The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-08-06

HOke Smith is the author of the amend
ment to the Postofice Appropriation bill
which would have meant several million dol
lars year to the Express Companies.
That amendment came up in the Senate, on
February 26, 1914. See The Congressional
Record, page 1926.
Please read Senator Vardaman's clear, terse
explanation of how Senator Smiths amend
ment would have worked:
MIR. VARDAMAN I want to suggest to my
friend, if it will not delay or interrupt him in
his very excellent argument, that in order to
bring about just what he desires and just what
the American people need, we must give free
hand to the Post Office Department. To illus
trate: AS has been suggested to me, if there are
two competing lines of railroad between Chicago
and New York, and one of them has it's maximum
rates fixed definitely, inexorable, Interchangeable,
while the other is left free to meet conditions
they may arise it will only be a little while until
the untrammeled, united railroad will have all
the business. So it is with the Government
All of the difficulties, all of the troubles that
Senators have complained of, the mares nests
which they have found can be discovered and
corrected. If the zones are too large if they
are not large enough, give the department the
free hand which the law intended it should have;
these Irregularities these imperfections, will be
eliminated and the system perfected, and it will
then be used for the benefit of all the people.
| want to say, with the indulgence of my
friend, for moment, that it is singular thing
to me that the agents of the express companies
and the public carriers are the ones who are most
active and solicitious now
Mr. MARITIME Of New Jersey And hired
attorneys, too.
Mr. VARDAMAN. About the efficiency of the
Parcel Post Service. Before the Committee
Post Offices and Post Roads yesterday, has
been suggested by my friend from@ New Jersey,
there were dozen men who seemed to me very
anxious lest the people of New England should
be denied the facilities which they have hereto
fore enjoyed when the express companies exer-
cised this governmental function I, for one,
willing to leave the matter in the hands of the
Post Office Department until they demonstrate to
that they are not working in the interest of
the public rather than in the interest of the pub
lc-service corporations.
Mr.. SMITH of South Carolina. Mr.. President,
I am much obliged to the Senator from Missis-
sipp for ably buttressing my efforts
Thus the debate went on, with the Repub-
licans fighting the Parcels Post and with such
men as Banlzhead of Alabama, Bryan of
Florida, and Smith Of Georgia, backing them
up.
On Feb. 81, the question on the amendment
which Vardaman was fighting came to vote.
Where qoas Smith Of Georgia, the daddy Of
the amendment?
He was absent, claiming to be sick.
Possibly he aUas sick, Frustrated by his own
treachey to the people and the certainty that
his double dealing would come home to roost.
Turn to The Congressional Record of Feb
ruary 81, 1914, page 1905
There you will find that when the name
of the Republican Senator Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts, was called he said, after v0ting for
the an1endn1emt-
II have general pair with the Senator
from Georgia, Mr.. Smith,
AS he would vote the same way as I vote,
on this question, [ will allow my vote to
stand"
In other words, Senator Lodge felt free to
vote for the amendment which would have
killed the Parcels Post, although he was
iroJD itb +l,o Sopo+or fropo GoOrcrio INV