Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-08
MAIL TUBES IN
BIC CITIES ARE
URGED UPON U. S,

washington, March 1-GoYernment
ownership and operation of pneu-
matte postal tubes in New York,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, Chi
cago and st. Louis as a means of re-
tanning high speed transportation Of
first class mail was recommended by
the Joint congressional investigating
commission in a report submitted to-
day to congress.
Despite recommendation of Post
master General Burleson that the
tubes be abandoned except in the
most congested district of New York
the commission by vote of five to
one, favors their purchase at a cost
in all six cities, of not more than
$4,432 622.
Of the committee, Senators Bank
head of Alabama, chairman of the
| joint committee and the senate post
office committee, Hardwick of Geor-
| gia and Weeks of Massachusetts join
ed with Representatives Bell of Geor-
| gia and Stevenson of Minnesota in
| recommending federal acquisition of
the tubes, now leased at about $685.
600 a year. Representative Rouse of
Kentucky, -dissented from the report.
| The report. was made so that con-
gress may decide the question, often
| the subject of sharp controversy, re-
| garding the tubes, when present leases
! expire on July 1. Specifically the ma
| jority of the commission recommend
| ed:
81. That pneumatic tubes as now
installed for carrying letter mail are
| nv
and should be continued in the cities
of New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia,
Boston, Chicago and st. Louis, but
that extensions are necessary in St.
Louis to obtain adequate tube service
SO. That being an exclusive postal
facility, the systems should be owned
and operated by the government.
"3. That a combination of tube and
automobile service tends to promote
efficient postal service in large cities.
~. That the post office department
should operate tube service with its
own employees thereby insuring great
er cooperation and higher efficiency.
"9. That the purchase of the tube
systems extend over a period of years
in such manner that part payments,
together with 4 per cent. interest on
/ unpaid balances, including costs of
operation as reported by the commits
sion's engineers, shall not exceed the
present annual expenditure of s976, 900
for tube service.
Sc That the purchase price for the
systems now in use in the postal ser
vice be determined by reference to
the, interstate commerce commission
which fix a physical valuation for
each of the systems in the cities of
New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia,
Boston, Chicago and st. Louis, at a
sum not to exceed s4,432,622 for the
entire systems. In determining this
value said commission shall determine
the nature and titles to the proper
ties in each of the cities named"
Postmaster General Burleson, the
report says, believes the pneumatic
tube system to expensive to warrant
it's retention except in the lower Man
haitian district of New York.
In this the majority of the joint
commission said that from three to
Eve million letters daily are, trans
mitted by the tubes at cost of only
1912 a day and that the first consider
alton is to prevent delay in trans
porting important first class mail
Letter mail pays for and warrants
the highest grade of postal service, -
the report said. There should be nc
deterioration. The mail truck is a
menace to life of persons along the
streets and tends to obstruct traffic
To substitute the tubes with automo-
biles would doubtless effect an econ
omy estimated at $114, 522 per annum
However, delays in delivery of large
quantities of mail would result