Evening star., 1915-03-29
Unworthy of His Office

TT may be possible for a demagogue
politician to make charge like this in
the heat of a political campaign, but
to inject in statement issued under
the aegis of the government Of the
United States such language as that by
which the Postmaster General now
seeks to express his spleen against the
railroads is unworthy of the great
office of which he is the lncumpent
The fact is that MIR. Burleson, through
lack of understanding of the postal
service is himself permitting the gov
ernment of the United States to rob
the railroads of at least half what is
due them for carrying the parcel post.
Further Mr. Peters says. We believe
The American people will repudate
demagogy in every form. All the rail-
roads ask is fair play. The POSTMASTER
General is evidently determined they
shall not have 1t.
The Postmaster General returns with
the broadside that the railroads are in
dulYing in general misrepresentation:
that Chairman Bourne of the joint COM
mirtee on railway mail pay. which was
the congressional committee assigned
70 fix a new basis for paying the roads
for their services, wrote report re-
undated by every other active mem
Der of the joint committee. lie also
declares that there is misrepresenta-
,;o, in the statement that the Post
!
erpment of the United States to rob
the railroads of half of what is due
them for carrying parcel post" Post
master General Burleson says the roads
will get $4,500,000 In addition to their
regular pay for the service and says he
has recommended legislation which
would give them s1,0O0,O00 more. AS
10 the weight of Mr.. Peters statement.
Postmaster General Burleson has this
to say:
.-The Postma ster General desires that
the important facts a issue in this con-
| troversy shall not be obscured and he
! notes that Chairman Peters refrained
! from dealing with any of these facts"
| In concluding, Postmaster General Bur
| Isson's latest reply to Mr.. Peters says:
Accusation Against Railroads.
"The paramount question is whether
| :, few large railroads will be able to
nrevent legislation placing railroad,
mail nav upon basis which will enable
tho department to conduct the service
n :. businesslike and economical way
| for the public and at the same time pay
eyerv railroad company fully for the
s.rvices which it renders: and further
whetber the rates in the proposed leg
,.,,,;on are not amply adequate. if not.
inaeed. too high, for the service rem
dered.
IN mind this fact among those
bearing on the subject which must
have consideration and which are ig-
nnred by Mr. Peters: that the railroads
re actually carrying for the express
companies parcel matter which is sub
seauently deposited in the mails at
ra1es about one-half Of what the Post
Once Department is paying the rail-
roads for transporting just such mat
tar over the same routes.
The Postmaster Generals statement
| Gives the difference between the rates
On 100 pounds of matter carried for ex-
nress companies and for 100 pounds Of
I like matter carried for the post Office
The first two are typical of the entire
"From New York to AIbuaueroue
New Mexico, $40 from express COM
panies and $6.47 from the Post ONCE
! Department.; from New York to Bay
| city. Mich. s1.22 from express compa-
nies and s1.99 from the Post Office De-
! partment."