The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-07-31
T0CUT DOWN THE COST OF LIVING,
LET P0ST0FFICE SELL ARMY FOOD
BY PARCEL POST TO THE PEOPLE
Congressman Kelly's Plan Up to
Congress; Burleson Says 1t Is
Feasible and His Department
Is Willing.
N. E. A. Washington Bureau.

Is Wllnng.
N. E. A. Washington Bureau.
Mr.. H. c. O'Living is due for two
terrific Jack Dempseys from Con-
gress. II they don't knock him outy
they'll at least send him against the
ropes groggy.
One swat is coming from the house
committee which has been investigat-
ing the war departments conduct OF
the war. The Republican members
of this committe are preparing a re-
port urging that congress demand
that the war department at once
adopt a policy of immediate distribu-
ton of its immense supplies of sur
plus f6odstuffs, selling to the public
at cost.
The second swat is to be admins
tered by Representative Clyde Kelly,
Of Pennsylvania, who is going to de-
mand on the floor of the house that
the war department be compelled 20
sell its surplus supplies to the public
through the parcel post.
5uRLEsoN's APPROVAL
FOR kELlY'S PLAN.
Kelly has already outlined his plan
in the form OF bill, but to get
quicker action he is working it over
into resolution, and will demand
that the house pass it this week.
He has just fortified himself by get
ting the approval of Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson for his plan, which will
remove all protests that 1T can't he
DONE" .t.
Here's what Burleson told Kelly:
1.-THE postoffice department stands
ready to serve the people in this
emergency as It served them in other
emergencies during the war, as soon
az congress gives the necessary au.
thorization."
By emergencies" the postmaster.
general meant the method by which
the postoffices throughout the coun-
try sold thrift stamps, recruited SOL
diers and sailors, helped the Depart,
ment Of Justice to round up enemy
aliens, aided the labor departments
employment bureaus, and performed
similar services during the war.
PosToFFlcE OFFICIAL
CALLS JOB "EASY"
Burleson is backed up by the decl-
laration of Assistant\ Postmaster
General Blakeslee that \ it will he
perfectly easy for the postoffice de-
partment to act as salesman for the
war departments surplus supplies
not only of food, but of clothes, har
ness, blankets, tools, and thousand
and one other articles which I the
army no longer needs.
The postoffice department has even
gone so far az to promise that, II
the army hasn't men enough to do
the work OF wrapping and mailing
goods, It will supply mailing clerks to
do It,
Here is Congressman Kelly's SIM
pie little plan:
postoffice department with a com.
plete list Of the goods it has for sale,
together with prices. The postoffice
department calculates the amount Of
postage each articles will have to
carry within the first parcel post
zone-2oO miles-and adds this to
the price of the goods. .-.
This price list is then distributed
to the $1,000 postoffices in the coun.
try, and through the mail carriers to
every home in the land. .......
You look over the list decide what
you want to buy, figure up the total
cost, and take the money to your
postmaster. He gives you a receipt
for it.
MAILMAN BRINGS IT
TO YOUR DOOR.
The postmaster then forwards your
order to the Quartermaster depart
ment of the army at Washington,
which sends it to any one of the 13
zone supply offices and storage sta.
tions which is nearest your home.
This office pastes an address label on
the goods you want, drops it in the
mail, and your mail man brings it to
you next day. You turn your receipt
over to the mailman when he delivers
your package.
And remember that whatever you
buy by this method, you are getting
at one-half to two-thirds the present
market price of the goods.
II am confident that the war de-
partment's entire stock Of surplus
supplies can be disposed of in this
way within a month" said Congress-
man Kelly. Il am anxious to have
congress authorize it at once so that
the sale can he held before Sept.
!, when the army will he practically
demobilized.
Assistant Postmaster General
Blakeslee kas told me that this busi-
ness can be handled by the post
offices without adding more than
one-ninth to their regular parcel post
business. Most of the sales will he
by the box or case-the experience
of Washington, Baltimore and other
cities where army food has been sold
proves that.
GOVERNMENTS DUTY
TO REDUCE PRICE.
"The cost of living can never be
brought down by any individuals or
group of individuals. the government
alone can do it, The government
caused the prices of food to rise to an
artificial level when it bought large
quantities of supplies; it is the gov
ernment's duty to reduce to the level
where they were before it bought 1t
can do it through this method.
"At the same time it will show the
way for a upermanent fight against
+ the high cost of living by utilizing
tho pornol nOsf