Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-02-07

servatives.
One wonders II the public generally
realizes that without any additional
legislation 1t is within the power OF
Uncle Sam to enlarge the parcel post
operations to an almost unlimited ex-
tent under the authority which the
law gives to the postmaster general
acting with the Interstate commerce
commission.
Hitchcock Has the Power.
The law provides that II the pres
ent system does not work we'll and
economically and II notifications or
extension OF the zone system and OF
other provisions OF the parcel post
law are necessary, the postmaster gen
eral, after consultation with the in
terstate commerce commission. and
on Its approval. can make such
changes by executive order as he sees
at.
1t Is known that Mr.. Hitchcock IL
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 o. view. the
government should have a monopoly
In postofflce 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.
fectiy 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 field
Of the express companies had been so
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 q fair
sum fo- what they give up. and that
the stockholders shall be reimbursed
for their Investments.
1t seems likely that, IL congress
stcll listen attentively to this 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 per.
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
make the attempt and the proposal
has perhaps as many friends as p
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
forming a majority OF the ways
and means committee already have
heard the pleas and the protests
on chemicals. on earthenware. glass.
ware. metals and host Of other
things 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.
In revision measures In virtually the
same form as those made ready at
the last session.
1t ia probably true that the repre-
sentatives of high protection who are
now in Washington to be heard by
the ways and means committee fully
realize that their pleas will be of nc
service. for they made the same pleas
at the last session and then the com
mittee went ahead and wrote such
bills as seemed right from the Demo
cratic standpoint, and this IL exactly
what is going to be done at the extra
session. The hearings have been
granted for the purpose of giving ev-
erybody a chance to say what he
chooses and to allow no opportunity
for anyone to complain. when the bills
are presented. that only one side of
the case was heard.
No "cut to the Bone"
As has been said before. the Demo
Gratis are not going to cut the tariff to
the bone" This much is assured and
no one here seems to be particularly
scared over the result to. business
when the new laws shall come into
force The high protectionists through
their representatives predict disaster.
but few OF the members of congress
seemingly believe the predictions. At
any rate the Washington legislators
Of the protection ranks are preserving
remarkable equanimity II they think
that the precipice is just ahead and
that business soon Is to break It's
bones at the bottom of the abyss.
The tariff hearings in the house
committee on ways and means will
end on Friday. January 81 II Mr.
Wilson shall call congress together
In extra session on March Is Mr.
| Underwood and his comrades will
have six weeks time in which to pre-
pare their tariff bills. II It were not
for the clerical work involved the
thing could be done in a week. for a
secure copying guide is to be found
in many cases in the bills which went
through the house last year
lar