New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
Necessary Facility" Says
the Committee, ignoring
Burleson's Opposition
S4,432,622 the Price
Annual Instalments Not to
Exceed $976, 900 Rental
Suggested
[Staf Correspondence


WASHINGTON, March 1.-The pur-
Chase and operation Of pneumatic mail
tubes as necessary postal facility
was recommended to-day to Congress
IN a report submitted by the commit
tee appointed last March to investigate
and pass upon the utility OF the mail
tubes to the government. The commit
tee recommends the continuance of the
service in New York, Brooklyn, Phila-
oelphia, Boston, Chicago and st. Louis.
Extension of the service in St LOUIS to
assure adequate tube service is neces-
sary, the report said.
The commission recommended that
the tube properties be purchased by the
government for sum not to exceed
4432,622, to be paid in annual install
ments, with interest. The Interstate
Commerce Commission is to be empow-
ered to review the valuation determined
by the commission. The report states
in part
81. That pneumatic tubes as now in
stalled for carrying letter mail are
Necessary for proper postal service and
should be continued in the cities Of
New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton. Chicago and ST. Louis, but that ex
tensions are necessary in ST. Louis to
obtain adequate tube service.
SHOULD Be Owned by L. S."
80 That, being an exclusive postal
facility the systems should be owned
and operated by the government.
l..
automobile services tends to promote
efficient postal service in large cities
IL. That the Postofice Department
should operate tube service with its
own employees, thereby insuring greater
cooperation and efficiency.
%. That the purchase of the tube
systems extend over a period of years
IN such manner that partial 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 $976.000
Tor tube service.
"6. 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 shall fix a physical valuation
Tor each of the systems in the cities Of
New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia,
Boston. Chicago and St. Louis, at a
sum not to exceed $4,432 622 for the
entire systems. In determining this
value, said commission shall consider
the nature and condition of the titles
10 the properties in each of the cities
names.
Must Consider Public
N casual examination of renorts.
prepared and submitted since the or
ganizatlon of this commission and
since the attitude of the department in
opposition to tube service became so
pronounced, lmpresseS one of strained
attempt to marshal facts and argu-
ments Sin such manner as to support
predetermined conclusion, rather than
TO present each phase Of the subject
and logically reason a conclusion there
from. The commission does not init
mate by these criticisms that such
was in the minds of those who prepared
and indorsed the reports. 1t believes
rather that proper consideration is not
given TO the broader view that the pub
tic provides the funds for mail service.
that its opinions and judgments must
be consulted as to the nature and
character of the service it desires, and
that the means to provide it must be
measured by Its standards of thor
oughness and efficiency.
The favorable report on tubes was
signed by five Of the six members Of
the Congressional commission, Chair
man Bankhead, Of Alabama; Senator
Eardwick Of Georgia; Senator Weeks.
of Massachusetts,; Representative Bell
CT Georgia, and Representative Steener-
son, OF Minnesota. Representative
Rouse, of Kentucky, was the only dis
senter of the commission. He is pre-
raring minority report which it is
expected, will reflect the we'll known
views Of the Postmaster General on the
tube service.
1t rs anticipated in Congressional cir
cles that Postmaster General Burleson
VIII not be satisfied to accept the find
ings of the investigating commission
out VIII continue his efforts, to have
the underground mail service abolished