Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
8bLAkSLEE IS DEFIANT
TO SENATE COMMITTEE
Fourth Assistant Postmaster. General
Charges Members With Sur
rendering to Railroads.
DENIES HE ORGANIZED LOBBY
Defends Action in Organizing Cam
paign Against Amendments to
Postal Bill-Matter May BE Called
Officially to President.

WASHINGTON, May 27.-Fourth As
slstant Postmaster-General Blakslee
told the Senate Post Office Committee to
it's face to-day he considered it's amend
ments to the postal hill n surrender
to the railroads. and, although he drew
the wrath of Senators at the hearing
upon him, he defended his action in
organizing a campaign against the
amendments.
Senator Hardwick appeared to be
particularly ncensed
DO you think this ConEress,sits here
solely to listen to little bureau chiefs
and has no thought. no Intelligence no
convictions, no conscience of it's own"
Senator Eardwick asked. and that
because Congress does not agree with
your recommendations and acts OH it's
own initiative that YOU can SANDER
enators-hecause. forsooth. we don't
follow your Judgment"
Blakslee said he had acted purely
from a conviction that the Senate com
mittee had acted wronSfully. and
against the interests of the public.
The committee met to investigate
charges that Blakslee organized lob
~ iEdnhiN toiu tnc commit
tee he considered their amendments
bad. took up the bill in detail to prove
his charge tina; they were Il surrender
to railroads, and defiantly told the
Senators of his work for their defeat
The amendments to which Blakslee
referred concern the RAILWAY mail pay
and the rural delivery. He told the
Senators they had by their amendments
given the railroads what they wanted,
and would disorganixe 500 rural dcliv-
cry routes and Inconvenience 200. 600
citizens. He told the committee he had
acted without the knowledge of Post
master-G eneral Burleson.
RI.tkSLEE TAKES FULL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS
MIR. Blakslee took full responsibility
Tor his actions which he described in n
statement to the effect that. based on
his own experience with postal affairs
of..three years, and the advice of en-
perts in the department., he had reach
cd the conclusion that the amendments
were bad With that in mind he said
he telegraphed, telcphoned and wrote
To every one he could to defeat them
including postmaStcrS, who he asked Ia
communicate with their patrons and
representatives in Congress. His let
ter declared the Senate committee had
made complete surrender to the
railroads.
Senator MARITIME asked on what he
based that assertion.
ON the bill itself" renlicd Mr.
Blakslee Take the hill The rail-
roads did not want pay based on space
TheE got what they wanted. They
wanted annual WEIGHING They got il
There was provision in the House
bill, pennlizing railroads $4,000 for not
carrying the mails. The railroads did
not want it, II was stricken out Of
ne Dill There was a provision for
side service The railroads did not
IKE H. That was the only case out of
the five In which the department won
out" "'''
lfut your use OF the word .surrend
er implies an absolute subserviencv
on the part OF this committee to the
railroads. and as one, I must say vour
action was most unfit and very nm
warranted" protested senator Martin
ih't Is your opinion responded
Mr.. Biakslee
DO you think YOU had the right to
organize a lobby Of postmasters to
hEht proposal that had hcen adopt-
ed by the unanimous vote of our sub
cnmmittce-the unanimous vote of SEN
ators of both parties?" demanded Sem
ntor Hardwick.
=! beg your pardon, sir respond
cd Mr.. R!akslee; Il organized no loS-
by. mad - perfect right to exert my
Influence rs a citizen and as an official
tn prevent injury to the postal service
thar would take years and years TO
correct" ~
DO You think. yon are big enough
10 set yonr Judgment up against tho
unanimous Judgment OF this commit.
ife?"
II set up my honest judgment on the
right side Of the question"
DECLARED TO HAVE AsrERsED
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
Senator Nardaman said he had not
been inclined TO agree with other mem
bers Of the committee regarding rail