The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-08
The Government Is Urged to Buy
The Postal Pneumatic
Tube System
'ube System
Why? Very Simple. The System Isn't WORTH Buying
and the Owners Would Like to Sell 1t.


Our congratulations to the Congressional commission
that advises purchase Of the postal pneumatic tubes of New
York and other cities for millions of dollars.
Would the gentlemen that make up the commission
advise also Government ownership of the telephonss7
No, beloved patriots, those gentlemen would NOT advise
Government ownership Of telephones.
You see, the telephone is very valuable bringing in
gigantic revenues to private owners The owners think
good enough to KEEP You might find hard to make Con-
gTess and particularly the commission that recommends
purchase Of the pneumatic tubes order purchase and Gov
eminent ownership Of the telephone.
The pneumatic tubes are in little class apart Accord
ing to the Postmaster General they don't work well they
expensive, they inefficient they not worth
having, and he would not accept them as gift
Gentlemen who have invested money in them
worried and they would like the Government-the tax
payers-to buy them out
And the commission appointed to investigate the pur
chase Of pneumatic tubes is now advising that Gov
eminent invest its money in the interesting assortment of
junk that the Postmaster General declares he wouldn't take
as gift.
Our congratulations to Representative Rouse of Ken
lucky who doesn't to think that the business of the
United States the purchase of stuff that some
one wants to unload
We ask respectfully this delicate question
Was any member Of the commission formerly interested
in firm that for years held great deal Of this pneumatic
tube stock?
HsO how could Congress have the heart to compel such
man. who must have been VERY reluctant upon
such a committee?
Suggest that the United States Postoffce-
sHoULD own and control ALL USEFUL MEANS OF
date and valuable like the telephone and you will
find distinguished Congressman Mortified and distressed
having fits all the floor and in all Of the cloak
room.
But 60 down with proposition to sell junk to this Gov
ernment little arrangement to give ten millions Of dollars
of public money in payment for something that the
don't want and that this Government doesn't need and it
is quite different.
In the House recently, the Rev. George F. Duncan,
of Washington D. c. prayed for Congressman and in view
Of the pneumatic proposition there seemed particular appro
priateness in this part Of the prayer:
"Gte epery of these thy servants DOUBLE PORTIONl
of thy spirit"
We trust that Mr. Hoover will interfere with this A
double portion of that spirit DOUBLE double por
ton is something that few congressman need
Did the Congressional committee anxious to spend
ten millions of dollars of the public money investigate stock
ownership past and present. in that tube enterprise? If
not WHY not?
1t is not too late to do it
For the President may be relied upon veto this little
fob If it reaches hm-which would give the Congress
another try at it, and chance to let know WHO will
get the money.
Of course these days of billions little millions hardly
count and might well be said What millions be-
tween pneumatic tube friends?
However it's the principle of the thing the indignant
miner said when the milk for the bull pup given to
baby.
Admirable excellent praying is done in the Senate in
these times.
One Thursday, the chaplain, the Rev Mr.. Prettyman
prayed thus 1--WE thank Thee for the truth tees among
men"
Will one of them get up and tell Mr. Prettyman and the
of all nneumatic nronositjon9