National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-04-23
GOVERNMENT AND THE RAILROADS.

Tho Post Oflcc Department has prepared
q paper upon the subject Of the compensation |
paid the railroad companies for the postal |
car service as compared with the charges for |
flrst-class freight, from which II would seem |
that these corporations are by no means re- |
duced 10 the dire condition Of suffering that
they have represented themselyes to be. Our
readers will remember the controversy be-
tween the Postmaster General and tho presi-
dents OF the companies Immediately after the
adjournment Of the last Congress. The rep
rcsentatiyes Of the different roads maintained
that they could not afford TO run the postal
cars upon the terms allowed by the Govern
ment. The subject had been before Congress,
hut that body separated without taking any
action. The companies served notice upon
tho Postmaster General that on and after
the first Of the coming month they would with
draw the cars and carry tho mails as they
carry ordinary freight. The newspaper press
severely criticised the action OF the compa-
mics; the business men all over the country
rose In arms, and finally the railroads, see
ing the storm they had raised, succumbed
and notified the Postmaster General that, In
asmuch as the Senate had appointed COM
mittec to consider that and kindred questions,
they would continue the running OF the cars
until Congress could take the necessary ac-
tion to relieve them.
The committee referred to has since held
several sessions and taken large amount Of
testimony. The railroad companies have
been turning the tide Of opposition, which set
so strongly against them two months ago,
the other way. But now, just as We were
beginning to believe that they were right and
the Government wrong; that they really had
q grievance, and that for once the people had
the best of them, there comes this statement
or exhibit from the Post Once Department,
which has almost as startling and fatal effect
"a the shells Of our troops in the lava beds
had In Captain Jacks camp. Mr.. Creswcll
is q bitter fighter. He never yields point
without the most desperate and determine d
resistance. In all his contests during the last
four years with contractors, rings, with pO-
litical factions, with rich and powerful mo.
nopolies, he has exhibited a nerve, pluck
and daring that ia rare in public men. His
contest with the Western Union Telegraph
Company 10 furthcring his pet project Of the
postal telegraph system Is one Of the most
remarkable ever waged by a Government
officer. In many respects 1t bears strong
resemblance to Jackson's fight against the
United States bank. The contest In which
he Is now engaged Ia Of lesser importance
and Significance than the postal telegraph
warfare, but II requires as great II not q
greater amount OF nerve and courage tC
fight It.
In the paper to which we have adverted the
Department shows, first, the compensation
paid the railroads for the postal service under
the old law aud the compensation that will
be paid them under the new law per mile, and
second, the ilrst-class freight charges between
New York and Chicago. The figures, which
seem TO be conclusive against the companies,
give, in the language Of the Department, the
following general results, In which alone
the public Is interested; at will be seen
that the rate demanded by the companies
(thirtecn mills per linear foot Of even car
per mile rum would make their aggre-
gate pay for the mail service between New
York and Chicago with the amount of car
space now used, S625, 1854 per annum,
against s22l ,99O4s Of freight charges for
the same amount of space, an excess OI
si0L0J7.9 and that with the amount oi
space required in case Of extending double
railway post Office service through TO Chicago
thor aggre gate pay would be ESQ, ,273.Oi pei
annum, against $50, 7Ss 90 OF freight charges
for tho same amount of car space, an excess
OF s57S, 4S4.05, or more than lS2 per cent
over and above the freight charges for the
same amount OF space. THIS estimate, too
Is in the proportion OF 40 to l3. The freight
charge is slightly under 4.6 mills per llneal
foot per mile run. A charge Of l3 mills pei
linear foot per mile run, for 30foot car haul
0lSt miles would amount to sS56,s6, an eXces,
Of S23l.25, or more than 1856 per cent oyei
and above tho actual hrst-class freight charge
of sl95 between New York aud Chicago"
This close analysis Of the question, mad,
upon the basis Of the companies own figures
and upon the statements Of their own repre-
sentatives before the Senate committee, let
In food Of light upon the whole subject
Neither the Government nor the people hav,
any desire TO do injustice to the railroads
but II they are now paid all to which they ar
justly entitled, the one and the other will re
sist any aggression upon their part. Doubt
less we shall have a reply to the argument o
the Post Once Department. Mr.. Creswell
however, is entitled to the highest credit II
resisting demands which he believes to be eX
orbitant and unjust.