New-York tribune., 1873-04-09
THE PROCEEDINGS.
FROM WASHINGTON TO PHILADELPHIA.


Upon the assembling of the Committee
Isaac Hnckey addressed them, stating that the mpor
liant question was whether the United States could
could compel the railroad companies to carry mails
for reasonable rates This law question
which he unable to decide and he asked if the Com
mittec would like 10 hear from Theodore Cuyler OF Phil
sdeipha. representing Pennsylvania Railroad upon
that subject. The Committee decided that they would
hear the statements OF the Representatives
Of the different companies
Mr.. Hinckley, representing the Philadelphia Whining
ton aud Baltimore Railroad Company first reviewed
the acts relating 10 postal passed in 1882 lS45
and 1872 showing that the rates paid substan
TALLY the those paid ia 1916. 10 1894 the lines
between New-York and Washington placed postal
cars upon the roads, with a verbal understand
iug that the act OF lS45 should be revised
no TO make proper compensation, This was the
origin Of the postal system, which has
proved benefit to the public and a loss to the
railway companies. They have since applied 10 the
Government IN vain for compensation In 1864 al the
Railway Convention, IT shown that there a
great difference between the amount paid for the postal
service different roads in comparison with the service
performed and that should be revision Of
the relations between the roads and the Government
The Convention in May, 1867. when the Ques-
ton reviewed, aud tue proper cassidca-
tiOn Of matters connected with the postal service
discussed. Investigations then made by
Committee appointed by the Convention, and subse-
quenty Postmaster Randall his report substantially
verified their researches To 1873 the railway companies
finding that they could not do Justice to their toCkhod
by running the postal at a loss determined 10
inform the authorities that they would be obliged TO
carry the mails IN the usual way that E IN baggage
letter afterward addressed TO the Senate. showing
the inequality in compensation aId naming the
which the companies considered just compensation
for their services.
Mr. Hinckey then reviewed the experience OF the road
he represented in carrying the mails He showed that
they did much to-day IN 1850. In
they introduced the postal cars upon Of the
Department that they should receive adequate payment
but for nine years they have received cent
They have been obliged TO carry such articles BOOKS
stationery, and miscellaneous matter, which should go
~ freight by express They have 20 carry in the
postal frOm three 10 five clerks and 10
accidents have happened from careessness Of these
clerks in dropping mailbaCs upon the track
He then called attention 10 the act Of 1873. saying
that when contract for made between two
persons both have right 70 be heard upon the subject
N the trainers OF that act had thought they would
probably have consulted with railway managers, but
such consultation seemed 10 have been ignored He
showed that they obliged 10 give seven times
much room as was necessary for the mails order that
the letters might De distributed and made up. Thcy
were liable TO be sued by the clerks whom they
sarried free in case Of any accident. One clerk
taused accident by carelessy dropping mail bag
the track sued the Company for damages The Govern
would be withdrawn but the acton was withheld, IN
anticipation that justice wonld DC done. The act Of
framed that compensation may be essehed al
The time that more servlce Is required. Com
panes may have TO 60 feet wide instead OF ears
50 feet wide. We are 10 4e paid sld the witness
certain amount Tor the postal Ctr SSUn IN o. IooV
rar and $1,000 for 60 foot car; then are paid GER
tain amount for the weight OF T"ll carried No" 1--WE
are obliged 10 put the larger ear and the amCUnt of
mail is reduced, POstInaste General treSwtl eN-
poets through the abolition OF Tie FraDbng Privilege
least % per cent our compensation Js HGuced
a5sey% .,....,o. ,,.. ,o,oo,..,,o .,or,, 10
made the basis Of measurement ana not ot weight
The large amount of space occupied nor entirely
should less than 10 mills per foot for mile which
would be equal TO 39 cents mile One clerk 70 eVcy
feet OF ana one route agent 10 every pOsts
apartment should be carried free. Post-onice agenn
should pay einigraut rates OF two cents per it or uY
season tickets a we11Ounded report by tus
Committee would encourage tue Company to re-
pair their postal ana facilitate their uauspOrta
soB hut Otherwise ;hey may feei obliged 70 withdraw
thein. Il objections" sad be, TO the Govern
ment's owning the postal cars II their
such that t would De them IN front OF our
passenger trains We furnish them cheaper than
Eood care of them a. OF ovu cars We would oe as
well off with "a sualCr amount ia such case but Il
would not ike TO huilt by persons did not
now The cost oi running trains on our rnad was aPou, about
40 per mile PER tram last year lAat WoN'd 't aU"Lt
small portion cf the required in order
proper return o. our ftocEho.JcIs'
FROM PIILADErIUA TO NGw-YoEK
J. Strickland kneass, Acting President Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company representing that road
and the lines between Philadelphia and EeHYork Ire-
entcd some frlres based ulcn the postal car returns
between those cities. Pour postal c1Is, four carr with
pestal compartments aud ten baggage cars were 90
she mail service per day. The Po.ta cars had rs
feet IN tue clear. aud the compartment cars 10
beet. TIE baggage cars lad about 10 feet de-
voted 10 the mails. That amounted 10 about 4s2
feet per day. Each postal car carried four or I'VE
clerks and tIc OILERS one cerh. That was equivalent
20 carrfuc coos men one mi,e per Day year. For
lgf IIIfE .arr u atH.I