New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-28
TIE RAILROADS IND THE POSTAL SERVICE

The action of the railroads centering in
New-York in proposing 20 withdraw the postal cars on
the lst OF APRIL unless increased compensation Is paid
for the exciting considerable comment and
the feeling generally is Of indignation at the insOent at
OF the roads II Is not impossible that the pro-
posed action may such prejudice against railroad
corporations as to make them suffer hereafter from un-
friendly legislation. The Troy Times computes that the
advance asked for by the companies viii bring up the
amount appropriated to railroad postal service 70
So 2S67, which Is s5l255o in excess Of the whole est
mated expenditure Of the department for the next fiscal
year. II says;
This would be a scandalous piece Of extravaGance
The could not. II ne would, consent
such outrageous extoruOn. IL n pretty well set
tied IN the pubic mlnd mat ne ralIroaa ar
the mails and any large increase IN the rates at present
sure The $4,000 already granted for that purpose
ought 10 be accepted ample for tins year
The Nerark Advertiser fOreseesgDosslbe disturbance,
bloodshed ana civil war the business. 1t says:
It's tme-and this action OF the railroads will hasten
the evenhat the extent OF the powers OF the Govern
ment railroads should be more clearly denned IL
"a understood that Attorney General Williams Is firm in
The belief that Congress under the Constitution has
clearly the right 10 regulate all the railroad ana steam
poration Every railroad is pOst-road, and under the
control OF the Government, and NAV De compelled 70
afford proper facilities at such reasonable rates as are
determined by Congress- and the railroads refuse Con
ress will declare that the shall have
power 70 forward the mans I'D ms own Pos,Is anu
locomotives often and rapidly as the puohe inter
est may require and then the roads VIII De adnOnshed
the track and. not clearing H. the army VIII SET
II that 10 1s cleared
The Boston Globe calls it ga hich-handed attempt to
levy blackmai," which. it saws, must fail.
whether the threat % take of the pOst-Oice cars will
De carried is, however matter OF serious uOuDti
for IL can hardly be that these railroad managers are so
devoid Of ordinary prudence as no 70 see ,e uaon9
light which such conduct would place Ihet com
paDies The country already thoroughly alive 70 tAe
rasping and dOmineering spirit OF railroad cOrOrauons
and such course as the one proposed WOMB no uch W
provoke and justify radical interference OF the Govern
meut with the whole railroad system.
The Washington star states clearly the whole question
in the following paragraph
Several months since the presidents OF the Leading
railroads united in letter 10 the POsmastei-Gener
demanding that hereafter they he PAID 40 cents pei
eght-whee car per mile run ., L" ,6, q
portiOns cars occupied for railway pOsOince Iha
M made m ease Of accident; and all Of the
Post-Ofhce Department riding IN passenger cars sna.
inckv OF the Philadep hia. Wilmington and baltimore
Railroad representing nall dozen eadlhg rosus, naue
tiOn COMMITTEES last session As TINS concession ~ Co
gress would have involved an annual ehpenu,euIe VI
lion or over S5,OOOOO0 more than the Whoie esL
mated expenditures OF the fOsEOmCe DrpaL .liio
E,srsI nor Congress could consent 70 accede 10 any
such extravagant demand IL was agreed t
rssed and understand TINS increase ~ Is
10 refer 10 the appropriation iOr me TOstOI,e - On
nent Tor the current fiscal year Tie dppfOPIlatluH vi
account OF transportation OF mails, pay Oh cleIAs,
gers &C. Orthe year ending Juhe ~ OF Ine
s,- ~ q2 or : 35 O39 than for The present year
ithsapds1c the act that this increase oomprehends
Irye nm on account OF transportation OF maiIs' inc
nm Fl $4,000 was appropriated specihcaly lOr me ~
reasad nav OF railroads ON the same account anu
III ~ In Fofs 70 the very companies Wlch lhIotoen 10
tae their postal cars of the lines on the icy on Api
or instance the Pennsylvania Road rom tAnau9 phla
- pffsburg which is now receiving $40 peI ihle Per
-,,,n viii receive after June 30 next uhoeI ne HeN
az $40 ner mile per annun. the UNDERSTANDING Delns,
s,Ser maj the road 10 run uOupie u"iil my
~ I,rgs-sized cars. The Washington uianCn
% lie RslfiIpore and OHIO Railroad Whleh no"
-.aiges Sg75 per mile viii ne palh uIlIoii D.
-, law $50 The Philadelphia hlllnllEto lii 80 ad
rs road now receiving $50, Will gol, az III ,,s
go and IN the line will put on larger cars - VIZ |
80 - mile TIE road between Fhllade PIMA aI 80
W. UilI be paid the same COMPENSATED On ~.
,d,ions IN ID cases the paw being sIdueu q, .r
~ ~ go of the mails. the speed Win Will - sa
--eved and the character OF ACCOMMODATE -,
~ Nf INNS be seen that the compensation 10" ,r 80
cTeased in some cases much as % per cent ~.
- rates Prior 70 the last acL u n,Da+I55n,enf
~ w tHe subject, the PosiOnce Of, ~ pa S ,I
oo,,lA make no allowance Tor ihliWag 49,,
Co, l an - IA transcend the maximum r"ecs fS
6~ed nv law but the new law estaDllsles Ii,,toual
d;g IN Inc size OF the mails, ana makes tr
and -ecIc allowances for such cars acoOiu LING tbe
@- - raj n me mails roads no" cur ILs %.
LARGEST amount were doubled or tfebeu ~ 80, t,-ed
Tn1ied ther nav would be correspohalnEs t -
~ meet OF t1e new law being 10 10 ava! W 80 he
,muu, rstes or with limits 10 the pay "hi0H '
allowed By ths POslmasteT-uenoIa''