Great Falls tribune., 1921-07-09

had time to Investigate, through COM
mission appointed for that purpose
the Justice of the second class rates,
and whether it was necessary to nave
them so high for the sake of postal
revenue. Despite the fact that con.
9ress has been petitioned from all
over the country to this effect, and de.
spite the strong recommendation OF
the nostoffice department, the Long
worth bill, which had this for its OBJ
ject, has died in committee.
The Subscriber Will Pay.
EXCEPT for the most prosperous news
naners and periodicals, it is highly
nrobable that subscription prices will
have TO be boosted to cover this addi-
tional burden. 1t was just this point
on which the main fight against the
increases has been based from the
first. The ultimate sufferer from the
increases is bound to be the mail sub
scriber to newspapers and periodicals
II means making education and the
knowledge of current news the reelpl-
emf of another tax.
Mr.. Longworth and officials of the
postoffice department are utterly at q
loss to understand the action of the
postoffices and post road committee OF
the house. AS the end sought by pub
fishers of newspapers and periodicals
WAS merely a postponement Of putting
the fourth increase into effect so that
an impartial investigation into the
necessity and justice of the increase
might be made, the committees actor
has caused no little chagrin and dis
appointment
Not even the author of the bill tc
postpone this last boost in mail rates
was able to find out exactly how the
committee voted On his bill. 1t is MIR
Longworth's understanding, however
that a considerable majority of the
committee voted to table his measure
Under the existing rules of the house
it is now impossible to get the BILL be
fore the house for its consideration
except by going to the rules committee
ard, by overriding the committee which
| killed the bill, order it reported to the
house.
viii Continue the Fight.
Even if this course were pursued
| with SO many of the committee mem
bers actively opposing the measure
it is extremely doubtful if favorable
action could be procured from the
| membership of the house. Proponents
of the Longworth bill and the Post OF
flee department itself have suffered
a defeat through the action Of the
committee. There may be many ex
traneous reasons affecting the action o.
the committee, it is realized. and the
| whole matter undoubtedly will be re
| vived through the introduction of
new bill at the most propitious time
1t is whispered around the corri
dors of the capital that the existing
feeling between some members of con
gress and the executive Department.
of the government may have something
| to do with turning down the Long
| worth measure Postmaster Genera
Hays stood ready to order thorough
| investigation into the whole matter OF
second class mail rates embracing
every angel of it.
1t has been suggested in some con
gressional quarters that the very fact
| that the postoffice department recon
mended favorable committee actor
! and adoption by congress of the Long
| worth bill NAV have had something tt
do with the killing of the measure.
There is a feeling on the part o.
many members of congress that ths
executive departments of the govern
| ment having in their power many ap
| pointments have failed to act az
speedily as they might in ousting Dem
ocrats and installing Republicans
| This feeling is becoming evident II
MANY WAYS, and may have had some
influence on the fate of Longworth'
| intended legislation.