Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-11
IOWA coNoR EsSMAN sEEktN0 70
n srop RURAL PosToFFicE
PRACTICES.
WOULD REDUCE RENTALs
OF BOXES MATERIALLY
Town Dwsller Pays High Rate For Box
Rents While Farmer Rsesisss He
Mail Daily Without cest-esnator
CUMMINGS Favors Full Government
Operation Of Railroads During war.
(By E. G. Doughertyj

1
Washington, Dec. ll.-Congressmar
Hull will introduce an amendment tc
the postoffice appropriation bill when
1t comes up in the house this week
which provides for reduction In post
office box rents in small towns which
have no free delivery.
The amendment will provide that box
rents in such offices shall not exceed
10 per cent OF The cost Of the box, such
cost to be COMPUTED oa a far basis
The present price charged annually
Mr.. Hull says, is 100 to zoo per cent
of cost.
He objects to penalizing the post
Office patrons in small towns by
charging them exorbitant sums for box
rent while farmers living outside such
towns are given daily free deliver:
He holds this is in effect tax on the
town patrons for :hc privilege OF get
ting mail, which they are entitled 10
receive at least IN the same basis az
the country patrons.
Mr.. Hull will renew his effort t.
have change made in the policy oil
dealing with mail messengers. Pay
of these messengers is now on the con-
tract basis. Mr.. Hull holds there have
been grave abuses where contracts
have been f1awkcd about without refer
ence to legitimete bids of mail con-
tractors. He VIII introduce an amend
ment to the postoffice bill compelling
the postoffice department to deal fairly
with men seeking mail messenger con
traits.
Government control, or step farther
government operation of railroads. APP
pears to be the probable solution Of
the railroad problem. Senator Cum
Minis. who has been leader in rail
road legislation since he entered the
senate, favors full government opera
ton during the war. He believes. also
that such operation would be the In
evitable forerunner OF government
ownership. 5ns
The president Is represented as be.
ing ready to launch some form OF gov.
eminent direction under federal rail-.
road administrator. The president hal
power under legislative enactment Il
take over railroad control Tor the war
Whether he will act on his own In.
itiative or put the matter before con.
gress is a question that remains TN.
answered today
Senator Cummins favors operation o.
the railroads by the government fol
roads fair return, probably the satn'
return they had in 1918. the year be.
fore the war broke out. But II vii
be necessary for the government e
spend large sums III improving thu
roads. with the investment these ex.
penditures will form. Senator Cummini
believes. the next logical step afte,
government expenditure and govern
ment operation will be government
ownership.
Iowa will BE represented At IN,
forty ninth annual suffrage convention
which will open In Washington Wed.
nesday. The convention will mark
q final drive for the adoption OF tn.
Rankin resolution submitting to thu
states the suffrage amendment SUI
frage leaders in Washington are pre-.
dieting that the coming convention viii
be the last because they believe con
gress viii adopt the amendment Ant
settle the QUESTION which has brough
the women together annually in con
vention.
Students in Iowa engineering schools
will be permitted to Join the ensinee
enlisted reserve and be placed in tn
lowest draft classification. II member
OF the faculties recommend such &C
ton. This is part Of plan to proven
the draft from absorbing all the coun
try's young engineering talent.
DR.. william King, president emer
titus OF Cornell College at Mount Yer
non, was in Washington Saturday o.
an eastern trip.