The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-05-06

many-sided investigation. The In
evitable outcome Of this will be that
the public mind win be left In more
or less Of a confessed state.
Disagree ss to WiiIfuI Waste.
Before the subcommittee began
their work there was an all-around
agreement 10 the statement that the
government had spent enormous sums
Of money In hurrying the United States
into the war. The task laid out for
the subcommittee was TO ascertain
whether this enormous expenditure
was warranted, whether there were
any dishonest expenditures Of govern
ment funds and whether there was In
excusable waste Of money. As the in
vestigations Of the various activities
Of the government went on there was
confirmation Of the statement that
money was spent with a lavish hand.
/ The disagreement Is ms to whether
there was willful waste Of money.
The majority. OF each subcommittee
says there was, while the minority says
there was not The majority. speak
ing In o general way, maintains that II
business methods had been employed
vast sums Of money would have been
saved. The minority asserts that the
best business talent In the country
was employed by the government, and
that In order 10 win the war quickly
II was necessary to do things In big
way and that they could not be done
In big way without spending money
freely.
Persons who are not governed by
craftsmanship will naturally regret that
such an investigation took a partisan
turn. As such persons view the sltua-
ton, the public mind will In all prob
ability divide along partisan lines In
discussing the reports Of the various
syb-committees.
Air Mail to Cross Continent.
The bill appropriating money for
the support OF the postal establish
ment for the fiscal year which
will begin July l provides for the con-
tlnuation Of the airplane mail service
and for It's further development. The
postmaster general may spend not to
exceed s1.250OOO on the service dur
Ing the fiscal year. This money must
be used In carrying mail by air from
New York city to San Francisco by
way OF Chicago and Omaha. The
present air mail service extends from
Washington to New York and from
New York TO Chicago.
The post Office department. II is an
nounced, will Immediately begin max
ing arrangements for the extension Of
the service TO San Francisco. Add
tional alrplanes will have To be pur-
chased and considerable number OF
landing stations provided before the
transcontinental air route can be es-
tablished. The territory adjacent the
transcontinental route will. OF course,
be served. While the long route has
not yet been finally agreed on, II IL
practically certain that II will take
direct course from Chicago to
Omaha, from Omaha to Denver, from
Denver to Salt Lake City, and from
Salt lake City 10 San Francisco. The
station will be so arranged as to pro-
vide for the most effective distribu-
tion.
North and South Routes Wanted.
A large number OF cities lying north
and south Of the transcontinental
route have been clamoring for the air
service. but unless congress shall grant
an additional appropriation II will not
be possible for the post office depart
ment 10 provide for the collateral serv-
ice. There has been a pressing de-
mand. for instance, for service that
would extend south from Chicago
through Indiana. Kentucky and down
into the south as far as Memphis, and
possibly on to New Orleans. There
Is also n demand for a collateral serv-
ice that would serve Milwaukee and
Minneapolis and st. Paul. The postal
authorities believe that II Is only a
question OF time until the air serv-
ice will cover the country completely.
In view Of the fact that up until
three years ago no one was giving
very serious thought 10 a regular air
mail service, the strides that have
been made are regarded as remark
able. The service between Washing
ton and New York and between New
York and Chicago for long time has
been as regular as the train service
and Of course much quicker.
Other Features Of the Bill.
The post office appropriation bill in
the form in which II has finally gone
20 the president for his signature does
not contain a great deal Of new legis-
latIon. IL authorizes the secretary OF
war, when so requested by the high
way department OF any state. to turn
over 20 the state tractors that were
bought during the war and that have
not been heretofore distributed.
These tractors are TO be used In high
way construction.
The bill makes plain what Is 10 be
done whenever the Office Of a postmas-
ter becomes vacant through death. res
ignation or removal. II provides that
the postmaster general shall designate
some person TO act as postmaster I'M
"a ha 10