The daily sentinel., 1914-03-05
(By EDWARD KEATISG,)
Congressman at Large from Col
orado.)


orado.)
Washington, d. c. March 5.-''If
| owned the express companies of this
country. would gladly expend fifty
million dollars in order to secure the
adoption of the amendment to the
larccl post law which is now pend
ing in the senate"
This startling statement was made
on the floor of the house a few days
ago by Congressman David Lewis of
Maryland. 'the father of the parcel
post 1t was all the more startling
because IT was uttered by "Davy'
Lewis--as his colleagues lovingly
call him-whose views are always
couched in the most conservative
language. and who seems to have a
constitutional antipathy for anything
suggestive of the sensational
The amendment referred to by
Lewis was prepared by majority of
the senate committee on postoffices
and post roads and attached as rid
or to the postoffice appropriation bill.
1T strips the postmaster general of
the power he now exercises to change
parcel post rates, zones and regula-
tions. and provides that the existing
rates and regulations shall continue
in force until congress authorizes a
change.
There is something fiendishly un-
fair about this attempt to shackle
this young giant who is willing and
ready to render a great public serv-
ice" said Lewis.
He pointed out that congress with
its more than five hundred men,
bers could not assume the RESPONSE
bility for rate making. That was a
task which should be assigned to the
postmaster general and the inter-
state commerce commission and their
corps of expert assistants.
Would Destroy System.
with the postmaster generals
hands tied and the express compan-
les left free to make such changes in
their rates as they see fit, the lat
ter can destroy the parcel post.
Lewis predicted. Then he hurled
his most effective bomb into the
camp OF those who have been attack
ing the postmaster general and at
tempting to discredit the operations
Of the parcel post.
He pointed out that under existing
law we were limited to three hun
dred mile" parcel post, and called at
tention to the bitter criticisms lev
eled at the postmaster general be-
cause the parcel post rates beyond the
three hundrcd-mile limit were high
er than the express rates.
THE reason for that" said he, "is
that the railroads haul express pack
ages for one-half what they charge
the government for hauling parcel
post packages"
up to the three hundred-mile
limit, the parcel post rate is lower
than the express rate, and the gov
ernment is doing practically all of
the business within that limit. If
We attempted to compete with the
express companies beyond that limit
we would bankrupt the treasury"
Lewis proceeded to point out the
remedy: Enact n law compelling
the railroads to haul parcel post
packages at the same rate they now
charge for express packages. That
Will give us a nationwide parcel
post. will result in an immediate cut
of thirty-three per cent In express
rates and save millions annually to
the people
incidentally, as Lewis pointed out,
It would put the express companies
permanently out of business.
Senator Owens Amendment.
Lewis speech tore the mask from
the faces of those who have been
playing the express company's game
by attacking the postmaster general
and prcclaiming the parcel post a
failure. because beyond the three
hundred-mile zone. the parcel post
rates were higher than the express
rates.
Senator Owen Of Oklahoma prompt
ly introduced an amendment to the
postoffice appropriation bill compel
ling the railroads to make the same
rates for parcel post as for express
and tho true friends of the
Inrcel pest prepared to defeat the
Infamous rider which was designed
to tic the postmaster generals hands
OF course. the express companies
will fight to the last ditch. 1t is not
to be. expected that they will cheer
fully acquiesce in the signing OF their
own death warrant. Their advo-
Gates will persistcntly endeavor to
throw dust in the eyes of the public
in the hope that they may thereby
onceal the main issue.
As an example. Senator Bristow of
devoted two days to d dis
cussion OF the. postmaster generals S
action in charging the first parcel
cost zone from fifty to one hundred
md fifty miles. This was most
heinous offense. according to the
senator, and therefore he in
sisted on the imhSdiate adshAion of
he express company rider
He pointed out that it cost as much /
% send q parcel post package from /