Milford chronicle., 1957-12-06
CLEAR POLICY NEEDED

In every successive statement made by
Nikita S. Khrushchev in interviews, he re-
peats the same themes. He talks of Russian
strength and of Russian superiority to the
United States. He declares that u. S. monop-
olists want war and that if there is war the
United States will be the one which starts
it.
He promises, under such circumstances,
to wipe out the cities of this nation in rain
of hydrogen devastation. He warns the al
lies of America, and at the same time urges
them to save themselves by canceling the
leases on u. S. bases.
Each time Khrushchev speaks, he is ad-
dressing the entire world. He is telling the
people of frightened world that if they
eschew all alliances with America they need
not fear war. Step by step, the Kremlin is
pushing to isolate the United States. Ameri-
can policy must meet this, yet since Sputnik
there has been little American policy.
Every time Khruschev speaks, he elicits
now statements from American generals and
officials about Americas capability of retail
alton. These are then cited as further evil
dences of American "war mOngering." This
country allows itself to be sucked into the
same trap over and over again, and each time
it does, another assaults made on the morale
of the people of the world.
1t is necessary for America to have a
clear and decisive policy which works for
peace without appeasement, and to build up
its strength. If passive policy is now fol-
lowed, the danger to this country will m
crease. Khruschevs talk is war talk, and
he has pushed steadily ahead in policy
aimed at this country. But the United States
is making no apparent advances. A clear dec
laration of policy is needed. Any drifting
now will only help to demoraliZe the world.
&$oN$
REVISING THE MAIL RATES
Top officials of the post Office department
are again advocating higher mail rates. For
instance Hyde Gillette, an assistant postmas-
ter general, speaking in Portland, Oregon,
said that the departments deficit will reach
500 millions this year. He approved bill
which has passed the House and will be con-
sidered by the Senate next session. Under it,
there would be a 1-cent increase in first
class letter postage; so per cent increase
in second-class mail rates over four-year
period; so per cent increase in third-class
rates over two-year period, and 1-cent in
crease in air mail postage.
There is certainly plenty of evidence that
post office charges should be revised upward,
whatever the precise percentages. And this
reform should not stop with the regular mail
services. Parcel post-which falls into the
fourth-class mail classification-has also
been heavy and consistent producer of def
cts. Moreover, the argument that the mails
serve basic public need in the fields of in
formation, education and general enlighten-
ment, and hence should not necessarily be
self-supporting, certainly cannot logically be
applied to parcel post. 1t is purely COM
mercial package-carrying service, operating
in competition with package-carrying serv-
ices provided by private enterprise. If il
went completely out of business tomorrow,
private enterprise would do the job-effi-
ciently, swiftly, and at fair price. And pri-
vate enterprise pays its own way and pays
taxes to boot.
Another bill before Congress (H. R. 8108)
calls for rate reforms aimed at making par
eel post financially self-sustaining-ins
of a taxpayer-subsidized service. What can
be wrong with that?
xZoNZ