National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-02

| committee say that weight Is 40 longer the
chief factor In determining the requirements
Of tho service, space being foremost, while
weight becomes n modifying clement only rs
It helps to determine what space will be re-
quired.
While, therefore. IL Is proposed to pay for
space, yet the amount of space and the eonse.
| quent expenditure, say the committee, must
| be restricted by some method which, in its
| operation, will be outside of the discretion oil
executive officers. without such restriction
| there would be no limit to the amount OK
| pended for transportation, save such as might
DO fixed at the will of some officer OF the post.
Office department. thus space itself would 10
| on arbitrary basis of compensation, unsafe
| both for the companies and for tho depart
ment.
Tho gauge prescribed by the committee
resting upon the weight of tho mails modi-
fed by the room necessary in which to nssort
and distribute tho same, and the speed with
| which they are conveyed removes the COM
mittee believes all possibility Of improper or
arbitrary allowances in determining the space
| upon any particular railroad.
Under the heading "Spaco Value" tho
committee give series Of tables showing the
earnings per "train milo" on most of the
roads in tho United States also, showing
| for several states tho yield per car
mile" on passenger traffic. including express,
extra baggage and mail. Upon these tables is
| nHben INC approximate cslluluJt VI Nhiuo VI
car space per linear foot per milo run.
| Ono table shows that the average yield per
| car per mile In six important states is 20 CLIO
cents. This statement involves q car service
of over six hundred million miles IN Penn.
| sylvania there nro 80 roads earning less aud
20 earning more than 20 cents per car mile.
| In Michigan roads earn less and IL moro
than 20 cents per car mile.
In Ohio 80 roads earn less and 0 roads earn
more than 20 cents. In Massachusetts, 10
roads earn less and ~ more than 20 cents
Tho statistics from all quarters considered
together show an average earning of between
50 cents and SO per train mile. Tho wide
difference apparent per train mile disappears
In examining tho earnings per car mile, for
tho reason that the maximum per train mile
is reached where tho number of cars in
a train is greatest. From careful study
| of the whole field the committee reach the
conclusion that the yield per passenger car
cannot be very far from 26 cents per mile
run, the majority Of roads yielding less than
that. They conclude, therefore, that at n
| rate of mills per linear foot per mile run,
or 25 cents for flfty-foot car, at the ordi-
nary speed Of twonty miles per hour, they
would be getting rate corresponding closely
to the returns from all passenger traffic COM
bincd. While recognizing the great Importance
of speed rs an element of value to the public,
the committee find it very difficult to estab-
lsh a wise scheme of adjustment which COM
prehends speed as factor
The higher rates of speed are made, not for
the postal service. but in obedience to the
demands of the travelling public. The COM
mttoc, therefore, did not attempt to closely
estimate the value of speed. but felt that any
Just rate of compensation must include speed
as factor.
On the subject Of special trains the com-
mittee submits letter from the British post
office explaining one method of increasing the
value Of the postal service, which in some OF
its phases might be applicable to the railway
service in the United States The postmaster
general of Great Britain is empowered to call
upon any railroad company to carry mails by
train run Mt such hours as he may direct.
and at a speed not exceeding the speed of the
company's first-class passenger trains, the
stopping places and the duration of stoppagcs
being also under his control High rates of
payment for this service are inevitable.
THE mails now going out Of great cities"
say the committee, "are of such volume and
weight that it might be desirable to arrange
for similar service upon our lines between
the great centers where the postal facilities
should be of the highest order.
The weight at this time is so great as to
make it cumbersome element in the COM
position of passenger trains and yet is hardly
sufficient to warrant the payment for trains
run exclusively for its transportation. The
day is not far distant when such trains will
be fully justified and actually necessary.
The committee think the universal objec-
ton of the railway companies to delivering
the mails at postoiHces is well grounded The
system Is relic of stage coaching methods,
and Justice to the roads, as well asperiection
in the mail service, requires that the duty of
the former should cease on their delivery OF
the mails to some responsible officer at the
railway station.
The following are tho committees recon-
mendations:
l. That the compensation to the railroads
for carrying the mails shall be determined
upon the basis of the space used, and the
frequency and speed with which the mails
are conveyed.
: ?. That tho space factor shall DO deter
mined by the postmaster general, in view OF
the needs of the service modified by the
weight and frequency of the mails that the
speed factor shall be determined by the sche-
dule of the various railroads in connection
with the official reports of the railway mail
service.
J 3. That the pay for all mail transportation
shall hereafter be at q fixed rate per linear
foot of car per mile run; this rate to cover the
entire cost of the service, furniture, and fix
lures in the car, transportation of clerks, &c
A. That tho postmaster general may ut any
time order an increase or n reduction in the
amount of space to BIO paid for, If, after O
weighing, it has been found that thore has
been sufficient increase or diminution in
the amount of mails transported on any rail
: road to require the same
} g.. The closed or pouch mails now carried in
express or baggage cars without postal clerks
accompanying them, requiring no space fol
distribution en- route shall be paid for on Tho
{ following basis, viz: the aggregate weight o.
the closed or pouch mails carried on any roaC
on all trains for twenty-four hours shall bt
. made the basis Of pay and this aggregate
, weight reduced to an equivalent in Inca
feet of car space in the following proportions
, Two hundred pounds of mail or less shall b.
rated as the equivalent of six linear inches
3 to be paid for at the rate of mills per Inca
foot per mile run.
3 Five hundred pounds of mail shall he rated
as one linear foot, and for each additions
} 800 pounds one linear foot Of car space shall
: be allowed; with the proyiso that tho pa!
for transportation of mails upon any railroad
1 route for six round trips per week shall no
= be less than $35 per nile per annum.
0 q. That tho side service DO discontinued.
y. z. That the pay for railway postotlices, a
Y q speed of 90 or less miles per hour be
) tween tormini, be mills per linear foot, in
t side measurement of car space per mile run
for each increase of speed amounting to
c miles per hour, up to and including 3
= miles per hour one'tenth Of mill, e., 9
i miles per hour, 81 mills; "a miles per hour
c Sc mills; 26 miles per hour, SO mills; 2S milo
II per hour 81 mills; 80 miles per hour, B..
# mills, and for each additional mile per hour
n one.tenth of n mill.
And IL Is further recommended that in tn