The Washington times., 1919-04-24

often the reason for this, given by
those interested in misrepresenting
the facts. Some incOnveniences have
been suffered by the public, and they
have not stopped to consider how sur
prising il is that they were not very
much greater, and how admirable
service must be to be interrupted 50
little"
aeYou speak OF hostile private in
terests: what are they?" the Post
master General was asked.
Alleges Combination.
There are several" he replied, mo
one Of which would perhaps, amount
IN much by itself. but when they
make common cause. they can be very
effective in creating any false i'm
preston they desire and in giving a
trend to public opinion.
"a policy which is solely in the
interest Of the public may be made
very unpopular IL IT runs counter to
some private advantage that a few
well-established concerns seek to en-
10y. This is because the general
public has no original source OF IN
formation Of its own, and its interests
are too impeTsonal, for one VINO
seeks to serve them to have a definite
and effective support.
I'm the management Of the Post
office Department the public service
and the interests of the public are
put above everything. including party
political considerations. Neither per-
sonal considerations, nor party po-
l!tical advantage enter into the de-
termination of matters affecting the
pubIic welfare. This is an unpopular
policy with those who would nave II
otherwise, and the public is largely
ignorant OF the fact that greater
popularity could be readily achieVeo
by a betrayal of public duty.
But can't you be more oetlnILe
as TO the motive Of hostility? Bur-
leson was asked.
"Yes The establishment OF the
marcel post. which has been OF ines
Unable value to the country. was
fought most bitterly" he replied, ana
I have never been forgiven for haV-
ing sustained and extended that SER
vice. The extension of the parcel
most service has been steady, and is
Going to continue. Every extension
is still being fought by those whose
private interests may suffer from 1t.
Complaints Solicited.
"Tbe reason given for a letter,
widely circulated, soliciting COM
pIaints against the mail service dur
ing the storm blockade winter before
last. was that these complaints as to
frst class mail would aid in defeat
ing a proposed increase OF weight
allowed in parcel post then pending
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
aBy a system for estimating the
weight of mail carried by the rail-
roads, the Government had for years
been paying the railroads much more
than they earned by service rendered.
The railroads fought with all their
power against a correction Of this
abuse, and for a long time were sue
cessfuI in their fight. Finally how
ever, Congress passed q law proVlo-
ing that the Government should pay
only for the space occupied In cars
Carrying the mail, and the difference
In cost to the Government is approx
nateIy $40. 900 600 annually. Naturally
the railroads did not like to lose this
large bonus. Consequently I am not
popular. in that quarter.
BIanes Tube Firms, Tee
-'NThe pneumatic tube incubus, where
the Government was paying millions
10 private concerns for a worse than
useless service, was another thing
which. with the aid Of President Will
.on, we corrected. The pneumatic
lube people are aggressive in their
-esentment-naturSlly.
1.-The correction OF one evil. for
Ehich I cannot claim the credit; con-
perhaps. as much as any
hing to the facility5with which hos
lie criticism is circulated. That is
he establishment of a new rate on
Iecond class mail matter-on publish
d matter, the bulk of which is ad-
rertising, for which the publishers
ire highly paid for circulating.
cit cost the Government about |
20, ,OOO, 900 per year more than it re-
.eived in postage for carrying this |
natter. This the public had to pay
or the beneht of the publishers. Ny |
had earnestly recon- |
nended raising the rate to relieve the |
Government Of at least q portion OF
his burden, and a commission, OF
which former Supreme Court Justice
hughes, was chairman. recommended |
hat the secon dclass rate be in |
.reased.
Oppose Increase for ReVeRue.
when it became necessary for Cor |
,ress to raise revenue for carrying |
m the war, the House Ways and |
deans Committee proposed an in |
.rease in the rate Of both first and |
econd class postage. Though rec |
ginning that there should be a proper ]
md fair adjustment OF the second |
lass rate, so that q greater proper |
ion Of the expense Of carrying ad- |
-ertising matter through the mail |
hould be borne by the publishers |