New-York tribune., 1919-01-23
Burleson Assailed
Morale of Postal.
Reynolds Asserts
Charges by Former Wire
Chief Before Moon Com
mittee Holly Resented
by Government Attorney
Neao York Tribune
WASHINGTON Bureau

.>S'~s'@HeS'e
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Charges
that Postmaster General Burlcson had
sanctioned steps to break down the
morale" of the employees of the Postal
Telegraph Company were made day
before the House Post Office Committee
by Edward Reynolds, who was dis
missed by Mr.. Burleson from the posi-
ton of vice-presidcnt and general
manager of the Postal system.
According to the witness. the Post
master General authorized enrolment
OF employees of the Postal into the or
ganIzation of Western Union EMPLOYEES
and deliberately ignored protests from
the Postal company.
Denial of the charge by William II
Lamar, solicitor for the Post Office De-
partment, precipitated a lively alterca-
ton, IN which members of the commit
tee did not hesitate to take sides.
Charges and counter charges of "un
foreground methods" and "duplicityo
were hurled back and forth between
Mr. reynolds and Mr.. Lamar. At times
the hearing was bedlam. with the
witness and members of the committee
all talking at once.
Disioyalty Charge Withdrawn
Judge Moon, chairman of the COM
mlttee and author of the bill to ex-
tend the period of Federal control of
the wire systems, took occasion to
Withdraw the accusation of treason
which he made against the former
POSTAL Company official yesterday.
when he reproached Mr. Reynolds for
IIalilng to support the action of the
wires
Representative Madden, of Illinois,
ahalyZing figures submitted to the
:, committee this afternoon by Thomas
T.. Eastman, business man of Mime
sofa, called the committees attention
10 the fact that the new toll minimum
raes put into effect in that state bv
; Mr. burieson average 144 per cent
higher than the minimum rates pre-
vlously fixed by the state.
Well, doesn't the government get
the money!" demanded Chairman
well, but doesn't the public pay it ?"
retorted Mr.. Madden
AS furtf1er complication Represen-
'ative Mckinley, of Illinois. introduced
resolution calling for separate in
Vestlgatlon by special congressional
t.Sohim'ttee. The resolution asserted
tnat Mr.. Burleson is holding the wire
systems "subject only to his own viii
ana PLEASURE and that he had raised
rates until they had becolc burden
scme, oncrous and unjust"
Lamar Denies Statement
Mr. Reynolds testified the order au-
tnorlzng the enrolment of the Postal
employees IN the Western Union en-
Ployes' organization had been issued
oy Mr.. Burleson August /.
"ihere was no such order," promptly
declared Mr.. Lamar.
ne officers of the Western Union
assoclatlon." insisted the witness.
came to Washington and were told
they could enroll our men. They re-
suIned =! to New York, and though they
dld not see me they took one of our
supordinate heads out to lunch'' .
Judge Lamar insisted the only pur-
pose In allowing the Postal men to Join
lqe western Union organization was to
allow them to enjoy the higher wages
paid by the Western Union.
You say you were discharged No
vember 80" said Judge Lamar when.
at the invitation of the chairman, he
TOOK up examination of the witness.
You had talked with the Postmaster
General, had You not ~
II did the listening, think" replied
the witness. "He made stump
"Duplicity" Charge Made
did you think" demanded Mr.. La
mar. that you could continue YOUR
oupllclty and remain in the employ of
the government? Your conduct in re-
gard to the letter you wrote, first sug-
gesting changes and then protesting