Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-01
SAYS POSTAL BILL
IS FOR RAILROAD:
COMMITTEE RACES
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General BIakslee 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 AZ
sistant Postmaster General Blakslee
told the Senate postoffice committee
to It's face today that he considered Its
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 a campaign against
the amendments.
The committee met to investigate
charges that Blahslee organized q lob
by. Blakslee frankly told the commit
tee he considered their amendments
bad. took up the bill in detail to prove
his charges that they were a surrender
ators of his work for their defeat.
The amendments to which Blakslee
referred concern the railroad mail pay,
which is a long standing controversy,
and the rural delivery. He told the
senator's they a by their amend
ments given the railroads what they
wanted and would disorganize 800
rural delivery routes and inconvenience
800. 900 citizens. He told the commit
tee he had acted without the knowl-
edge Of Postmaster General Burleson.
Mr.. Blakslee tool full responsibility
for actions which he described in a
statement to the effect that he had on
his own experience with postal affairs
Of three years m the advice of ex-
perts in the departments he had
reached the conclusion that the amend
ments were bad. With that in mind ne
wrote to every one he could to defeat
them. including postmasters. whom he
asked to communicate with their pa
irons n representatives In congress-.
His letters declared the Senate COM
mitted had made a complete surren-
Aar fn fha oilrpo ic
Senator MARITIME asked on what he
based hat assertion.
The Concessions.
"On the bill itself" replied Mr.. Blak-
slee. Take the bin. The railroads
did not want pay based on space. They
got what they wanted. They wanted
annua weighing. Thsy got 1t. There
alizing railroads $4,000 for not carrying
the mails. The railroads did not want
1T. 1t was stricken out of the bill.
There was a provision for side service.
The railroads did not like 1t. That was
the only case out of the five in which
the department won out"
"Our use of the word Surrender"
implies an absolute subserviency on the
part of this committee to the railroads
and as one l must say your action was
most unfit and very unWarranted,"
protested Senator MARITIME.
- 10 ~ JoaA cki'iAoiA, lCopOlldCu
Mr.. Blallslee.
do you think you had the right to
organize a lobby Of postmasters to
fight a proposal that had beer adopted
by the unanimous vote of our subcom-
mittee-the unanimouH vote of sena-
tors of both parties?" demanded Sem
ntor Hardwick.
II beg your pardon. sir, responded
Mr.. Blakslee, Il organized no lobby. I
had a right to exert my Influence as a
citizen and al an official to prevent in
jury to the postal service that would
AXE years and years to correct"
Senator Vardaman, who had not been
inclined to agree with other members
Of the committee in regard to railway
pay, said, while 1 think there is some
merit in your contention as to the facts
In this case l do not think that my col
leagues surrendered to any railroad
lobby. You have acted with the gross
est improperly. You have not the
right to say what you did about your
greatest enemy unless you snow it e.
be true"