The Washington times., 1919-04-24

who profit by IL. opposed the
enactment OF the law at that time ana
in that way, because ] do not think
the postal service should ever be en-
ployed as a means OF raising general
revenues.
"The department should never col
lect any more money than IT uses in
the service. It should be made self
supporting, or as nearly so as an
economical administration Of it's az
fairs and an adequate service renders
possible. 1t should not aim to pro-
duce a surplus. The law was enacted.
howeve,. and that part which relates
60 seco nd clas postage should re-
tained, because it helps the Govern
ment pay the expense Of the service
and operates an injustice to no one.
Before the time when the new
law was to go into effect, a COM
mittee representing q certain class of
publications which had been beneht-
ing most from the subsidy which
the low rate afforded called on me
and demanded that 1 recommend to
Congress that the new law be re-
pealed or suspended before it should
go into effect.
He Halted Warning.
az was given warning that they
had destroyed politically former
President Taft and former Postmas-
ter General Hitchcock and had de-
feated many Congressmen-and could
make or unmake many. They were
not permitted to complete this warn
ing. I told them that it was my
duty to see that the law was en-
forced. and that 1 proposed to do so.
shortly afterward a representa-
tive of another class OF publications
called upon me. He said he had just
come from a meeting of our publish
ers, and that they wanted me to
recommend either the repeal or the
suspension of this law. The columns
Of the press. he said, were open to
them
IF you recommend this action he
said, they will make you the great
est man in the Cabinet; if you do
not, fear they will destroy you
II made this man understand very
clearly that 1 would not be Influenced
by either promise or threat in the
performance of my duty as an official
OF the Government.
Majority Of Press Fair. --
81 have not the least idea that any
considerable part Of the press OF the
country conscientiously lends itself
to the services Of these selfish In
tereHts which have reason for attack
ing me. 1t is not. to be expected, how
ever, that, when Attacks come from so
many seemingly responsible sources, !
the impression will be acquired by |
perfectly honest and reputable news |
papers and by many Of the public that |
must be radically wrong |
with the Postohice Department and |
the Postmaster General
"As long as this character OF false |
representation does not interfere with |
the performance of my duty to the /
public, l. can better afford to disre-
gard the personal annoyance OF It |
than I can to undertake a constant |
defense against falsehood and slander |
No secret motives underlie the poll I
cies of this department The trdth |
about anything relating to the service |
can be had at any time. II what is |
sought is something not true, failure
to find it furnishes no just cause for
complaint.
NY door swings easily on its
hinges: / have faith in the efficient
assistants who compose the orKaniZa-
lion Of the service, and ] give the
slosest personal study and attention to
all Of the business of the department.
here is no one in the service, from
~ lowest rated clerk to the higher
9RclAls, who cannot come to me II
be thinks / am wrong about anything
and say so frankly and fearlessIy
and insistently. I like popularity;
but am not going to make any sacTi-
ices OF my public duty to obtain It
Dr. 10 hold it,"
As To Wire Service.
As for the wire service, BurIesor
aid. that is a different matter. It
S natural and to be expected that
hnSR nnnnsed tn GnunrnnnnA $1,000.