New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-19
-ongressmen Want Money
Snent on Service for
Rural Delivery
economy RECORD
FOR BURLESON, TOO
Merchants TO Carry Fight
for Retention to the
House Floor

~.. Congressional drive on the pneu-
-. mail tube service In the five larg-
4, ,;tes Of the country Is described
\. hose IN q position TO know as an
r. manifestation Of the rural Con-
..,,.sssn's jealousy. The latter wants
-, money be can get FOR rural free
l,yr,ry. Postmaster General Burleson,
n. halls from Texas. is in general
,rupsthy with him. But it is political
j. ,,,.ssary. also, TO point to an eco
.,-,,u administration OF the Post
&c. Department
Therefore, II more money 10 20 be
sen, tor rursi free delivery. IL must
!. found IN the savings from some
,A,- branch Of the postal service. and
-,n better source than the pneumatic
.sse service IN New York, Chicago,
1hs.delphis, Boston and St Louis?
N othar words, it is pointed out
t,re is every indication from the re-
~. Of -he committee OF postal en-
..ov,s which Investigated the subject,
nam Tho attitude Of Postmaster Cen
,rsl Bur cson and from that of the
Ilogse Committee on Post Offices and
Pos Road. o. which Representative
Noos. Of Tennessee, is chairman, that
he deliberate purpose Of the inquiry
has been 90 discredit the tube service
e bss for lcgislating IL out Of eX-
eisnes.
What Abolition Would Save
There are tUenty-six miles Of pneu-
ms.ic mail tubes In New York City. cost
M The Postofiice Department $4,000 a
nile. or $4,000 a year. Postmaster
Morgan estimates that they do the
rork OF about 100 auto trucks las
many ac~u as sre now employed In
he trsusportation here OF second class
nsn. new papers and parcel post mat
urI, with a combined yearly mileage
o. 100000, costing 90 cents mile
Tha. is. 90 substitute auto truck de-
livery for the pneumatic tube service
DO TINS city, he believes, would cost
$4,000 q year, effectine an annual
avns Of 100000.
The legislation proposed. however,
r bile calling for the abolition of the
.s~,Icc Iu the other four cities men,
to-ed provides simply for its curtail-
-fat here. but under such conditions,
aQordIlc 10 the students o. the sub
sc- a would force the American
.reumatic Tube Service Company
..icl owns and operates 10. into bank
-rtcr. thus eventually destroying the
.rtem ia New York as well. And Us
,tz1dorment throughout the country i
mated. would effect a saving OF
laen geo a year 10 the department.
Injury 10 Service Alleged
Tie ouestion at issue. therefore is
rsehcr this saving IS IN any way COM
-;r,rrato with the deterioration IN
a-.sr mail delivery involved. The Ner-
ttsrt,' Association OF New York,
sescd py twenty-odd other similar
bodies. g. prepared TO show most en-
rsa.cally that il is not; that the tests
-sdc by the committee OF postal en-
sloyes we're under selected conditions
and misleading in the extreme, and that
not only viii the postal services OF the
Eve cities be seriously injured by the
substitution Of auto truck delivery, but
. viii that OF the country st large, for
which these cities are clearing houses.
At me hearing ia Washington on De-
csmbcr Il not . single person voluu-
'sered anything in favor Of abolishing
he tube service. Yet the House com
n.ittee. bv vote Of 70 8. promptly
voted 70 recommend such abolition:
The fight will be carried TO the moor
Of the House. and from there 70 the
Senate. where merchants hope the pro
posal will meet It's death blow.