Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-01
j. s. OWNERSHIP
FOR POSTAL TUBES
Commission Favors Purchase.
Although Cost Will be More
Than S4,000,000
nv Associated press % Everv rycning

~ Associated Press - Every Evening
Washington. March Government
ownership and operation of pneumatic
postal tubes IN New ork Brooklyn.
Philadelphia, Boston, Chicayo and 81
Lewis rs a mems of retaining high pred
transportation ~ lirsf-clnss Wl' was
recommended by the JOINT congrc-~i"ual
investigating commission ~ a report -Ib-
mttcd today 10 Congress
DESPITE recommendations 81 Post
rnastcr-( sencral Burlcsnu that be iubcs
be abandoned except IN the most con
pcsicd district ~ Now York, Tho cpmrui--
sion. by vote Of ; 10 /, fayors thor
purchase 8t = cost, ~ at slv cl'lcS, ~
not moro than 81 f32 G22
OF the committee senators Barkhcad
of Alabama, chairman Of the Ioin' corn
mittec and also hc Scnat" Postothrc
Committee. Hardwck of Georgia and
Weeks az Nassachusottg, Joined with
Renrc3entatlves BELL ~ Georgia and
Stecncrson Of Minnesota. Is recommend
nV Federal acquisition Of he tubes, now
leased 1T about 500 600 Representative
Rouse of Kentucky dissentcd from tho
report.
The report was made 50 that Congress
NAV derlde the question, object the sub
Ject of sharp controversy, regarding the
tubes, when present leases expire, july }
Specifically the majority Of the cnnnis-
SION recommended.
Il That pneumatic tubes as now IN
stalled for carrying letter mail are neces-
sary for proper postal service and should
he continued m the cities nf New nrk,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston. Chicago
and st Louis, but that extensions arr
necessary IN St. Louis 10 Obtain adr-
qiate tube service.
= 2-That being An exclusive postal
facility .he systems should he owned
and operated by the government
3 That combination of tube and
automobile service tends To promote
efficient postal server IN large cities.
- That the Postofficc Department
should operate tube scrvicc with its own
employees. thereby insuring greater CO-
operation and higher efficiency.
THAT Inc purchase Of thf tubc
systems extend over period ~ scars
in such manner that partial payments.
together with four per cent interest on
unpaid balances, including costs Of opera
tion "a reported bt the commission s
engineers, shall not exreed the present
annual expenditure 0f S916,0OO for tubc
service.
Is That the purchase pnce for nc
systems nov N Use IN the postal service
be determined BY reference To the Inter
state Commerce Commission. which fix
3 physical valuation for each 0f the sys-
TENS in the cities OF New York, Brook
lyn, Philadelphia, Boston. Chicago anu
st Louis, at sum not 70 exceed 81
432 ,622 for the entire system. In deter
mining this value sand commission shall
/ consider the nature and condition Of the
titles to the properties neach of the cities
named.
Postmaster-General Burieson, the re-
port said, believes the pneumatic tube
system too expensive 10 warrant Is re-
tention. except IN the lower Manhattan
district of New York.
To this the majority Of the Joint com
mittee said that from three TO five mil
lion letters daily arc transmitted by
tubes at a cost Of only 1912 day and
that the first consideration Is 70 prevent
delay in transporting important first
class mail
Letter mail pays Tor and warrants
the highest grade OF postal service, the
report stated There should be no lie
terioration The mail truck IS "A menace
to life OF persons along the streets and
tends TO obstruct traffic To substitute
he tubes with automobiles would doubt
less affect nm economy estimated AZ
Sll4.522 per wear Howevcr delay ID
delivery Of large quantities Of mail would
result