Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-06
Dictator 6uriooon.

A Washington writer vividly por-
trays the possibilities Of another
"crisis." the imminent eruption be-
tween the postmaster general and
Congress. He says:
Matters have come to a climax be-
tween Postmaster General Albert 3.
Burleson and the Senate committee on
post Offices and post roads-which VIZ
tually means Congress. for Democratic
and Republican members alike have
been laying for" the autocratic capl-
net officer and will welcome test OF
strength. This sensational situation
has been precipitated over the pneu-
matte mail tube contracts. but the ac-
ton Of the postmaster general In this
case is only one in a long line OF incl
dents which have compelled congress-
men to realize that the Post Office De-
partment will run all over them unless
a halt Is called. The efforts OF the
postmaster general to drive an unfair
railway mail pay bill through Con-
gress were preceded by his arbitrary
reorganization Of rural routes In suce
a manner, congressman charge. as to
cripple the service of their districts
and embarrass them with their con-
stituents without any corresponding
benefit to anything but the bookkeep-
ing accounts in the Fost Office Depart
ment. Over these sheets, 1t may be
needless to say, congressman are not
notoriously concerned.
The ugly situation between the post
master general and the committee OF
which Senator Bankhead Of Alabama
is chairman, has been shaping up for
a long time, or since the postmaster
general in the last Congress ignored
the recommendations Of the Bourne
commission, Of which Senator Bank
head and Senator Weeks of Massachu-
setts, both on the post Office commit
tee, were members, and sent up a
railway mail pay bill Of his own with
orders to pass 1t. This measure.
known as the Moon Bill, retained the
structure Of the Bourne scheme but
arbitrarily established rates Of COM
pensation materially lower than those
proposed by the Bourne commission.
The bill went through the house as
rider on the general appropriation bill
in the last session and the same trick
was worked successfully this year.
The Senate at last has turned on
Burleson and served notice that un-
less the railroads and the tube COM
panies are treated fairly he will get no
post office appropriation bill. Burle-
son has retaliated with the threat that
unless Congress does as he wishes he
will influence the President to veto the
appropriation bill. The fight between
the postmaster general and congress
is on in earnest, and will be carried to
a finish. Congressman are still re-
sentful over the repeated attempts Of
the postmaster general to compel them
to vote for or against legislation which
does not concern the post Office de-
partment at all. For example. when
President Wilson vetoed the immigra-
tion bill Mr.. Burleson went among
right and left and de-
that they sustain the veto on
pain Of his official displeasure. With
in a week Burleson has sent for con-
gressmen known to be hostile to the
Clarke amendment tc the Philippine
bill and demanded that they should
vote for 1t. BY this time. however,
Congress has grown tired Of Burle-
sons dictation and the Clarke amend
ment was badly defeated.
Now, it is said, some Of the con-
gressmen whose resentment has been
aroused by tie sublime egotism and
bullying Of the man from
Texas, are awaiting the attitude Of
the President. If. in this case, Mr..
Wilson backs up his cabinet officer as
he has in some other instances where
they were wrong, the fur is bound to
fly. Burleson may not be the only one
to be clawed. The country is becom-
ing deeply stirred over the conduct Of
affairs under the present postmaster
general and congressman are hearing
from home. They know where they
are at" If they summarily deal with
Burleson and anyone who assumes to
perpetuate his pigheaded perform
ances.
AuakAn;ao