The New York herald., 1922-01-03
Lands OF Films
POST OPEN TO HAYS
Postmaster to Con-
slider $15O,000 Job
January IL.
HAS RESTED 3 WEEKS
Returns to Washington
After Stay at Home of
NJ Col. Thompson.
TELLS OF POSTAL PLANS
Says Department Dickers for
Building Sites Near Gen.
eral Post Office.
TELLS OF POSTAL PLANS

VIII II. Hays, Postma ster- General,
told yesterday some OF the details of the
offer made to him to leave the Cabinet
and politics to become "high arbiter' of
the films under a three year contract
guaranteeing salary of $150,000
yearly. He said he would not make a
final decision until after a conference
In Washington on January IA with the
heads of the industry Mr.. Hays added
that he knew nothing about the propo-
sition at present except in "a general
way" but that it was too important a
matter to be dismissed without the full
est consideration.
Mr.. Hays. who received an injury to
his back in q train crash at Manhattan
Transfer on October 2s. has been spend
house of Col. William Boyce Thompson
in Yonkers. Before taking his train at
the Pennsylvania Station yesterday
afternoon he talked in Postmaster Nor
gans office across the street, where,
he said. he was feeling better than at
any time since 1913, the last time he
could remember of having had any
vacation"
1T is true that have received the
business and legal offer from the mo tion
picture industry" said Mr. Hays.
These gentlemen who pioneered in this
great business have far reaching plans
for It's betterment. Just now 1 cannot
give the matter the thought and con-
sideration that. of course. It deserves.
Ny immediate desire is to get back to
fDh Of VUo e1,t tn IN rlr
again. I have therefore suggested that
] would be glad to meet them about the
middle of January and, after a frank
discussion. give them my answer. To
this they assented, and accordingly !
will see them robably on Saturday.
January IA. in Washington. Until then
am 100 per cent. concentrated on Post
Office matters"
Mr.. Hays explained that it was de-
sired he take hold of the business or
ganization and legal end of the motion
picture industry. and that no merger
to bring about the control of prices was
contemplated.
''The job would have about the same
relation to motion pictures that Judge
Lands has to baseball" said he. ut
would be to raise the tone of the in
dustry--to uplift Il morally and to In
crease the interest of the public"
According 10 a statement issued by
the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Fox
Film Corporation. Universal Film
Manufacturing Company. the Vitagraph
Company and the Pathe Exchange X
ie planned to create n body To sup
plant IL not reorganiZe on widely
extended scale the National Association
of the Motion Picture Industry. To as
sumo charge of the legal and business
end Of this new body Is the offer which
has been made TO Mr.. Hays and which
he will consider.
Mr.. Hays announced that the res
toration of the mail tubes in New York
city was now "only question of ne
gotiating on the price, The acquisi-
tion of post office sites adjoining the
General Post Office In Eighth avenue
and at Tenth avenue and Thirty-first
street, he said, had developed into a
question of rental Tho Post Office
Department had done only a little
building anywhere In the country since
1918, he said, and many new structures
were now required.
Satisfaction at the manner in which
the Christmas mall rush had been han
died was expressed by Mr.. Hays The
increase, he said, had been about 40
per cent and the Improvement in the
service about the same percentage every
where except In Los Angeles, where the
postal facilities are limited.
Mr.. Hays said the death of Senator
Pcnrose was "a loss 70 the Senate. 10
the party and. as a good citizen. a
loss to the country"