New-York tribune., 1920-11-01
Just Burleson
4 Heartfelt Repiep of the Wilson
Postofice Department

OSl0UlCe department
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The Wilsonian Administra-
tons sins Of commission and omission
have been very we'll disclosed to read
ers of The Tribune. but at this last
moment l would remind them Of one
serious aspect that has been given
scarcely enough publicity. am al
luding to the postal service, or more
particularly to the branch thereof
A..own as the Railway Mail Service.
This IS the great public utility most
intimately affecting the interrelation-
Ships OF our hundred-odd millions Of
feople, the one quite likely most in
ICED Of the greatest possible efficiency.
since It's inception by George B. Arm
strong IN the early eos il had gradu-
ally been brought to g highly service
able operating condition up to the time
Q. the Taft Administration. Then along
came Burleson and now look at the
earned thing
With his singular adeptness at Sc
'ccting "dUds" and msfits for the high
Official places. Mr. Wilson turned over
ire postal service to a Texan tyrant,
ovner of convict farm and occupant
II chair II Congress, whose only ap-
parent claim to the portfolio of Post
:. IL
raign service. This man gave the post
O. Second Assistant Postmaster Cen
oral. with supervision &C the Railway
Mail Service, to Otto Praeger. another
one off the same piece, who had made
an uncnviable reputation as Postmaster
ct Washington Between the two the
railway branch of the service has been
pretty nearly wrecked under a pre-
tense Of economy unsupported by
ordinary Intelligence or humanity.
During TIE last seven years the pos
tai service has so degenerated as to
afford the public no assurance what
ever Of speed. accuracy or safety in
the dispatch Of mail. A special de-
livery stamp means nothing NV.
Parcels post insurance guarantees
neither protection from loss nor in
demnity for loss The general morale
ef the clerical force has become go
reduced As to make farce of the whole
system. Daily newspapers hive been
shown scant courtesy; soldiers and
sailors parcels have been rif'ed with
regular occurrence and delay to first
ciass mail has now outgrown The new.-
paper Joke stage.
In addition to his other misds-
meanors Burleson has employed gang
o. thugs to xii and maim the people
of New York with auto trucks, in open
defiance Of the traffic regulations. Hard
ly week goes b. without a manslaugh-
.cr or mutilation to his discredit.
This letter gives but a cursory view
q, the Burlesonized mail service. Space
Goes no. permit specification, but I
ave an experience sc fourteen years
II. the Railway Mail Service with the
mails ard in the Offices, TO support
every accusation. Ny OWE home was
broken up by psaeger without JUST
cause or provocaticn, merely on the
stereotyped Official excuse for the
good Of the service" and have ac'a-
al y been robbed Of about $1,000 II
cash besides Ny wife was Sc
,crely injured and nearly killed by
government chauffeur, without WORD
Of apology or cent Of compensation
..rd the fellow who did il was not even
arrested, in spite OF three violations
cf the law My statements could %
duplicated n effect b. many an old
rostal clerk who hiss escaped the in'
sane asylum or the cemetery rather
) by good fortune than by official per-
: lo.ssion.
, All in favor OF another period 9,
5 Wilsopisn misrule. wastefulness aaS
extortion, say Aye"
A. PoORE MUTE
New York, Oct. 25, 1920. u