The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-04
PAYFOR MAIL CARRYING.
LAND GRANT ROADS OBJECT TO
THE PROPOSED CUT.

The Bill Proposes to allow Them Only
Amount Allowed Non-aided Roads.
Mr.. stahlmau Speaks for the Louis
vile and Nashville.
WASHINGTON, May 3.-The proposition
made by the House postoffice committee in
the postal appropriation bill TO reduce the
compensation OF land grant and subsidized
railroads for carrying the mails from so per
cent. of the rate allowed non-aided rail-
roads, as the law at present provides, to 80
per cent. has awakened vigorous opposition
from the land grant railroads, and they are
protesting against the proposed legislation
as unjust and unreasonable. To-day reps
resentatives OF a number OF these railroads
appeared before the committee and stated
the reasons FOR their opposition.
sTAHLMAN's PROTEST.
Il. B. Stahlman of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad spoke of the roads in the
south, including the line Of which he is an
officer. The present compensation for
carrying the mails he said. was not equal
TO the amount the company would receive
If 1t collected fare from a single mail mes
senger at the rate of cents per mile The
Louisville and Nashville at present lost by
means OF the reduction of 20 per cent. made
under the existing law between Sl2,0 900 and
$4,000 per year, which was equal to per
cent. on the amount the road had received
by reason or the government land grant.
THE MOBILE AND OHIO.
Representative Clarke of the Mobile
(Ala.) district read letter from J. c.
Clarke, now president of the Mobile and
Ohio railroad, and formerly vice president
of the Illinois Central railroad, protesting
in the name of the Mobile and Ohio against
the reduction proposed by the
was not the intention Of congress
when 1t made the grants to the railroads
that the roads should subsequently pay the
government for the lands. 1t would have
been cheaper for the railroads to pay the
government S1 25 per acre for the lands
they had received than to be hound by the
obligations. Congress was seeking to i'm
pose on them without reference to the
carrying of the mails and government
property. Representative Clarke, speak
ing from his knowledge Of the conditions
prevailing In the south, said that the
Louisville and Nashville road had been the
greatest factor in the development Of
Alabama
LOOKED UPON AS A CRITERION.
He had always regarded the Louisville
and Nashville as the prosperous road of the
south. and when its officers said that the
road could not afford to carry the mails for
the price proposed and compete with non-
aided roads which received full rates he (Mr.
Clafke) knew the other roads could not do
80. The present compensation was made
quate. and a lower rate would mean
poorer service, or that the deh-
cheney should be made up by higher
rates off transportion. The people
OF the south were never before In q worse
condition than now TO stand this. Menu
bers Of congress talked about 81 per day be-
ing the lowest any man should be asked to
take for his labor, but he knew that in the
south there were any number Of men, white
and black, working in the fields for 40 cents
a day.
Representatives of several western liues
OF railroad also opposed the contemplated
action of congress.