The Washington times., 1915-01-30
CITY MAY SUFFER
TOPAY FOR R. Ed.
Congress- Refusal to Allow Re-
organization Likely to
Force Economy.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First PageD
1t expensive to mail catalogues direct
from New York to Nebraska SO 1t
sends It's catalogues by freight to Lin
coin. whence they are mailed to clients
In the nearby zones. This business has
developed to utterly unexpected proper
tions.
Mail Order business Growing.
At the same time the business Of the
big mail order houses has grown beyond
all articipations. and on this the de-
partment is making profits.
On the other hand. the first-class busi-
ness in the cities Is showing q decrease
The possible estimate for the fiscal year
which will end June 30 next has not
been officially made; 1t was said at the
department. today that figures placing
it as high as sN.oOO,OoO were unquestion-
ably very excessive: it is more likely
that 1t will be less than half that sum.
The war Is not yet six months old. and
reports have not been received which
indicate just what it's effect has been
or revenues. But it is known that there
has been considerable loss in first
class mail earnings.
Naturally. this gives concern to the
department. at time when the cx-
pertinent of the parcel post Is still
cause. q failure of that experiment
would be seized as a basis for arGu-
ment that the Government Is inconi-
petent to transact business. The de-
demonstrate that it can provide this
kind of service cheaper and better than
any private agency. 1t does not want
to have II deficit imposed upon 1t at
such time.
Has Freedom in City.
The department has considerable dis
Cretion in the matter Of city service and
carriers; almost none in regard to rural
carriers. 1t is possible. within the law.
to modify and adjust the delivery serv-
ice of cities. so that Il considerable pro-
portion of the men engaged in 1t could
be furloughed and their wages saved.
The department. If forced to adopt this
policy, will do it under protest. and
only because no other method is left
open to il.
The condition is not now regarded as
acute. But it may become acute if
the war lasts as long as seems like
|ly and business does not improve
sharply. The natural way to retrench.
1t is pointed out, would be by cut
ting off the expenses of that division
of the service which Is conducted at
| excessive cost and with no result
save IL uShSiN het 49, NhS VI al dc-
livery.
But the rural carriers have too much
power with Congress. They are sup
posed. rightly or wrongly. to WELD
an immense political influence; and
WHETHER or not they actually do in
individual Congressional districts.
they certainly do with Congress as a
whole.
They started eighteen years ago at
annual salaries of $500 each, and
No ha hnnStoH fhapp no
rate Of about 500 for each successive
Congress. until now they get $1,000
each.
| as many Of them as there are men
and officers in the army of the United
| States!
To Go Back In History.
The Postmaster General, with the
approval of his expert subordinates
| asked Congress to give him chance to
| reduce the cost of the rural service. by
putting it on contract basis. The
suggestion caused q good many inno-
cent people to imagine that a return to
the star route system OF handling
mails was contemplated. There We're
| some scandals in connection with staI
| route contracts many years ago. No.
| body nowadays remembers just what
| they were about, but that makes nc
difference; the term star route" is ir
| bad odor. and the suggestion of con.
| tract system brought il to mind. Thai
| gave an excuse: the political pull Of the
| rural carriers gave a real reason; anC
Congress has declined to allow economy
| at the proper place.
| Tho cities may suffer. because they
are likely to be compelled to make vi
| the Losses. But no difference. II thu
| incident ca0s general attention to the
| condition. and especially il the posta
service of the cities has to he pared
down in order that rural carriers may
| be paid several times what they earn
the country will discover the facts, anC
! gst busy with them in time