Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-02
TRANSPORTING THE MAILS.
The Committee Makes its Recommen-
datiOns on the Basis for Paw.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The Postmaster
General has sent to Congress the report
OF the committee appointed under the pro-
visions of the act passed last March to
prepare an improved plan of carrying the
mails on railroad routes. The committee
was composed of Richard A. Elmer, Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General W. b.
Thompson, General Superintendent of the
Railway Nail Service, and Isaac C.Slater.
superintendent of Railway Adjustment.
the report describes the operations of the
committee in detail, and sets forth the
sources Of information and the reasons
for each Of its recommendations. The
following are the committees recon-
mendatisns:
"Ihe Committee would, in conclusion
respectfully recommend as follows.
First. That compensation to railroads
Tor carrying mails shall be determined
upon the basis of space used and the fire.
quency and speed with which the malls
are conveyed.
Second. That the space factor shall be
determined by the Postmaster General in
view cf the needs of the service, modified
by the weight ana the frequency of the
mails; that the speed factor shall be de-
termined by the schedule of the various
reports Of the Railway Mail Service.
Third. That the pay for all mail trans
portation shall hereafter be at affixed rate
per linear foot of car per mile run, this
rate to cover the entire cost of the service,
furniture and fixtures in the car, the
transportation of clerks, etc.
Fourth. That the Postmaster General
may at any time order an increase
or reduction in the amount of
space to be paid for. If after
weighing 1t be found that there has been
a sufficient increase or diminution in the
amount of mails transported on any rail-
road to require the same.
Fifth. Closed or pouch mails now car
ried in express or baggage cars without
postal clerks accompanying them, requir-
ing no space for distribution en- route,
shall be paid for on the following basis,
viz: The aggregate weight OF the closed
or pouch mails carried on any road on all
trains for "a hours shall be made the basis
of pay, and this aggregate weight reduced
to an equivalent in linear feet of car
space in the following proportions:
200 pounds of mail or less shall be rated
as the equivalent of six linear inches, to
be paid for at the rate of mills per linear
foot per mile run; 500 pounds of mail shall
be rated as one linear foot, and for each
additional 800 pounds one linear foot of
Vlso that the pay for transportation of the
mails upon any railroad route for six
round trips per week shall not be less than
$50 per mile per annum.
Sixth. That the side service be discOn-
tinued.
Seventh. That the pay for railway post
offices at speed of 20 or less miles per
hour between the termini be mills per
linear loot, inside measurement of the car
space, per mile run. For each increase
of speed amounting to miles per hour up
to and including 80 miles per hour, one
tenth OF mill, i. e. y miles per hour, 81
mills; "a miles per hour, 90 mills; 26
miles per hour, 5.3 mills; % milds per
hour, "a mills; 80 miles per hour, 5.5
mills, and for each additional mile per
hour 1-10 of a mill. And it is further rec
commended that in the adjustment of the
space by the linear foot for railway post
offices, daily average weight OF
500 pounds of mail or less
exceed 13 feet; from 800 to 1000 pounds.
space not to exceed 10 feet; from 1000 to
1000 pounds, space not to exceed % feet;
from 1000 to 4,000 pounds, space not to
exceed 40 feet. And we recommend that
no change in the allotment of space shall
be made until the average weight reaches
5000 pounds. For 5000 pounds 30 feet
o,OOO POUNDS OO IeeJ-Jne Wel9ht TO be as
certained by weighing of not less than 80
consecutive days, and no additional space
shall be paid for unless it is found to be
necessary. In all railway post offices the
load should not exceed double
the greatest weight specified
for the respective lengths, and for any
gross weight carried on two or more
trains daily, space may he subdivided
upon gradients of space for the lower
weights, as the nature of the service may
require; with the further provision that
that the Postmaster General may increase
the compensation upon any railroad
route, but not to exceed 80 per cent. per
annum, for special mail trains perform
ing services upon schedules fixed by him.
In all thesse estimates the minimum car
width should be fixed at feet inches,
inside meausement.
Signed RICHARD A. ELMER,
w. b. THOMPSON,
ISAAC G. SLATER,
COmmittQn