The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-22
Richmond Railroad /.

RlchmOnu fNAllrOau
We occasionally notice paragraphs in of the
northern and southern papers, probably prepared paid
for by those interested in the railroads, condemning the
conduct of the Postmaster General refusing to contract
with the Richmond railroad at price beyond the amount
authorized 10 be paid by law The late report of Senator
Peace and the passage of the joint resolution, seized
upon by the contractors and editors IN their pay to re-
new the assaults upon the department Now what
the facts OF the case The maximum prce authorized to
be paid by the OF 1885 and 1882 for railroad servce
S237 SO per mile was settled by Mr. Kendall and approved
OF by every Postmaster General from that to this
and greater has not been paid for single daily
vice from that time this, except That sum is
paid from Baltimore to Cumberland; and all the rail
roads taking the great southern mail from this city to the
south--even the Richmond Railroad Company-acqu-
esced in Mr. Kendals decision and made contract to
take il at that price until the st of july lS43 the end OF
the contract term. Postmaster General was then
in office and this struggle for pay renewed by
the company with him, threatening to throw OFT the
mails reference was made to President Tyler; who,
arbitrator, settled the price at $3.50 per me which
paid them until the end of the contract term
the LIST of July, ls47. Paying so much more to this
company than any other performing similar, and equal
ly good service, the cause OF considerable
dissatisfaction to other contractors and ending
complaints against the department For the service at
ter the of july ls47, the Postmaster General offered
them 1927 5Othe price settled and acquiesced in by all
his predecessors They claimed about $500 per mile
hut finally down to $260-the price settled by Mr..
Tyler which they refused, and threw down the mails
the 10th Decemberthe worst possible of the
year for making other mail arrangements. The Post
master General entertained doubt the limitation
imposed by law All other roads of that classsome Ia
king much larger mails, acquiesced in, and and
have been, performing service for il for years past
What could the Postmaster General do' Was he know
ing TO violate the law at the bidding OF this corpora
tom He could do nothing but seek other service the
best he could get and though the Inferior and
affords less accommodation TO the public, and costs few
hundred dollars because he compelled to
tract in short time, and for winter service, yet the law
authorized the making of the contract for the steamboat
service, but did the railroad Whilst he believed
such to be the law and that the price paid railroads by
law is greatly beyond just and fair compensation for the
amount of service performed, yet anxious was he
to the best service for the public that he
scented for the service to be continued the rail-
road, and to pay the maximum, and delay the execution
OF the contract until the parties could apply to Congress-
then about to meet for Interpretation of the law
increase of price. The company would not, but insisted
upon their price; threw off the mails put the public to
great Inconvenience induced the PUBLIC press to clamo
against hm and thus hoped to force Congress and the
Postmaster General to their own terms The same COM
pany attempted the thing 1897, but failed; and
finally yielded understood and took the contract
paying penalty OF about 49, 900 the contractor for
on the Potomac by the company connected with them,
and they succeeded securing steamboat contract Tor
more than double the price paid any other steamboat
route the United States proportion to the distance
They attempted the same thing again in ls43 and
by the arbitrament of Mr. Tyler secured $3.50 per mile
The thing is again attempted in s47, and Congress
and the Postmaster General to be dragooned into pay
ing their own prce--$22. so per mile than is paid
other road of the class for single daily service
And what does the Senate do in their resolution The
service directed to be restored at $3.50 per miethe
for the bay service left in full operation, that
the Postmaster General will be compelled to pay both
lines price for taking the same mail. These
the grounds of censure against the Postmaster Gene
rafor agreeing opinion with his predecessors for the
years the law, and for having courage enough
resist the camor of large and wealthy corporation
having power TO influence many newspapers to assai
him. and for refusing TO violate the law at the bidding OF
a wealthy corporation. b.