Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-16
The Postal Service Controversy

The controversy between the railroad compa-
MES and the Post Office department relative to
the compensation OF the former for the postal
car service is an interesting one, since seven of
the principal lines have united in q demand for
more than three times the amount at present
paid them, and, in case OF a refusal to acceds to
their terms by the department, threaten to
withdraw the postal care altogether. The COM
panies claim-hrst, that the compensation re-
ceived by them TOR the pOst-ofice car service Is
insufficient; second, that they are required to
transport the mails between stations on the lines
Of their roads and post offices not more than
one-fOuIth Of a mile distant; third, they are re-
quiTed TO receive in pay for mail service orders
on the several post Offices embraced within
their resi- cctive mail routes; fourth, that in ad
dltion to the clerks and messengers in charge of
the mails, the railroads are required TO carry a
large number OF other employees Of the govern
ment, whose Official duties have no connection
whatever with the postal service; fifth, that the
railroad companies are held liable for
injury 10 persons in charge Of the mails
President Hinckley, of the Philadelphia Will
miDgtOn and Baltimore ROAD asserts that his
company has suffered q loss Of from s6O, 900 to
$4,000 per annum by reason of the postal car
service on his road. The representations of
the railroad companies which we're made before
Congress last session are strenuously csmbatted
by the Department, which contends that the
former make q good proht, and a formida able
array Of facts and figures, showing the cost of
running trains, the profit on other branches of
transportation, sc, is produced to substsntiate
these assertions. Senator Mitchell, sub cOm
mittte OF the select committee on transports.
ton routes TO the sesbOard, in his report to the
committee last winter on the subject, reviewed
the entire matter, and concluded that Congress
has the right, under the COustitutiOn-Ist. Ts
take absolutely, on paying Just Compensation
therefor, without the consent either OF the own
er or Of the state within which such. road NAV
be, any railroad, its rO,ling-stOck and eduip-
meDts, within the United States, for the public
use OF the transportation over the same of the
the United States mails. .. To take the
temporary use OF any such road and
equipments on like terms for like purpose
lie also expressed the opinion that the COM
panies should receive for the transportation OF
The mails rate Of compensation which will
meet the actual cost OF the service performed
and Psy net income of about 81 = per cent on
the total compensation paid. Should the COM
psnies carry out their threat ID withdraw the
postal cars, the public interests would suffer
materially until some adjustment was had. The
mails being transported in baggage cars, it
would OF course be impossible to assert and dis
tribute them a. il is at present done on the
postal cars, and the result would be an intol-
cradle delay in their distribution in the different
cities on the route. Such an unpleasant issue
OF the present controversy is not to be contem-
plated with equanimity. The new Postmaster
General will doubtless be early called upon by
The companies for settlement of the question