Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-31
SAYS POSTAL BILL
IS FOR RAILROAD:
COMMITTEE RACES
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
Genera! BlaksIee Brings Down
Senatorial Wrath BY
His Nerve.
"A SURRENDER TO ROADS"
Says Amendments Give Rail
roads What They Want and
Discrepancies 500 Rural
Delivery Routes.
"A SURRENDER TO ROADS,"

Washington, May 29.=Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Blakslee
told the Senate postoffice committee
to it's face today that he considered it's
amendments to the postal bill a sur
render to the railroads and although
he drew the wrath of senators at the
hearing upon him. he defended his ac-
ton in organizing n campaign against
the amendments
The committee met to investigate
charges that Blakslee organized a lob
by. Blakslee frankly told the commit
tee he considered their amendments
bad. took up the bill in detail to prove
his charges that thew We're a surrender
to railroads and deiantly told the SEN
ators of his work for their defeat.
The amendments to which Blaxslee
referred concern the railroad mail pay,
which is Il long standing controversy,
and the rural delivery. He told the
senators they had by their amend
ments given the railroads h they
wanted and would disorganize 500
rural delivery routes and inconvenience
800, 900 citizens. He told the commit
tee he had acted without the knowi-
edge of Postmaster General Burleson.
MIR. Blakslee took fun responsibility
for actions which he described in n
statement to the effect that he had on
his wv experience with postal affairs
VI tIiIee years SiIlu tHc uuNiSc VI SN-
perts in the departments he had
reached the conclusion that the amend
ments were bad. With that in mind ne
said he telegraphed, ~teleDhoned and
wrote to every one he could to defeat
them. including postmaSters. whom he
asked to communicate with their pa
irons and representatives in congress.
His letters declared the Senate ON
mitted had made a "complete sNrren-
der to the railroads."
Senator MARITIME asked N what he
based that assertion.
The Concessions.
'On the bill itself replied NJ. E!aK-
slice. "Take the bill. The railroads
aid not want pay based on s.oece. 10y
got what they wanted. r'hey waMtad
annual weighing. They so; it. .Fa~e
was a provision in the House he -
alfzing railroads $1,000 for .,ot cos 80:
the mails. The railroads dc me-; =
it. 1t was stricken Gu; of t.ic =.
There was a provision for SO, se.s.sc
The railroads did MOI Ike i - t~s
the only case out of tie =. -;
the department won out"
"Our use of the word ~
implies an absolute suo"ely: ~
part of this committee % II.
and as one ! must say yaut ~.
most unfit and very unAa sa
protested Senator Martini
That is your oDin.o'.,' .
VII IbidkolCc.
"Do you think you LAD ~ TO-
organize a lobby of posti1a =
fight a proposal that had he=.: :. ~
by the unanimous vote of our So ~
nittee-the unanimous vote ~
tors of both parties?' demanded
ator Hardwick.
y beg your pardon. 81. .e Il :
Mr.. Blakslee, II organized no .eop.. i
had a right to exert my iiffucnc4 asa
citizen and as IN official 70 pre.e..a Is;
jury to the postal service taat @oL i
take years and years to correct"
senator Vardaman, who had ne. beer
inclined to agree with other INenabcrs
of the committee in regard to railway
pay, said, while ! thin!s there iS .o,.ae
merit in you contention as TO the facts
in this case l do not think that my coli
leagues surrendered to any railr~aG
lobby. You ave acted with the gross
est improperly. You have not the
right to say what you did about your
greatest enemy unless you know it to
be true"