The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-12-24
Suggestion Made to Joint Com
mittees That They BE
Given Gold Medals.
HEAR MAIL COMPLAINTS
Postoffice Department, However
Passes These Along to the
War Department Who is to
Blame, 1t Says.


full and arduous service in the adj
ministration of the selective draft
law may be awarded by formal re-
cognition from the government
Senator Simmons has presented to
the secretary of war and the senate
and house committees on military
affairs the suggestion that these men
be given military recognition and
brevet ranks.
Thousands of draft board Off
clals throughout the country render
ed patriotic service in mastering
in more than two million men. The
draft board members forsook their
business and served and gave their
time TO the government in the cru
cial period of the war. Senator
simmons now suggests that some
thing be done to show appreciation
of the government
The suggestion is made that A
hrevet commission and a gold medal
be awarded to those who have been
directly charged with the work of
creating the great American army
that finally struck the decisive blow
/ iii the world war
Senator Simmons has been much
| impressed with the able and patri-
otic service rendered by these local
boards in the performance OF a most
difficult and eyacting duty. He feels
tion it should by all means be ac-
corded to them if some way can be
round to do it that will be consistent
with the national interests in these
times. He is presenting this view to
the war department and to the COM
mittees OF congress specially charg-
ed with military affairs. for consid-
Grafton.
Replying to complaint filed
through Senator Simmons, the post
Office department passed the buck"
10 the war department with respect
to the slow delivery OF mails from
soldiers in France addressed to their
relatives in this country Second
Assistant Postmaster General Prae
ger says the postofHce department
handles promptly all mail delivered
to 70 by the military authorities in
France, but that the army authorities
attend both TO the actual delivery
and collection of mails among the
American eXpeditionary forces
Since the war began there has been
more or less complaint about poor
mail deliveries To and from IT, SOL
der forces of the United States
Various members OF congress have
criticized the system. At one time
the house committee on rules con
Quoted brief inquiry which was
productive OF little real information.
In his letter to Senator Simmo' 8
the second assistant postmaster gen
eral says
I'm reply to your communities
tion concerning the complaint of NJ"
r. s. Cronly, of Wilmington. n. c.
relative to the non-receipt OF mai
from members of the American en-
peditionary forces, have the honor
to inform you that the transporta-
tion and delivery OF mail to the sol
diers in France, as well as the col
lection OF mall for delivery in the
United States. are now being effected
by the military authorities and not
by the postoffice department.
"All mail from the American ex-
peditionary forces in France upon its
receipt by the postal service at the
port of embarkation I'm France. is
promptly despatched to this country
by every available steamer. and up
on its receipt in the United States is
forwarded without delay for deliv-
cry TO the addressee.
"In this connection, may add
that three dispatches of mail from
| the American eXpeditionary forces
in France were received in this
country on the 18th and 18th in
stant. that arriving on the 18th
| comprising approximately 1000, 900
letters and over $4,000 pieces of
parcel post; that of the 18th com
pr'sinR approximately 1,395.OO0 let
tiers and $4,000 pieces of parcel