The Lincoln County herald., 1873-04-02
The POdat-CAf Sssiks.

Between tho pos, Office department
and pine OF the irlnc.pai rui'rnnis thero
is disagreement Winch threatens 40 ,n.
tcrrupt the tegultL iiansnis>'on OF the
mats anI 10 eubatra-s sc!luu.ly the
business of the country. Postmaster.
General Blair, 10 1874, introduced past
nj cur. into the service aud thus gtGai y
Improved It's efficiency Before that
time the mui bags were opened only
within the walls of ost Office; each
separate hauding delayed the transit Que
tour Of the carrier, aud each seperate
distributing office required clerical
force almost duub c that necessary for
handling the letters belonging to its own
district. But by fitting up special cars,
devoted solely to the mails aud manned
by from three to five clerks, 1t was fund
that the mails could be sorted aud dis
tributed IA EdHsitu without delaying the
through packages lLe success Of he
experiment was followed by the use Of
these perambulating post Offices on all
:he railroads OF any consequence, aud by
marked reduction of The time occupied in
that the government has never yet allow.
ed them just CON mpcnsation for this ser
vice, and they have been lobbying per.
sistentIy for years to secure an increased
allowance. Action of more decided
kind being found necessary. min, Of The
principal eastern railways united iu . cir.
cuar letter to the post ma.ter general,
dated January 81 in which they offered
the to lowing uItlmItum:
The niue roads repreeen,ed would
continue TO run the postal cars at the
rate OF ~ cents per eight wheel car per
mile, the companle' to be exempt from
suits or damages to post office clerks in
jured by accident; all special mail
agents riding in passenger cars to pay
two cents per mile for transportation the
department tu sccrdr to these terms or
It elr equivalent, or on aud after tie first
Of April next, the companies would
cease to run the postal cars, aud bold
themselves prepared theuceiorward TO
trsnspor. the mails in common baggage
cars, as formerly.
Tne railroad men offIr to prove that
they have continued the service tor years
at Il dead loss to themselves. trusting TO
the justice OF the government. and that
the compensation they now demand is
not more than they get for transpor ing
second class freight IN cheap cars at low
rates Of speed. 1t this is true, it does
not seem very unfair or extor,ionate IN
them to rebel against the mean economy
by which congress seeks to make up for
its oSn salary steals and other notorious
protlieacies. Ii congres, cared so little
for un efficient branch Of the service as
10 refuse fair compensation Tor it. md
to risk It's loss uniers private capital and
putrioli-m would do the work for nothing
then he railroads had no other recourse C
bat to strike ind throw tue question Of
responsibility upon the decision Of the
pubic.
On the other hand we have seen NJ at
tempt to prove that the drmauds Of the
RAILROADS, are unfair, or that the offers Of
The department are just. Instead Of do.
my this, Mr. Cr,ssweIl is bullying 'he
strikers with unseemly threats. h-y
are told through his New York organ that
IT they insist upon their rulcy, the key
note OF the campsisn Of 1876 will have
been sounded aud the public discomfort
With sn iulerior mall service will be
seized upon to iDclie IN antl corporation
crusade. This is dod.ipg the issue, aud
before the menaced crusade can be made
available, for the transportation Of the
mails, Mr. Cresswell will have to lay
aside the insoleuce OF power long
enough to prove that the railroads are
wrong, and that his policy toward, theu
is just. il not liberal. HIS threat 10 de
mand additional legislation giving bin
special powers over railroads would b,
more formidable If he had succeeded il
his demand for special powers over th'
telegraph Republican.