The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-10

mencng with the lowest, but no taker was
found until one l.. Ii. Hirshfeld, said to be
another of ".'arlow's men of straw" was
reached, and TO him the contract was
awarded for fitty-five thousand five hundred
dollars per annum. 1t is said that between
him and the next "man of straw" there
were two or three responsible bidders who,
it was feared would accept. This is given
as an illustration of the SO called "Barlow
contracts" of which there are said to be
several which have gone through the same
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. "sels out Delacey
contracts and fails, Barlow re-enters on
the property, offers and is declined Hirsh-
field accepts, Barlow again "sels out" and
the service is performed at less than the
rates under the old expired contract.
How shall the deficiency be made up
The mail contractor, on these stage routes,
is paid sum certain, not according to
weight. He alone has the means of trans
portatlon, and, therefore, he carries express
packages as well as the mail. His pay for
carrying the mail about meets the current
expenses, so that what is received for
carrying express packages is nearly, If not
quite, all profits. Whatever, therefore,
shall at the same time decrease the mail
and increase the express matter will, also,
increase the contractors profits.
Barlow accordingly set himself at work
to devise means by which the number of
express packages should be increased. This
result will follow, either by reducing the
maximum weight of single packages al
lowed TO be transmitted by mail--then, as
now, four pounds-or by increasing the
rate of postage thereon-and the former
attempt was first made. All of the express
companies would be benefited by the pro-
posed change, and their active cooperation
was readily obtained. And now appears
| on the scene, another distinguished son of
Vermont, a native of Rutland county
Stephen w. Dorsey. senator from Arkansas
and member of the senate committee on
postoflices. Numerous meetings were held
ut his house in Washington, at one of which
Barlow proposed the amendment to the
postoflice appropriation bill-which was
subsequently introduced by Senator RAM
| say, chairman of the postof1ice committee
fixing the maximum weight of mail
packages at twelve ounces instead of -four
pounds. The proposed amendment wa:
opposed and its object, so far as express
companies were concerned, exposed by
Senators Edmunds and Morrill, of this state
and it was lost by vote of twenty.one tc
thirty-four.
Defeated in this, Barlow and company
were neither dismayed or discouraged, bu,
sought the next best thing-an increase Of
the rate of postage. Accordingly wher
the sundry civil appropriation bill-not the
postofflce appropriation bill-was undel
] consideration, Senator Hamlin, at the re-
quest of Senator Dorsey, proposed the
amendment by which the postage on thirt
class matter was increased from one CEN
for two ounces to cent for each ounce, OF
sixteen cents per pound, and 1t was adopt
ed. Senator Hamlin says that he wa.
"duped into agreeing 10 the amendment
that he had no idea of its extent, and hi
proposes, now, to move tor its repeal eithel
in whole or in part. The direct benefi
that Barlowand other contractors receive
under the law as it now is, is evident. They
receive sum certain for carrying th,
mails, large or small, and if they succeed
in inducing parties sending packages t
transmit by express rather than by mail
they are SO much Sin" They are more di
rectly interested and benefited, even, thai
the express companies. If these package
i ro l,-- --YsA.."5 IVi ,iiSI
transportation, but every cent they recelv,
for their transportation by express is Sc
much clear gain, and they can, therefore
afford to compete, and do compete, will
the postofllce department and, even, t.
carry these packages at the old rates o.
l postage--that is, at one-half of the presen
rates-or even for less. The putative pa
rents, if the facts are as stated, of increased
postage are Barlow and the ''straw lid
contractors, while Senator Hamlin wa
only a willing, but deceived, sponsor. Al
it is, the government has gained nothing
by the change-so much of the revenue be
ing cut off-whle it imposes an additions
burthen on the public by compelling then
to pay larger rates of postage or, except a
the west, high express charges.