Evening star., 1922-09-18
aforementioned Post Offices
Would Make for Economy.

Postmaster General Works sugges-
accrue to the government should
standard plan Of construction Of ma
tionally owned post Office buildings
be carried out has met with general
approval. Editors. however, remem-
bering the old log-rolling plan which
prevailed on public buildings. rivers
and harbors and the like, counsel
that before any action is authorized
the pork barrel be eliminated for all
time.
The Postmaster Generals explana-
ton that it Is where business war
rants" that the government-owned
buildings are to be constructed Will
make "for a better understanding.
the Saginaw News-Courier thinks.
because the original idea conveyed
was "for a government-owned build
ing in every city and town, which.
of course. Is a very large and very
comprehensive program. involving
enormous possibilities for expendi-
ture and political manipulation The
Cincinnati Times-Star holds that as
a tenant Of post office buildings. be
is a tightwad. and not loose
spender, although he does not seem
to know it. He leases only after
competitive bidding by prospective
landlords, and factional quarrel. or
the rivalry Of uptown. with down
bargain prices; his contracts are all
jug-handled. reserving to him the
right to move out whenever he feels
like It,. But as himself the owner
and landlord of a public building. the
record is that in the average small
building about as much as he paid
the landlord who had provided JAM.
tor service, heat and light. as well
as office room. Which means that
Uncle Sam Is out every dollar OF his
investment" Even though Mr.. Work
has shown the need exists; s, the tSa, San
"whether congressman, responsive only
to local influence and elections.
will heel his appeal is uncertain.
Were national interest the touch
stone of congressional action, DR.;
within the year. Politicians who
dodge every issue will shy at the
proposition to deprive leading citi-
zens' Of their rental" The Louisville
Post also points out that tine gov.
ernment might make money out OF
this, ana IL nnisnt ioSe 'ioss.
experience is that the government
usually comes out on the wrong end
when 1t starts to buy.
But 1t Is not the question whether
it would be good business that IN
terests the Utica Dispatch,
which there is sufficient volume of
business to raise the business to the
dignity of a salaried postmaster the
government should house its own
buildings The buildings should be
designed and constructed after study
of each community. especial attention
being given to present and prospec-
tive needs. The buildings should be
more than mere post offices. Each
one should provide a town assembly
or reading room, in which informa-
tion could be secured concerning the
government and the. state Of the
many buildings that would have to
be built under the plan. however. the
Tacoma Ledger Is inclined to be-
lieye that construction costs would
be excessive. especially at time
when the government govern mt .rshv Is marc ats ot put
70 may be reduced. but when the
postmaster general declares that the
government by owning its buildings.
Instead Of renting quarters for post
Offices. would save approximately
$OVU,UUV,VOV "llhAlt SSh yS"A ., SASAS
is good reason for Mr.. Works pro-
posal." The Kansas City Star thinks
that carrying out the plan would not
only mean increased economy In the
operation Of the postal system. but
In many cases no doubt the provf-
sion Of much needed facilities for
post office facilities in cities and
towns. A proposal with the merits
of this plan ought to have the early
and favorable attention of Congress"
"There would be prompt and well
nigh universal assent to what Mr..
Work proposes" says the Minneapo-
lis Tribune, 'if in times past there
had been as much regard for econo-
my and business principle in govern
ment construction as there Is In pri-
vate construction. s.Unhappily there
hasn't been such regard. and for that
reason there Is likely to be consider
able misgivfng about sweeping
system Of government built and gov
ernment owned postal property" The
Post Office Department i'is entitled to
be considered as big business the
Indianapolis News points out, and II
thinks the Work proposal will help
the public to form an adequate idea
Of the extent and importance of post
ONCE activities" The New York
World. however. Is convinced that
'the proposal will be received with
whoops Of joy by 531 members Of
Congress-, including territorial dele-f
gates and not deductnig vacancies.
The one-horse town always insists
on q three-horse post Office. when
ftAh>~ v.,x 1A,n : nj Z. NJ set q = n,psr