
what the post ONCE department should
have within its Jurisdiction. 1t is
said he holds that the express COM
| panies for years have been infringing
upon the natural rights OF the postal
service, and that therefore the TAX
| ing over Of the business Of the COM
panies ought to follow In order that,
from the Hitchcock point OF view. the
government should have a monopoly
In postoffice business Of all kinds
which he thinks belong to It
A bill already has been prepared
and introduced into congress by Rep
resentative Lewis OF Maryland and
Representative Cooke Of Ohio looking
to the ultimate taking over Of the ex-
press companies by the United States
government Now 1t would be per
fectly possible for the government un-
der the clause in the law which al
ready has been quoted. gradually to
extend the parcel post until the neId
of the express companies had been 30
intruded upon that they might be
forced out OF business without any re-
compense. 1t seems. therefore. to be
the intention Of the proponents of
government ownership, to take anoth-
er course, and to propose that the ex-
press companies business be taken
over, and that they be paid a fair
sum for what they give up. and that
the stockholders, shall be reimbursed
for their investments.
1t seems likely that. II Congress
shall listen attentively to the propos-
al for the taking over Of the express
companies business. dollar for dollar
will be paid for all the valuable rights
and properties that are received after
a properly constituted board has de-
cided the matter. 1t may be, and Der.
haps will be. that years will elapse be-
fore the sentiment of congress will
allow the government to enter into the
express business Wholesale. Perhaps
the day Of such a proceeding never
will come, but the plans are laid to
make the attempt and the proposal
ponents in the two houses Of con-
gress as they are at present consti-
tuted.
Useless Tariff Hearings.
Representative Oscar w. Under
wood and his Democratic colleagues
a majority of the ways
and means committee already have |
heard the pleas and the protests
On chemicals, on earthenware. glass
ware, metals and a host of other |
.hings and they will go on hearing |
the fors" and the againsts" on other |
IMPORTS until the last day of this |
month and then they will prepare tar
II revision measures In virtually the |
same form as those made ready at |
he last session
1t is probably true that the repre-
entatives Of high protection who are
low In Washington to be heard by |
he ways and means committee fully
ealize that their pleas will be of no
erVIce, for they made the same pleas
t the last session and then the com
nittee went ahead and wrote such
his as seemed right from the Demo
ratio standpoint, and this is exactly
What is going to be done at the extra
ession. The hearings have been
ranted for the purpose of giving ev-
rybody a chance to say what he
hooses and to allow no opportunity
Of anyone to complain, when the bills
re presented. that only one side OF
ne case was heard
No "Cut to the Bone"
AS has been said before. 1.-The Demo
rats are not going to cut the tariff to
he bone" This much is assured and
o one here seems to be particularly
cared over the result to business
hen the new laws shall come into
'rce- The high protectionists through
leir representatives predict disaster.
ut few of the members of congress
semfngly believe the predictions. At
ny rate the Washington legislators
the protection ranks are preserving
remarkable equanimity IL they think
lat the precipice is Just ahead and
lat business soon Is to break its
ones at the bottom of the abyss.
The tariff hearings in the house
'mmittee on ways and means will
Id on Friday. January 81. II Mr..
'ilson shall call congress together
extra session on March rs Mr..
Underwood and his comrades win
i've six weeks time In which to pre-
ire their tariff bills. If it were not
r the clerical work involved the
ing could be done in a week. for a
cure copying guide is to be found
many cases in the bills which went
rough the house last year
Protection to Make Its FIGHT.
1t will not surprise anybody IL the
representatives. get through with
cir tariff debate by the end of the
st week in April. The time of de-
tie In the house Will be limited. but .
'reno E. Payne, Joseph w. Fordney /,
ID some others of the protection
A. Il