Evening star., 1953-08-23
Mccarthy Seeks Cosi
OF Postal Service
For Typical Papers
BY the Associated Press

Senator Mccarthy, Republican
of Wisconsin, announced last
night he has asked for an esti-
mate of how much it costs the
Post Office to "Subsidize the dis
tribution" of the Daily Worker,
the Wall Street Journal and the
Washington Post in the second
class mail.
In letter to Postmaster Cen
eral Summerfield, Senator Nc
Carthy said it would seem that
the three daily newspapers he
named "are typical examples of
papers that over-burdened tax
payers should not be called upon
to subsidize."
Senator McCarthy's request to
Mr.. Summerfield was continual
ton of his controversy with the
Washington Post, which has crit
iciZed him editorially and which
he has accused of ''falsehood."
He said he has no complaint"
about the Wall Street Journal,
explaining that he selected that
paper and the Daily Worker be-
cause they are "at opposite ends
of the economic spectrum"
Graham Answers Mccarthy.
He added in his letter to Sum-
merfield:
II requested the information
on the Washington Post as a
paper typical of those which feel
that freedom of the press means
fredoom to deliberately lie, and
to twist and diStort facts"
In a statement aimed at Sem
ator Mccarthy Friday, Philip L.
Graham, publisher of the Post,
said the Senator has given no
evidence that he is qualified to
become chief censor of what news
may be sent through the mails"
IF Senator Mccarthy would
close his mouth long enough to
read a little American history"
Mr.. Graham said, "he might dis
cover that he is ignorant about
the meaning of freedom of the
press"
Reminds of Budget Request.
Senator Mccarthy was in Los
Angeles yesterday conducting a
hearing of his Senate InveStiga-
tions Subcommittee, and the let
ter to the Postmaster General
was released by his office here.
The letter began by remind
Ing Mr.. Summerf1eld that he had
come before the appropriations
subcommittee, of which 1 was
chairman, and requested $240
million to make up the difference
between the postage paid by
newspapers, magazines. etc. and
the actual cost of handling their
material"
After asking for an estimate
of handling costs for the three
papers, Sen. Mccarthy said:
Certainly there can be no rea-
son for using tax money to pay
for the distribution of the Daily
Worker, which, as you know, is
the official organ of the Com
nunist party.
Likewise it would be dificult
to think of any reason why tax
payers money should be used to
suhsidize the distribution of the
Wall Street Journal, which, as
you know, is the organ Of a
group not exactly in financial
straits.
No Immediate Comment.
II might add that I did not |
select the Wall Street Journal
because I have any complaint |
about that particular paper, but |
merely for the purpose of select
ing two papers from opposite
ends of the economic spectrum"
O441Old4o VI GIlC wall Ob1CGI |
Journal were not available for |
comment. Nor was there any
immediate comment from the
Washington Post or the Daily |
Worker.
Mr.. Summerf1eld and other
Post Office Department SpokeS-
men were away from their Offices
and could not be reached at |
once.
Senator McCarthy's quarrel
with the Post stems from an Au-
gust 13 editorial which accused |
Senator Mccarthy of Calling |
James A. Wechsler. editor of the
New York Post, before his in
vestigations subcommittee and |
subjected him to intensive in
terrogation about editorials in |
his newspaper critical of Senator
Mccarthy"
Senator Mccarthy has denied |
this.
Mr.. Graham. in his statement
Friday. said the Post has con-
sistently advocated that the Post
Office charge newspapers the full
cost of mail service.