Evening star., 1950-05-13
Donaldson Stands PAT
On Postal Service Cut;
Carriers Resent Blame

Carriers Resent Blame
Postmaster General Donaldson
stood firm today on the cuts he
has ordered in postal service. say
ing complaints against the action
were inspired by the Letter Car
riers' Union.
! The union promptly fired back
with a statement accusing the
cabinet officer Of trying to shift
the blame for his own "hasty ILL.,
advised action" to Congress.
In a 3.500-word statement yes
terday, Mr.. Donaldson said the
department has received many
complaints about the service cut
backs he ordered last month.
"a large percentage of these
appear to have been inspired by
the officers of the National Associ-
alton of Letter Carriers" he
added.
Mr.. Donaldson said the AFL
Carriers Association and Others
| have made erroneous statements
and specious arguments" about
the service cuts. These, he said
"have caused considerable con-
fusion"
II do not feel that the curtail-
ments in service will greatly in
convenience any considerable
number of our citizens" his state.
ment declared.
Once Daily Delivery.
The service cuts include reduc.
ton of mail deliveries in residen-
tial areas to one a day. shorter
window hours in post Offices
fewer pickups from street corner
boxes, parcel post delivery on 9
once-a-day basis and an end Il
night handling of mail other thar
first class. parcel post and news
papers.
Mr.. Donaldson repeated previous
statements that operations had te
be trimmed to fit the funds ap-
propriated by Congress.
The only way to do this, he
said, was to reduce service anc
scale down the payroll.
The employment cutback, hi
said. will be largely among the
several thousand temporary ane
part-time employees in the service
He denied that hardships will be
imposed on regular employees a.
a result of concentrating the
work among fewer people.
Calls It Deliberate Attempt"
The carriers union described
the Postmaster Generals state
ment as a deliberate attempt to
minimize the mail crisis confront
ing the country" and added:
Instead of assuming the bur-
den of responsibility for his ir-
responsible actions, he places the
entire blame on the shoulders OF
the members of Congress.
This despite the fact that he
issued his destructive edict of April
Is without consulting the members
of the Appropriations Committee
in either the Senate or House OF
Representatives, and without con-
sulting with the committees Of the
House and Senate who have the
particular responsibility of super
vising the affairs of the Post Office
Department." -.
The April 18 order directed post
masters to start their retrench-
ment moves at once and complete
readjustments by June 80. The
letter carriers said that members
Of their union viii meet here next
Monday to discuss the situation.
Congress Members Unmoved.
Some members of Congress
whose mail has been heavy with
protests remained unmoved by Mr..
Donaldson's statement.
Representative Withrow, Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin said: when
ever there is cut to be made they
cut out in the field. 1t is very
obvious that the Postmaster Gen
eral is attempting to put the
squeeze out in the areas where ii
will be felt by the people, instead
of making a reduction where it is
possible to make one."
Commenting on Mr.. Donaldson
statement that the reduction in
force would fall heaviest on tenn
porary employees, one Representa-
tive said the department has en-
ployes who have been classified as
temporary for % years.
A number of bills and resolu-
tions have been introduced attack
ing the postal curtailment. One
of these, to rescind the curtail-
ment order,- was introduced by Mr.
Withrow, a member of the House
Civil Service Committee.
Mr.. Donaldson said that most
of the complaints have been on
the score of the reduction in the
number of deliveries in residential
areas from two to one a day
The letter carriers making two
deliveries now walk about 9 miles
a day, Mr.. Donaldson said. The
routes will be increased from 20
to SO per cent. he said, and cover
ing them once will mean the car
rier will walk less.
Makes Other Points.
He also made these points:
Only Congress can increase
postal rates.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission sets the pay for railroads
for hauling the mail. and the