The Washington times., 1915-12-17
Effort to Secure Law CurtaiIing
Powers Of Postmaster Gen.
eraI Expected.
DISCRIMINATION IS CHARGED
Senator Kenyon Sends Depart
ment a Letter Giving Strong
Expression to His Views.

The controversy between Postmaster
General Burleson and a large part oil
Congress over reorganization OF rural
routes Is becoming more acute.
1t is likely to take expression in n
strong effort to secure legislation that
win curtail the powers of the Post
master General.
Some southern members are as bitter
as Northern members. The Georgia
delegation Is incensed because Of re-
organizations made in that State.
One Georgia member declares that IL
an election were held today, Georgia
would go against Wilson. such is the
feeling over rural routes.
Kenyon Charges Discrimination.
Senator Kenyon, who introduced q
bill looking to curtailing the powers of
the Postmaster General in the matter
OF rural routes, has sent to the Post
office Department a letter giving force
full expression to his views. While 1t
deals directly with the situation in his
own state, 1t is also more or less gem
eral and In indicative of the sentiment
Of part of Congress.
Senator Kenyon did not mince words
in his communication, which 10 addressed
10 Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
patrons OF the rural free delivery have
been discrilninated against and that IL
the Postmaster General will work to
cut out needless sTanking privileges and
the sending out of political garden
seeds" by mail. he will not have to
cripple the rural mail service.
Senator Kenyon recSItly sent to the
Fourth Assistant q protest from Hum
boldt, Iowa. In reply. Mr.. Blakslee de-
Tended the reorganization of rural
routes. He declared the department was
furnishing 1.-The best possible service to
the greatest number of patrons" and
that the INSPECTORS had exercised the
greatest care; he said. also, that the de-
partment was ready to cooperate with
him. and II any patrons were actually
deprived of service an effort would be
made to remedy the situation.
Says Service Is Crippled.
Senator Kenyon replied today saying
he had petitions in his office showing
that patrons had to 20 a mile and a
half. and even two miles. to secure mail
and that they did not receive mail fol
forty-eiRht hours. He reminded Mr.
Blakslee that the roads in his state are
not asphalt. He said:
From the length of the routes you
arc establishing in parts OF Iowa,
would Judge that you think we nave
asphalt pavement throughout the state
l beg to inform you that we have com.
mon dirt roads and there are certain
times OF the year 1t will not be possible
for rural route carriers to operate daily
over the routes you have laid out.
II the Postmaster General would CO.
operate with Congress and insist or
making II an Administration measure tC
cut out Z lot of the needless franKinE
privilege and the expense of sending
political garden seeds through the mail.
he would not have to resort to crippunl
the rural mail service throughout tho
country, and especially in the State Of
Iowa feel that we have been dis
crtminated against in this matter"
Senator Kenyon says he will be glaC
to cooperate in having re-esta blIsheC
the rural mall service to which thu
farmers, of the State are entitled anC
of which they are deprived.