New-York tribune., 1918-12-20
Mckellar's Amendment 10
Retain 1t Is Defeated
by Vote of % to 80
Debate Long and Bitter
Hitchcock Accuses Postal
and War Departments OF
Soldier Mail Failure
Ncm York Tribune
Washington Bureau

bv 4 vote of "a to %, voted to-day to
wipe out the postal zone system OF
second class postage rates and to SUBJ
stitute in its stead a rate of one cent
a pound within $50 miles and one and
one-half cents beyond. The new system
is to become effective next July !.
This action was taken by adopting
the Finance Committees amendments
to the war revenue bill affecting sec
ond class postage and insurance com
nanies and defeating Senator Mchel-
lars amendment for a modified zone
plan and reduction OF rates.
Bv the postal zone system the coun'
trv was divided into number oil zones,
thc ,ate of postage for newspapers ana
other second class publications increas-
inc in nroportion with the distance ana
The zones covered The publishers have
been fighting the system ever since '1s
introduction.
The Finance Committees proposal
for new rates on casualty, fire, marine
and other insurance companies, except
life insurance, was also adopted. lhe
new rates are fixed on the basis OF
premium receipts, and are as 1ollows:
Fire insurance companies, IA per
cent casualty, plate glass and slmiiar a1
companies. y per cent; marine, "A
per cent on inland and IL per cent
on export policies.
Much Yet TO Be Done
Senators we're confident to-day that
the revenue bill would be passed be-
fore adjournment next Monday, de
spite the fact that features OF the Dill
covered in the income, war excess
profits, inheritance and luxury tax sec
H. ,stN4y ian nt
1920 tax rates. still remain to be con-
sidered. and that Senator La Toilette,
of Wisconsin, to-day introduced sub
stitute for the committees bill, pro-
posing large tax increases on big
incomes and war excess profits
Senator La Toilette is to make long
address on his measure tomorrow,
while Senator Jones. of New Mexico.
Democrat, plans to urge adoption of
an amendment to continue taxing war
profits through 1920. and Senator
Thomas, of Colorado, Democrat. is eX
pected to propose the elimination of
the inheritance tax provisions. with
Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, and others
waiting to demand reinsertion of the
20 per cent tax on luXuries.
The debate on the abolition of the
postal zone system was particularly
acrimonious and involved the denun-
failure of the soldiers mail delivery
A rollcall on the postal zone amend
ment followed after rejection of Sen
ator MeKellar's measure.
Smoot Fights Zone Systsem
The fight on the committees postal
zone amendment was led by Senator
HardWick, OF Georgia, and Senator Nc
Kellar, of Tennessee. Senator Smoot,
of Utah. led the battle for the amend
mont Hardwick and Mcclellan charged
that the government is granting mail
subsidies to second-class publica-
tions. while Senator Smoot pointed out
that the present zone system is FOSTER
ing pernicious sectionalism and, if it
had been continued, would result in
financial ruin for many small publica-
tions.
Senator McKelar said that the over
crowded condition of the second class
mail was partly responsible for the in
adequate mail service to soldiers In
France. This statement drew from
Senator Hitchcock sharp rejoiner.
Calls 1t Rank incompetence
81 am afraid the explanation of the
Senator from Tennessee for the defec-
tive mail service between the United
States and France will hardly do,o said
Senator Hitchcock. GAS a matter OF
fact, there is comparatively little sec
ond class mail that goes to France
and therefore it could not be, held re-
sponsible for the failure of delivery
there. On the other hand, the second
= class in this country is very large and
N the delivery of first class mail in this
w country is entirely satisfactory"
"The only explanation for the failure
to deliver the mail to the soldiers in
France, and for the failure of the lot
ters of soldiers in France to be de-
ilvered to their families in this coun-
try, is IN my opinion rank incompe-
tence. and | just take this occasion
to say that.
ut is most disgraceful break
down Of the Pcstofice Department in
the first place and of The War Depart
ment management in the second place
that the soldiers in France have been
aeprived OF their home letters and the
4pihs at nome have been deprived OF
me letters from their soldiers.
IT has been destructive, or iniurious
at least, to the morale of our soldier,
abroad, and it has caused world OF
anxiety unnecessarily to families here
IL Is due first last and all the time
TO the rankest sort of mismanagement
and lncompetency in the Postoffce De.
paftment and the War Department. We
might as we'll be plain about that II
IS one of the things that is causing
this country the most widespread dis.
satisfaction and indignation, and nc
explanation for it has been made and
none can be made except miserable
lncompetency."
Mckeilar Admits 1t
Senator Mcclellan replied that Sena-
tor Hitchcock might be correct in his
statement, but suggested that the in
crease in the volume of second class
matter is out of all proportion in the
matter of millions of pounds to the
1rst class matter
Il know the Senator is correct in
his statement that there IS lust and
constant complaint from citizens all
over the country about the mails be-
tween here and their boys in Europe. ."
Senator Mcclellan said, land we ought
not to be in position where com
plants can justly be made. | know
the complaint is made and l know it
is repeatedly made, and wish we could
IN some way remedy that situation"
THE Senator knows from his ser
vice on the Military Committee" an
swered Senator Hitchcock, "that re-
peated efforts have been made to as
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