Evening star., 1952-04-23
Our Mail Service
Might C. objections to Be Restored
If Congress Foregoes SIoshes
BY jones 6. Deone

By james 6. Deone
The ending of night mail col
lections hasn't paid off. The Pos
Office now is ready to restor
them.
Restoration plans, says Postmas
ter General Donaldson, are ready
The service will be resumed thi
summer, he says, if Congress ap
propriateS enough money.
Late collections were only on
casualty of the postal curtailmen
order of two years ago. But pub
lie indignation. postal men say
has centered on them.
People also have compliance
about slashed deliveries, windoy
hours and directory service. Blu
they have complained longest an,
loudest about the collection cut
back, according to the officials.
Mr.. Donaldson insists it ism
complaints that caused his deci
sion.
II didn't want to stop the col
lections in the first place." he toll
The Star. Il want to restor,
them, first, to give people an op
portunity to mail later, and sec
ond. to keep the mail flowing il
evenly in the post Office"
Resumed in New York.
The fact remains, however, tina
iall the cutbacks have been highl!
controversial. The controvers!
undoubtedly had a part in tn
new move.
Washington will have higl
priority if restoration comes.
Late collections have just beer
resumed in New York City. Plan
are to restore them gradually il
most of the 300 biggest cities, Mr.
Donaldson revealed. Washington
is at the top of the list.
Curtailment cut the last Dis
trict collection to around 7:3l
pm. Restoration would mean .
pickup at 9:30 to 10:30. in addi'
ton.
The New York service is similar
There an earlier collection viii
be eliminated, however. (Nev
York has more collections thar
Washington.)
No special money will be need.
ed, according to Mr.. Donaldson
The move can be made If thu
Senate does not slash any further
next years postal budget as al.
ready passed by the House, hi
said. That amounts to about $2.s
billion.
The postmaster general said hi
thinks the prospects are good.
Threatens Other Cuts.
II, however, a further slash
should be made, another cut ir
postal service might be required
Mr.. Donaldson added. He wouldn't
state the restoration cost.
A lot of people won't be salts
fed with just the night collection
The National Association of Letter
Carriers, for instance, wants full
restoration Of all curtailed serv-
ices. especially deliveries.
Mr.. Donaldson accuses the as
Sociation of campaigning to sti1
up public criticism of his policies
William c. Doherty. association
president, admits this.
Mr.. Doherty, a one-time carrier
told The Star in his view present
postal service is chaotic" He
charged that the curtailment has
snarled post Office operations and
forced unfair work loads on the
100000 mailmen he heads.
The associations campaign has
assumed o personal character. Mr..
Doherty stated frankly:
1--WE won't be satisfied until we
have a new Postmaster General. I"
Says Service Up to Congress.
Mr.. Donaldson, however
staunchly defends his policies. He
says Congress demanded economy,
and he had to achieve it.
And it's up to Congress to
permit better service, he adds. He
emphasized:
"You can only give the people
what the people want to pay for." !"
A survey Of the 800 major post
offices already has been made in
connection with the new plan, he
disclosed. Later collections, he
said, can commence within a week
or 10 days after the appropria-
ton Is enacted.
In an election year, the move
is good political strategy. It will
have to weather election-year con-
gressional economy, however.
Washington's mail soon may be
speeded in another way. The city
post Office Is doing some mod
Most spectacular project is q
$150, 900 sorting machine, now be-
ing installed.
There also are new, expert
mental motor vehicles; new dollies