Is Fighting The Box Trust

IS FIGHTING THE BOX TRUST

HANK SMITH GOT A CHANCE TO BE HEARD

Says There Are Three Box Factories in the Second District Which Are Not In It.

Washington, March 5. - Representative H. C. Smith got a chance to be heard today in the debate relative to the rural free delivery. He, of course, is opposed to changing to the contract system, but at the same time he is after the box trust, which has grown up with the rural service. At present no farmer can put up a mail box that has not been approved and there are only fourteen makes on the approved list. Mr Smith has three box factories in his district and though they have been trying hard for months they have never been able to entice the official sanction which would give them a share of the rural box business which has grown to enormous proportions.

He said that he did not think that any of the postoffice authorities were making money by approving certain boxes, but he thought it advisable to have some legislation which would designate the necessary qualifications to make rural mail boxes eligible.

In answer to the argument that the expenses of the rural system would grow excessively he suggested that if it is proposed to make a saving it might be a good thing to start by cutting down the enormous amounts now being paid to the railroads instead of slicing off the salaries of the carriers.