The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-30
Railroad Corporations in Combination
Against the Government.
Meeting of Monopoly Presi-
dents i'm New York.
General Creswell Defines His Position to
Herald Correspondent.
He Applies to the Attorney Gen
eral for Instructions.

The Presidents OF the several railroad companies,
whose names are signed to the appended letter.
held q convention OF two or three hours duration
yesterday In the Directors department Of the
Grand Central depot, to take measures on the
growing difficulties seemingly beginning to crop
up between them and the railway mail transpOrta-
ton companies which superintendent Bangs rep
resents At the Convention held in Philadelphia
no decisive measures were agreed on, nor does 1t
seem that yesterdays meeting has resulted in any
definite conclusion. Everything was kept strictly
private, however with the exception Of the letter
underneath. which was mailed last evening to
Washington to Mr.. J. A. Cresswell, Postmaster
General.
The total difficulty consists in the expressed dis
satisfaction of the railroad companies in being
obliged at least tacitly so, to transfer the postal
attached express trains at one third Of the
rates charged on the transfer OF ordinary freight
cars. This the companies naturally object to, and
seem determined to exact due compensation from
the railway mail transportation companies. Hence
1t Is that Mr. Bangs has been negotiating with them
for some time past to bring the matter to de-
There IS, on the other hand, an undercurrent of
ntelgence or report quite IN opposition to the &C
With the design Of altering the posta car system to
the disadvantage and inconvenience Of the public,
and the Postmaster General Is said to look upon 1t
OF postal transfer which he Is intended to oppose.
In case the railroad companies refuse to give up
the strong position they have taken IN the matter
the Postmaster General Of course will have to sue
cumb or represent to the Senate more judiclous
means of substituting government postal facilities
equal, II not superior to the present mode OF mail
transportation.
The following is true copy of the letter mailed,
after adoption by the convention to the Postmas-
NEW YORK March 90 1878.
Hon; ] 4. cREswELr, Postmaster General, Washing
Of t. the
Railroad Company that the Senate before adournng, in
the sni s
relations Of the railroad companies and the government
Believing Gopgress intended allow the
Sl assured that they WIN DO So painfully sensible
with great satisfaction that advised Of this
mo oosh
and an impartial determination Of what constitutesa
We shan i%%sdatsy petition the Senate Committee
we ask hat he an
authorized agent Of his department. will be present
S the es, he
any pay Whatsoever for the service we shall until
oa this speeaI Senate to them
aar ss sSSS VIZ mat w
airy q, last, suspended for the present. yv,,r
per W. H. " NiYHEI s END 4. h. RR. Co.
President Connecticut River RIB. Co.
G, w. CHAPLIN,
President Boston, N A. RR. Co.
j. EDGAR THOMPSON,
President Penn RR Co., per g. K, Assistant President
WILLIAM d. BISHOP,
President N Y, N. II. and Ii. RI. Co.
ISAAC HINCKLEY,
President p. W. and B. RI. Co.
The committee adjourned about halfpast two
P. M. The answer OF the Postmaster General to
the above document will give the railroad presi-
dents an opportunity to state what further action
they intend to take on the matter-not until then
do they propose to disclose their Intentions.