Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-07-23
Claim IS Made That Congress
Alone Has Authority to Make
Changes in Law Regulating
Postal Service,
COMM ITTEE SUMMONS
POSTMASTER GENERAL
Lively Contest Develops and
Senators Show Themselves
Jealous Of Official Prerog-
atiyeS,


tar sosnuHo Iouasal sseciAl lpsvHu ~lssi
Washington. july s2--Conccrted
opposition has developed IN congress
TO Postmaster General Burlcsons or
der reducing parcel post rates ana In
'creuslng the maximum size OF pack
ages 70 be handled in the service The
lorder was issued sunday, 10 become
detective August 18th. and today the
senate postonice committee requested
Mr. Burlcson TO appear before the
committee next Thursday with an ex-
planation of the authority Tor his ac-
ltlon
This was the first step I'm what
promises to be "a bitter contest. when
the postmaster general has been heard
the committee is expected to under
take 10 have withdrawn before Au-
gust ljth any authority he may claim
congress has given him To change
rates and sizes II was contended in
the committee that the proposed
changes would entail loss 10 the gov
eminent and some of the members
complained s.renuously that the post
office department had failed TO furn-
.ish congress with data concerning the
operation of the parcel post Ap-
'pmently there was no defense Of OPP
whether the postmaster general should
Ichange the rates. democrats and re-
lpuhlicans agreeing that only congress
Ought TO have this power
The controversy has aroused cytru-
ordinary interest at the oapitl aud
In official circles. since the parcel post
touches more on less directly nearly
everybody in The country
Those who ARE sutportlng the post
muster general IN his stand insist that
the only loss imminent under the pro-
posed changes would be 60 the express
companies which now carry the
Droiit-making large sized packages.
while the government transports the
Improbable small ones
Although members Of the commit
tee contend that 1t is mere un-
grammatical tumble of words without
sense or power department officials
say the postmaster general is given
ample authority for his order hy the
following section of the parcels post
law.
"1he classification Of articles mall
able as well as the weight and rates
uf postage, zone or zones or other
conditions OF Availability under this
act If the postmaster general shall
find by experience that they or any
of them are such as to prevent the
shipment of articles desirable, or 10
permanently render the cost of the
service greater than the receipts of
the revenue thcrcfrom. he Is herby
authorized subject to the consent OF
the Interstate commerce commission
after Investigation "a reform from
time to time such classification. limit.
weight rates, zone or zones or con
ditions, or either In order TO promote
the service 10 the public ur 10 insure
the receipt of revenue from such SER
vice adequate to pay the cost thereof
TINS language was put into the bill
~ conference Just at the close OF con-
gress. The enactment OF the bin was
delayed for a time by senator Bryan.
of Florida who objected 10 the pro-
posnl to allow the postmaster general
10 iucreusc rates senator Bryan on
April -, last, introduced IA bill To re-
peal the clause I'm question and after
Mr. Burlcsons appearance he wilt
urge a favorable report on this mea-
sure
Some members Of the committee
'ontcnd that other clauses in the bill
how congress never dreamed" the
'ates and sizes agreed upon by them
'hould be lowered SO quickly after the
'ont to the creation Of Il Joint com
nttee to inquire into the subject of
general parcel post not only as
violence that congress intended the
ates should stand while the commit
ee WAS at work, but that congress be-
Icved 1t has the power to change the
ate. and sizes
Friction between congress and the
ostmdster general Is said 10 have
risen on several points The senate
is said To be chagtined be-
ause the postmaster general an
ounced his proposed changes before
ending the committee "A reply. TO 81
a1ucst for his opinion on the Bryan
~ Consideration of the bin had
cen delayed pending his RESPONSE.
The Joint committee TO investigate
arccl post composed Of members OF
le senate and public postoffice COM
littees is dissatisfied too. because the
quest of It's chairman, Senator
rlstow, for data, has brought no
'sults