Milford chronicle., 1949-10-21
4 Spendthrift Department
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TgACH YEAR the post office de-
H partment reports to congress
an ever increasing deficit. now
amounting to approximately one
half billion dollars annually.
Each year congress appropriates
the amount needed to make up
that deficit, and the American tax
payers put up the money to meet
that appropriation.
At fairly frequent intervals
the department suggests that
congress pass legislation in-
creasing postage rates as
means Of preventing the annual
deficits. The people would pay
in increased postage instead Of
in taxes. A bill for such an In
crease Is being considered by
congress at this time.
Also before congress now in both
senate and house, are bills based
on recommendations of the Hoov-
er commission that would reduce
the post office departments costs,
without effecting the efficiency Of
mail service. 1t would take out of
those costs more than one half Of
the annual deficit and save the
people approximately 300 million
dollars each year.
The post office department
has not had an Overhauling for
the last three quarters Of a CEN
tury. Methods of communities
tiOn have changed decidedly in
that period. New bureaus and
divisions have been added to
meet changing conditions, but
the old OutmOded ones have not
been discarded. The people still
pay for the employees who man
unneeded, out Of date bureaus
and divisions. The elimination
Of these employees represents
but one phase Of the Hoover
commission recommendation
covering the post office depart
ment.
Why does congress hesitate to
act on the commissions recommen-
dations that would relieve the load
on the taxpayer? The answer is
patronage. Those unneeded en-
ployees' jobs are rewards for the
politically faithful. They mean
votes. Those votes are considered
more important to those who repre-
sent our states and districts in
Washington than the interests Of
the people.
For months there has been no &C.
ton on post office department re-
organization bills in either the sen.
ate or house. There is no evidence
that there is any intention Of per-
mitting them to reach a voting
stage, but there has been hours and
days devoted to the consideration
of increased postal rates. The peo-
pie will pay those postal increases.
Those senators and represent
tatives who are failing to con-
slider the interests Of us, the
American people, are working
for you and me and the other
fellow. We are in a position TO
demand results; to demand
that senate bill 2O62, and house
bill SLIT have consideration. It
is possible for us-yOu, me and
the other felIOw-tO demOn-
strate to those who would sacri-
flee our interests In order 70
protect a BIT Of additional pat
rOnage, that we can. and do,
represent more votes than these
patronage jobs can supply.
Congress has enacted a portion
Of the legislation needed to effect
uate the Hoover commissions rec
concentrations despite the organized
opposition Of the bureaucratic em-
ployees. 1t has been accomplished
because Of the demand Of the peo-
pie back home, but If we are. to
reap the full benefit of that PRONE
ised saving of more than three bill
lion collars a year, we must keep
on demanding until congress Is
forced to complete the job.
The citizens committee that is
backing the demand for those saw
ings has done a wonderful Job Of
arousing public sentiment, but all
Of US, including the members Of
that committee, who do the paying
cannot lay down until congress has
completed the savings we have a
right to expect. We want that three
billion and more a year now and
through future years. The enact
ment Of all the Hoover recommen.
dations into law will accomplish
that saving. Tell your senators and
representatives what you expect Il
he is to get your vote.
A definite demonstration Of the
result Of socialism is the devalua-
ton Of the English pound. Il Is q
step toward runaway initiation.
The English people are finding the
socialistie something for nothing
they were promised must be paid
for. The price is longer hours,
harder work, more production. The
devaluation is but an expedient.
-,
On any one subject there is
such q divergence Of opinion
among economists that one
wonders whether economies Is
a science or merely guessing