The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-07
MOON BLAMES
RAILROADS FOR
P0STALDEFEAT
Tells BurlesOn That Their
Influences Blocked the
Appropriation Bill.
HAS NO KNOWLEDGE
OF ANY CORRUPTION

WASHINGTON. March Ga suggestion
made by Representative Moon OF Ten
nessee in a letter forwarded to-day to
Postma stcr-General Burlcson that rail-
road influences caused the delay that
brought about the defeat of the post office
appropriation bill in Congress has eN-
cited great Indignation among the mem
bers of the House.
1t In understood that as a result an
effort will he made in the new Congress
to remove Mr.. Moon from the chairman
ship OF the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads.
In Mr.. Moons letter TO the Postmaster
0eneral he traced the history of the
postal budget emphasizing particularly
the amendment relating to- railway mail
pay. This provision. which was adopted
by the Senate. proposed that the Post
master General should have the arbi-
trary say in determining the rates OF
compensation to be paid railways for
the carriage OF the mails.
Provision Criticised.
Critics of this particular provision de-
clare that 1t was designed primarily to
erabl the Postmaster-Geueral to cut
railway mail pay about 10000. 600 a
year as a means OF Curtailing the postal
deficit.
The statement was made IN MIR.
Moons letter to the Postmaster-General
that the railroads are now getting So
000, 900 a year more than they are ell
titled to. He expressed regret hat this
particular provision did not become law.
In commenting on his statement that
railroad influence had operated to de-
feat the post office bill MIR. Moon said
that these influences are not corrupt
so far as | am aware"
Chairman Moon in his letter uttered
n warning against the authorization Of
any expenditures not expressly author
lied by law.
THE law forbids you 70 create any
deficiency in the Post Office Department.
and while the temptation is great Il is
the law and 1t ought to he obcyed.'
wrote Mr.. Moon. - know that this
will prevent you from appointing add
tiona clerks and prevent you likewise
from promoting carriers. | know It
will be necessary for YOU To reduce the
number of rural routes.
Not B%urIeson,s Fault.
"You will be hampercd in the next
year in the administration OF the SER
vice. ! know II will be a source Of
segret to you that this valuable service
In many respects will ave to be elimi-
mated and that consequences that will
not be satisfactory possibly to the people
viii follow that is no fault OF yours
Officials OF the Post Office Depart
ment say that the failure OF the post
ONCE appropriation bill is hound To- re-
uce the efficiency of the nostal service
in the new fiscal year. The appronria-
ton for the present year is In excess
Of $3l3.0o0 600. Postmastcr-Gcneral
Burleson asked Congress for an tppro-
priation of approximately s323. 600, 900
for the new fiscal year.
The failure to enact the bill prepared
at. the last session will result IN orders
to curtail the rural free delivery SER
vice. Instead of permitting promotions
among carriers and clerks the Post
master-Ceneral may be forced to dis
miss many OF the employees of the two
CLASSES.
The Postmaster-General directed his
bureau chiefs to-day to meet him Mon
day TO discuss ways and means of meet
ing the situation p%rocipitated by the
failure OF the appropriation bill.