The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-08-11
BROWN DEFENDS SENATOR
bRyAN'S POSITION IN THE
PARCEL POST MATTER


Dear Sir-I note some criticism
In the columns of the press. of Sena
tor Bryan, both favorable and other
wise. relative to his views on tn,
parcel post matter.
Among the most recent articles II
an editorial in the Tampa Times OF
Friday the Sth inst. in effect stat
ing that the Tampa Times among
other friends Of Senator Bryan's, OBJ
served his action with disappoint-
ment and regret.
cannot understand what Senator
Bryan's friends or any one else
would have him do, except to do his
conscientious duty as he sees it. It
is true that his stand is not popular
at this time, but l attribute this to
the fact that he is misunderstood in
the matter. He is not opposing nor
has he opposed reduction of rates
Of the parcel post system.
Congress in the same identical bill
which enlarged the parcel post pro-
vided for joint committee Of the
two Houses to further consider the
question Of the parcel post, and as
certain whether or not it could be
enlarged and extended.
Senator Bryan was a MEMBER of
this committee endeavoring to inves-
tigate whether or not it could be
enlarged; this committee on postof-
fee and post roads had been securing
data and information from every
country that had a parcel post es-
tablished. They had received infor-
nation from all of these sources rel
ative to this matter with the excep-
tion Of our own postmaster general.
1t was natural to presume II the
department could not furnish any in
formation asked for by the commit
tee as to whether or not the present
system was on paying basis or
creating deficit, the department
certainly was not in position to
make radical reduction in the rates
without reckless disregard Of the
consequences. It is stated on good
that the present plans
were worked out by subordinates in
the postal department, and not only
has their plan been severely criti- !
cized. but their ability has been Sc /
riously questioned by no less an au :
thority than Congressman Kindel of
Colorado.
Senator Bryan's opposition to that
particular clause in the act of Aug.
"a, 1912, giving the postmaster !
general this arbitrary power to read
INTO the law is we'll founded and JUS
.ified by the act of Mr.. Burleson in
the special parcel post
stamp. So now We cannot know.
except by estimate, either the rev.
,nues of the government or the ex-
,enditures Of the government, In
his t particular branch of the serv-
ce. If he would make such dras-
ic order as this, on the 9Th of
larch, only two days in office,
hereby putting his own department
t sea as to specific information and
casting aside an act of
congress, and then again when the
has spent about one year
this complex problem and
eeking information to work out a
sasible, stable, substantial and en-
uring parcel post system that
ould be practical and create conf
ence in the public mind from its
lception founded on experience and
lcts, Mr.. Burleson then again, on
le recommendation OF subordinates,
ITS into effect the last order in
easing the weight Of packages to y
venty pounds. q
| think it another demonstration
the fallacy of bestowing legisla- 4
We powers upon an executive part q
the government, and further dem 2
strates the wisdom of Senator
'yan in his consisten, and persist
t fight on the particular clause.
WINS the postmaster general that
btrary power.
| believe Senator Bran will vote
+ and work as hard for the relief
the common people as any one in
ngress. We cannot expect to
nduct a government business at
IS. II It Is a fact that the parcel
1t system can handle six pound
ckage, one thousan. miles on the
ne rain that he express carries
other six pound package one thou
Id miles, and the government pay
,ir employees $50 per month and
J express company pay their en-
yes $45 per month, and the par
post rate being A cents and the
,ress rate 80 cents for like pack
J, 1t seems to me that the inter-