The Washington times., 1915-12-17
Effort to Secure Law Curtailing
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 large part of
Congress over reorganization OF rural
routes Is becoming more acute.
1t is likely to take expression in a
strony effort to secure legislation that
win curtail the powers of the Post
master General.
Some Southern members are az 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 mater
of rural routes, has sent to the Post
office Department a letter giving force
full expression to his views. While it
deals directly with the situation In his
own State, 1t is also more or less gem
cral and is indicative of the sentiment
Of part of Congress.
Senator Kenyon did not mince words
in his communication which Is addressed
TO Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Il.
patrons OF the rural free delivery have
been Disseminated against and that II
the Postmaster General will work to
cut out needless sSanking privileges and
the sending out of political garden
seeds by mail. he will not have TO
cripple the rural mail service.
Senator Kenyon rec >ltly sent to the
Fourth Assistant a 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 go a mile and a
half. and even two miles. to secure mail
and that they did not receive mail fol
forty-eight hours. He reminded Mr.
Blakslee that the roads in his state are
not asphalt. He said:
From the length Of the routes you
are establishing in parts OF Iowa,
would judge that you think we nave
asphalt pavement throughout the State
l neg 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.
III the Postmaster General would CO
operate with Congress and insist or
making 1t an Administration measure tc
cut out lot of the needless franKins
privilege and the expense of sendine
political garden seeds through the mail!
he would not have to resort to crippunl
the rural mail service throughout the
country, and especially in the State o.
Iowa. | feel that we have been dis
criminated against in this natter
Senator Kenyon says he will be giaC
to cooperate in having re-esta blIshet
the rural mail service to which thu
farmers OF the State are entitled ant
OF which they are deprived.