Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-02

there has been quite an excitement in rail-
road and oficia al circles as to disagreement
tween the post Office department and the
several companies that run postal cars. The
railroads, on the one hand, claim that the
expense of this service is greater to them
than what they receive therefor, and dem and
ed an increase Of compensation, threatening,
in case this was refused, to run the cars no
longer.
The Postmaster General insisted that he
was limited by law as to the amount to be
pad; that the Government has from time to
time increased the amount paid for this SER
vice, and that the continual cry of the rail
roads, like that of the horse leech, is for more.
The quarrel seemed, at one time, likely to
result in great inconvenience to the public.
and to hasten the settlement of the disputed
question as to how much control government
mas over these corporations, created only by
its permission, and only on the plea of being
public Improvements.
The presidents of the various roads which
had made the threat of Withdrawing postal
cars from their routes on the LIST of A pril, m Ell
IN New York, Saturday. They concluded to
wait the report of the committee, appointed
at the late session OF the Senate. before which
they are to have an opportunity for hearing
Tbs settles the matter for the present
Meantime Postmaster General Cresswell b d
written to the Attorney General, asking hi s
opinion on certain questions which are of in
terest, though the action of the railroad Off
GERS has caused them to be of not so immedi-
ate and pressing Importance as they other
wise would have been. Mr.. Cresswell says
speaking Of the roads IN the expected combi-
nation
The roads they control centering at New
York, the great numerical emporium OF the
country, the point from and to which the
largest proportion of the mail communication
Of the country radiates and converges, the
,xecution of their threat would entail conse-
gu ences SO serious that feel constrained to
inquire whether the government, in its man
agement of the immense postal interests OF
the citizens, can be thus at the mercy of cor
porations or parties like these by whom this
menace is offered, or whether, under the laws
declaring all railroads post roads, and max
ing it the duty OF the postmaster-g general to
provide for the carriage of the mail on all
post roads, or under any other law or laws
he government possesses sufficient power or
can have recourse to suitable Ineane, to pro-
tect the important interests intrusted to it's
custody. and thus imperiled. Will you
therefore be pleased. at the earliest moment
practicable, to communicate to me your 0pin-
ion on the points hereinafter named, to wit :
First, if railroad companies refuse to carry
over their roads the mail of the United States
and the agents in charge thereof, for the
/ compensation prescribed by law, has the gov
ernment, as represented by the post office de-
/ partment, the right, and is it its duty, to
convey the mails and agents in cars of its
own over the said roads? Second, if rail-
road companies offer to carry the mails as
mere freight or baggage, and refuse to pro-
vide suitable postal cars and to transport
such agents or clerks as may be necessary to
take charge of and distribute said mails,
thereby endangering the safety and retard-
| ing the distribution and delivery thereof, is
it the right and duty of the government to
provide and run upon such roads suitable cars
/
mails Third, is it not within the exclusive
power of the department to interpret and en-
Iorce the law, SO far as to determine what is
right and proper in the way of accommodations
and safeguards for the dispatches, transpor-
tation and distribution Of the mails, and to
require compliance Herewith on the part
of the railroad companies? Fourth, can the
department make other or greater compensa-
zion to railroad companies han that pre-
4cribed in the act of Congress of March 3,
1873? Fifth, in case the railroad companies,
or any of them, shall refuse to provide and
run postal-cars on their roads|for thescomlen-
saton prescribed 10y law, advise this depart
ment as to the extent and nature of its pow
ers, under existing legislation, to provide
against delays and Inconvenience resulting
theretrom. Sixth, has Cor gress the power
10 confer on this department greater authori-
~ and control over the railroads, In connec-
ton with the postal service, than that now
possessed? and, if SO, state the extent and
scope of the power in that direction