Postmaster General New Changes Mind on Levine; Cools Down Under Fire

Comments in Washington, including some from Senatorial quarters, were far from complimentary to the wisdom. judgment, taste and sportsmanship of the Post Office Department in raising a row over the stamps, the New York “World” stated today.

From all signs, the Post Office Department will not attempt to take any action against Charles A. Levine for carrying to Berlin, in the Bellance plane, 250 letters on which the air mail stamp had been cancelled, apparently in violation of postal regulations, by Postmaster Fred M. Sealy of Hempstead, L. I., the “World” states.

Postmaster General New appeared to have reconsidered his actual or implied criticisms of Mr. Levine and to be confining his investigation of the incident to the action of the erring Postmaster.

It now appears that the matter will simmer down to an official scolding for the Postmaster who waived the regulations so the Beltanca plane becomes the first to carry air mail to Berlin.

Mr. New’s animosity toward Mr. Levine goes back to the awarding of the New York-Chicago Air Mail contract. Levine’s bid was one cent under that of the successful bidder, former Assistant Postmaster General Paul Henderson. Mr. Levine challenged the award and hinted political favoritism. Mr. New came back with an attack on Levine’s character.

The atmosphere of the Post Office Department was hostile when the episode of the cancelled air mail stamps came to light.

Charles Levine did not intend to sell the letters he carried with him on his flight to Berlin, and the plan was to give the cancelled stamps to historical societies, according to Charles C. Lockwood. former Senator and counsel for Levine.

“It was, and still is our purpose to deliver all the cancelled stamps which we receive back to the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, for them to retain such stamps as they want and distribute the others to museums and historic institutions,” Mr. Lockwood stated.