Evening star., 1937-06-11

refusing to make deliveries "where 1t
Is an accepted fact that danger and
violence exist"
IT we were to try to serve as a COM
missary delivery department for these
plants" he said. I'VE would have to
put on new equipment and personnel
and incur added expenses which were
not contemplated in our budget"
He cited laws authorizing the Post
master General to suspend service
completely at any time when the
service cannot be safely continued OF
the reserve collected"
DO you mean that you think law
and order have broken down to such
an extent that the Post Once is afraid
to make deliveries?" Bridges asked.
I'VE are complying with the law"
Howes retorted. Our employees didn't
join the service with the idea that 1t
would be thir duty to handle such ab-
normal functions"
What do you think about affording
them protection?" asked Senator
Bailey. The Government is a rather
powerful institution, or used to be-"
I'VE are not the police power Of the
Government" Howes answered, land
this department is not going to ask
the Government to step in with its
military forces in this situation"
Howes said the department had laid
dcur fofv rAo,,1o tio~, nv
often suspended mail deliveries to a
house where a vicious dog" might at
tack the postman.
II 1t began accepting food for de-
livery to the plants of the Republic
Steel Corp, he continued, it would
have to handle two. or three. truck
loads a day" and cope with "undis-
puted violence" from pickes
Asked About New Service.
Senator Smathers, Democrat, Of New
jersey then asked Bridges:
DO you think. the Government
| should inaugurate a new service te
| deliver food to these plants, simply te
suit the convenience Of the company
Bridges answered that he merely
wanted thorough investigation OF tn.
entire situation.
| Bridges, in opening his argument
for the steel strike investigation, sale
he had been informed that Bert
F1aherty, the assistant postmaster, had
refused to accept q shipment for
strike-bound workers with the remark
You see We cannot accept thes<
packages, because they will not allow
it,"
Bridges added that 'they" wer,
identified as union leaders"
The Senator asserted that the parce
contained non-perishable food ane
was offered At the post ONCE b,
Guanieri for delivery to Sam Brown
a non-striking worker living in the
Niles steel plant.
Agree to Open Hearing.
After q brief executive conference
the committee agreed to an oper
hearing on the Bridges resolution anc
told MIN to proceed with his state.
ment.
IT Flaherty made that statement
attributed to him." Bridges told the
committee, I'VE are faced with a seri-
Gus situation.
Can it be that Payne and Gallo
way (strike leaders, intimidated
Flaherty into an agreement not tc
accept mail without their consent?
IT so, the Post Once Department
Is fraught with corruption and should
be thoroughly investigated"
Bridges demanded that all principal.
in the "disgraceful episode" be sub
poenaed by the committee.
Bridges handed to the committee 9
package he said had been mailed BY
Hazel E. Finch to her husband, a stee
worker In the Republic plant al
Warren.
He said the package was returned te
her marked unbelievable"
In his reply to Bridges, Howes as.
serted no of1icial Of the Post ONO,
Department had discussed the posta
service with union members.
Denies Agreements"
Howes added that mo agreement
OF any kind" had been entered into b,
representatives Of the Post Once De
partment with any member Of tn,
labor organizations concerning the &C
ceptance or delivery Of mail matter.
The postmasters at all OF the once,
involved state that neither they no,
any OF their employees have entered
into any such agreements, but, to tn,
contrary. they have insisted that the,
Will tolerate no interference with oul
mail service" Howes said.
Denying that union representa- tive!
had been permitted to inspect mai
matter, Howes said, Il can assur,
you that the department would no
tolerate any such practice under an,
circumstances.
Howes testified the department hae
received only one report OF any at
tempt to interfere with our norma
mail service"
1T Is reported that at youngstown
Ohio, . slight delay was occasiones
by the strikers stopping . mail truck
but the mali waS ultimately deliveres