The citizen., 1914-03-13
Senator Lee Takes up the Cud-
gel in Behalf of the Admins
trations S Postal Policy.

An incident occurred in the debate on
the Postoffice Appropriation Bill in the
Senate. illustrating the systematic effort
which is being made to produce the
public impression that the President is
unduly influencing Congress.
Senator Bristow had reflected upon
some Parcel Post rates in Maryland and
called upon Senator Lee to say what he
thought about them. This gave the SEN
ator from Maryland chance to expose a
little by plav that had taken place on a
previous day between three Senators,
continuing this somewhat hackneyed
effort to impress the public mind with
The aggressiveness of the present admin
istration. The amendments offered to
the Postoffice Bill were designed to take
away from the Postmaster-G General the
executive power which was given him by
a previous Act of Congress over the
Parcels Post. The shoe was clearly on
the other foot, but the effort to suggest
Executive encroachment on Congress
went on all the same. The situation is
shown IN the following extract from the
debate:
Senator BrIstow had been discussing
the rates in Maryland:
| wish TO ask the Senator from Mary
land-I see that he is here now-if he be-
lieves that it is just system oil rate
making to permit citizen Of Philadel-
phia to land goods in the suburbs of Bal
timore for one-lourth OF the amount of
expense that is imposed upon the Bali.
more citizen?
Now we come to the State of Mississ-
ippi. have been pleased to see the
Senator from Mississippi present this af-
ternoon.
Mr.. Lee of Maryland. Mr. President
The Presiding Officer. Does the Sen
ator from Kansas yield to the Senator
from Maryland?
Mr.. Brislow. yield to the Senator.
Mr.. Lee of MARYLAND | am not very
familiar with the rates, and | certainly
would not say off hand, upon a mere
prima facie appearance of inequality, the
whole system was badly adjusted or that
the whole system was inequitable There
is certainly nothing in the individual in
equality that the Senator points out that
should in any sense justify Congress in
taking away from the Postmarter Gen
eral the power 10 arter the inequality
If may make further remark with
the permission OF the Senator from
Kansas
Mr. Bristow Yes.
Mr.. Lee of Maryland. I was very
much impressed yesterday in listening to
the invocation of the spirit of George
Washington by the Senator from Flor
ida, (Mr. Bryan with which the Sena-
tor from Iowa and the Senator from
Utah seemed 10 sympathize. There was
a sort OF passage of sympathy and un-
AArcfo,,Ii,,rr hi tI,.
was disapproval in the atmosphere
Of the aggressiveness of the Executive
Department is encroaching-I think that
was the word quoted from the Farewell
Address of the Father OF his country
upon the prerogativeS, so to speak, of
Congress-.
Mr.. Bristow Mr. President, if the
Senator will pardon me, if he will reply
to the Senator from Florida in his own
time, and just devote himself to this par
tlcular question, | shall be obliged as
wish to get through.
Mr.. Lee of Maryland was gong to
bring the matter down to the remarks of
the Senator from Kansas IN just one mo-
ment.
gathered from the remarks of the
Senator, from Kansas, so far as have had
the pleasure of listening to MIN, that far
from any encroachment by the Execu-
tive upon the Legislative, thare is prop
osltion on foot to take away from the
Executive certain powers with which he
has been previously vested. The en-
croachments seems to come from the
Capitol. and not from the Post Office
Department. The spirit of George
Washington seems to have been invoked
too soon. If he is coming here to re-
prove anybody he must come here to re-
prove the Legislative branch OF our gov
ernment.
think that the Senator from Kansas
has dealt with this matter with wonder
ful and with great interest. but | have
not gathered from what he said any con-
ceptlon OF this matter except that it is
clearly an executive business matter; and
yet think that he describes it as being
somewhat in the hands of a Legislative
Committee, and | understand that he
proposes very clearly TO change the law,
10 take this plain, executive function
away from the PostmasterGeneral and
restore it to Legislative Committee.
Mr.. Bristow. If the Senator will par
don me moment, does the Senator
think that the fixing of postage rates is an
executive function?
Mr. Lee of Maryland. l should think
that so complicated system, involving
so many details and involving possible
competition with the other systems OF car
rage, Is clearly matter that can be
more safely intrusted to executive action
than to legislative deiberation Further
more, do not think that the action of
the executive in this matter should be
subjected to the regulation of Congress,
and possibly that of the Inter. State Com
merce Commission as well, when the
carriers apparently are only |
subjected to the regulation OF the Inter
State Commerce Commission.
Deer Die in the Mountains.
Live stock has suffered much, says
dispatch from Waynesboro, Pa Farm |