The sun., 1916-12-18
Postmaster, Back From WASH
ington, Optimistic as to
City Mail Service.
MERCHANTS IN THE FIGHT
Association Alleges Misrepre'
sentatiOn by the Commit
tee of Experts.

yooteroey from WAshiHbtv"' ""e0 81"
appeared before the House Committee
on Post Office and Pest Roads. said
he believed the pneumatic mall tube SER
viss In New York city would stay. A
clause which gives the Postmaster-Gen-
eral the right to discontinue certain OF
the New York tube contracts upon six
months notice was not an unusual
clause for Government contracts, Mr..
Morgan said. and he believed the postal
facilities here were In no imminent dan
ger Of being crippled by the elimination
Of the tubes.
The move Of the Postmaster General,
M. Morgan believes. Is directed toward
other cities. He said all he could In
favor Of shooting mail In underground
tubes through New York at the meetins &
Of the House COMMITTEES. he told TIL
sur yesterday.
IN spite OF Mr.. Morgan's optimism
the fear continued yesterday amons
New York business men that the new
move on the part Of the Postmaster-Gen.
Aral meant the ultimate discontinuance
Of at least = part Of the tube system
here and the addition OF $50 mail trucks
70 the traffic jam.
Contention Of Merchants.
Tho Merchants Association announces
In to-day's issue Of Greater NeU YorA
that the hght against what II calls the
sharp attack on the city's postal facili.
ties" will be carried up as far as pos
0ible and with vigor.
''The commercial interests OF New
York city are up In arms against a pro
pooal made by Postmaster-Generai Bur
tooon to cripple the pneumatic tube ser
vice here and to abolish It altogether II
the other cities where II has been II
use" Greater Netc York announces.
The publication points out severa
unusual features which Il says hav,
marked the attack on the tube service
Before the contents of Mr.. Burlesoni
report were made public IA hearing wa
announced by the House committee 70
Monday. December IL. and the repor
was published but two DAYS before thi
hearing 1t was only after a vigorous
protest that the committee finally agree,
to hear New York city the followinI
Thursday.
Enquiry brought ont the fact tina
Mr.. Burleson's recommendation va
based upon the report Of a special com
mittee Of postal experts which he ha,
appointed" says Greater Ncp York
'"The report Of this committee is eve,
vet unayaJ,ab,e and Renrssen,a,,,,
hefor. the House corn,,,,on , m ,or .e,,ns nmoss
examination.
THE statements made by the com
mittee OF postal experts are challenge.
~ NOT only unfair but In many in
stances entirely false.
Mr Burleson In his report sough
10 forestall opposition to his recon,
mehdation by asserting that undoubted
~ prWests would be made by misin
FORMED citixens ana an "ins'dious lobby
Wouid endeavor 10 defeat his plan.
Access to information which Coul
only be obtained from the Post ofHc
Department with the consent OF tn
foetmaster-General was denied to or
ponents OF the Burleson idea. and a,
tempts to have the postmasters OF tn
called as witnesses before the commi,
oh.,a Clos hon,a,,, ',m'',.s.a.'"i.s Nv, mes
ranixatIons ~ ,ba ci,t.s ,or' .Tne,, o,
Vi l,e CITIES aHe'ted nav
sIhIa under tho c,ro,,r'., was PUT
s.rhe Nercban,s As.,cta,io. -
resented before tho con,,'i,,. y. ~
A.v and asatn o,' T,',,, "n .n"i
Mead i,s secre,ar, ans a.. ~, w. III % -
Herard m,n,gar -, H.,
reau. w
Cost Les. Than a,oO oOo Va,
p.
-. "'rwe' 10 some Oh me assertion
'ne os.niaster-dehera' Inc bulleti
..ns 'le .oIo"ihs
me cost 10 the Government; OF III
uao .une service IN this city
-"s, s'o''v"o year Ihe post
a.. ,o'l '"c various post ofnc'
'oN aio nearly sS,ooo.Oo0
sS e oon Mpenui'ures are a little MOI
.",N',, '.V''vo"' so mar inns city col
.',. 'ne Posi- oince income
.,I. u' n, ~ near,y s-a'ooo'ooo above r.
.sS men OF ,his city col
u.n .shu 'nat IN view OF ibis fact. II for l
i.ason, 'hey are Justly entitls
.e.s ideIiIty wnich VIII promote Il
'''"'' movement OF mail
Alleged.
Under the head OF "mlsrcnreson,
tions'' by the Post Office Commute =,
bulletin says:
"The capacity Of the pnouna,ic On,
In limited by the ouantitv NJ m.jl uhi,
can be placed in a single c,rricr ana II
frequency of the despatch ~ su.n -,
rters. The Post Office Committee In
report states the capaci,v NJ Tho oarr' a.
patch at fifteen seconds A standa
was presented 10 IN" Congro
po.. 80" 'i'''s.u ~ on F"s' on1cc al
os. noa"s IN Whicn ten pounds OF lett
"' was piaceo ai.er pe'hg weighed
."e con,nl'.tee ana but two-thirds
ehe carrier was hIled.
ihe records OF the New York pc
a