The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-27
The Railroad Company and the Post Oncs Depart


ment.
| The following statement in reply to the letter of Mr.
Robinson, which appeared in the Union of Wednesday
evening last, prepared in the department, and has
been handed US for publication
Mr.. Robinson declares that the reason for his surren-
dering the mail this time after finding that the Post
master General would not allow him $500 mile, was
because he wished to avoid the expenses of carrying
the mail incident to winter service and especially the
hazards OF night running the river after the 10th De-
cembe HIS acts disprove his declarations in the most
positive manner; for he voluntarily changes his hours
from day to night running and though entirely relieved
from the ma, is encounterng the hazards OF night
vice on the river andthe expense of extra train the
railroad to as full an extent the mail arrange
required In what particular does his running now
vary from what 1t was last winter when he carried the
mail What expenses there incident this season.
and which he has freed himself FROM that incurred
will save bynot taking the mail, beyond the few hundred
dollars for the carrier to and from the osoces?
| 1t is impossible for him to specify.
Mr. Robinson much at fault in the truth as in the
modesy OF the remark when he says, quite characters
tically that "no lawyer whose opinion is worth much,
has yet been found to concur with the Postmaster Gene
raj in his construction OF the law" II is not probable
that the Postmaster General has asked the opinion of any
lawyer upon such question; and it is very certain Mr.
Robinson would not unless he had strong to be-
lieve what the opinion would be. The Postmaster Gene
raj knew that Kendall, Miles, Granger and Wicklfe
all eminent lawyers, and more than awyers-satesmen
and finding their opinions in accordance with his own,
and sanctioned by Congress in the of $780, no further
inquiry was deemed necessary. Nor the Postmaster
General, when sustained by such authority, likely to
opinions have been thrown before the public by Mr. Rob-
nson, particularly the leading opinion is that of his
brother, stakeholder, if not director of the company
the others, gentlemen whose opinions to have been
formed upon his statement oil the and probably alike
interested in the settlement of the question. Without
dsparagng the emnence Of these gentlemen the Post
ions-those that were impartial and unpurchased.
Every one who has competent knowledge OF the
the act of 1885, and the decision OF the Postmas-
ter General, Mr. Kendall, settled the maximum of
single daily railroad service at 237 so mile None
knows better than Mr. Robinson, whose company took
contract and the pay for years under that law at that
price 1t is equally well known that the act of 1899
liked the maximum OF service more frequent than daily
at $500 mile In the last act the expression made
OF was "fOr one more daily mails" 1t was first in
tended to be worded "for any mails frequent than
daily but twas seen that this might be construed
to apply the $500 Limitation only to the additional mails
and might be claimed that the pay of the whole service
could be carried up to than $500 year The phrase
first quoted then adopted, and acih proviso (Which
Mr. Robinson is careful to keep out of sight in his com
municaton) that nothing therein contained should be
construed SO as IN any way to remove or impair the limit
ready stated, the 1927 so limitation had been established
How absurd to suppose that Congress would restrict twice
or thrice daily transportation to the same amount of COM
pensaton to which it would subject the half the third
| of that service!
When Mr. Robinson says that the largest daily mail
in the United States is taken both ways over his road he
1
readers, it, by his complaint of the want of local travel
he intends to convey the idea that there is not great
amount OF travel passing over his roadgreaer than on
railroads other States conveying mails OF the first class
and receiving but 1927 so mile Certainly that travel is
greater now than in 1885, and them when the route
open to competitions it sustained steamboat and coach
line with no higher addition for the mail pay than 445
1 a year
The credit claimed for railroads in increasing the reve
nues of the department. at least far Mr. Robnson's
road is concerned, would have been readily
ded had ne not Wanted in his communication OF "thc
transportation OF express packages which fast taking
the place OF the mails, at ga compensation than
equivalent to any income that reasonably be expected
at the hands of the department" Largely increased in
come produced solely by railroads! Why, the revenue
now is $500, 900 less than it in 1888, when Mr.
Robnsons road commenced running In 1888 the
was $i23s,73a 46 The last annual under the
seven years of 1851 Jos This is less than per cent
Now what the per cent of increase of pay allowed
Mr.. Robnsons railroad for it's important agency in pro-
ducng this IA per cent increase of revenues al per
cent advance upon the cost of coach transportation.
And that not sufficient to satisfy him; for, failing to
get the 49a per cent advance demanded he has with
drawn his road from the service, extolled as meri
torous, and converted it into engine of assault
upon the revenues of the department. Abandoning
reduction Of postage by of the increase OF letters
in the mails he deyotes his road to the transportation of
express packages for the patriotic reason that he makes
The revenue of the department at present is near
100000 less than in 1885, but its expenses have been
reduced still lower. They less by $450000 This
the law reducing the rates OF postage, enables the re-
duced revenues to sustain the operations of the depart
ment And if the railroads that have contributed nothing
or but little TO that saving will only permit it's applica
ton to the noble purpose for which it is designed in
stead OF swallowing up themselves, cheap postage may
| soon be realized.
Much of the merit claimed for the railroads is cheerful
y conceded; but their capabilities for good cannot be al
lowed to justify notorious misconduct The speed of its
cars and the capacity Of its give railroad compa
no right to set itself above the law and the people,
that created to obey and serve This high handed
attempt to break down all legal restrictions followed up
by refusal 10 give the public the facility of its mails
must be reprobaed by every who properly estimates
popular sovereignty and the maintenance OF the laws
| toward the conclusion of his letter. he knows and will
not deny that the Postmaster General cheerfully and
readily assented that the service should be continued
without written contract on his road until spring.
that he might have time to apply to Congress- for
sructlon OF the law increase of pay-that this
sent was communicated to the State directors at Rich
mondhat they asaented to it, and urged Mr. Robinson
positively refused to do so, without the payment of
larger sum- from the LIST of July last than the Postmaster
General had authority to pay. Mr.. Robinson did not
apply to the Postmaster General did any other per-
in his behalf to make recommendation to Congress
Tor an increase of payprobaby because he knew that
the Postmaster General had recommended in his annual
report reduction of the pay the first class railroads.
be done and could not therefore, make such recommen
dation. MIR Robinson doubt acted upon the authority
and in accordance with the wishes Of the individual and
nonresident stockholders, deprivng Virginia OF the
mail facilities to which her citizens had long been
| accustomed.
The of Mr. Robinson at the economy of the de-
parment and the reference to the opinion Of north
L al nd Lv,..l T.. -..lA -.