The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
CABLE-CAR MAIL SERVICE,
Street Railway Lines Will Be
Under the Federal Pro-
lection.
WHAT ATTORNEY FooTE SAYS.
United States Troops May Be Called
Upon in Case of a Streetcar
Strike.

Now that there is a probability OF the
cable and electric streetcars becoming car
riers of the United States mails an ex-
pertinent that is being effectively tried in
Chicago and st. Louisa great many per-
sons are interested in the question of Fed
eral Jurisdiction that may be extended
over these roads in case of strikes.
The Council of Federated Trades in
Chicago is struggling with the question
now, and the trades unions and laborlng
men of the coast have commenced to con-
slider it seriously. If streetcars are to
carry the mails, then will not the lines be
entitled to the same protection vouchsafed
by the National Government to the rail-
way lines during the late A. r. U. striker
"Assuredly they WILL said United
States District Attorney Foote yesterday,
when questioned on the subject. IF
streetcars are Employed to carry the mails
they will certainly come under the same
regulations as those governing the steam
railway mail-carriers. 1t will be unlawful
then and an offense against the Federal
power to obstruct the passage OF streetcars
carrying mail, or to enter into conspiracy
to that end"
"And in case of strikes on the streetcar
lines, will the Federal troops be called
out2'
''You mean in case of mob violence or
organized or united effort to obstruct the
free transportation of mail matter during
strike said the District Attorney. 1.-The
law has nothing to do with strikes. AS
many men as like may quit work, but when
force is offered to the movement OF mail
matter, then the power of the Federal
Government steps IN to assert Its rlght.
The law of 1928, under which the Debs case
was decided, never contemplated such
thing as a strike. 1t was enacted to ensure
the undisturbed transportation OF mail
matter. A man who should stop mall
wagon in the street and detain 1t unlaw-
fully for fifteen minutes would be guilty OF
obstructing the mail under that law.
"And the same, of course, is true as to
those who conspire to obstruct the mall:
That was Debs case exactly. The fact OF
there having been strike cut no figure in
deciding that case. The question was, did
Debs obstruct the mails"
with Pullman cars attached2"
"Oh, well, we won't go over that ground
now. At least there are no Pullmans on
streetcars at present" said Mr.. Foote, "but
you may be sure that if they become mail
carriers for the Government the Govern
ment will insist upon the streetcarS being
moved at all hazards"
Postmaster McCoppin said he did not
care to discuss the question from stand
pOlIlG vi WudG IlShG udppOh LII SdoO VI q
strike after the streetcarS had been pressed
into the mail service. He thought the
plan of using the street railway lines for
the transportation of mail matter good
one, however, though as San Francisco
was now situated the postal authorities
could hardly avail themselves OF such
service with profit.
SIN order to make the streetcars of this
city valuable as mail carriers there should
| be considerable branch of the postoffice
| located at the foot of Market street. There
| all the roads of the city converge and at
that point the mail should be taken from
the streetcars. I am in hopes that when
the new ferry building is completed the
| postoffice department will be accorded
accommodations there that will permit
such plan to be carried out.
"Of course, our need for such a system
is not nearly so great as that of Chicago,
because we have not the vast amount OF
| territory to cover. Mr.. Messing, the Post
master there, is a very active and ener-
getic man, and believe he has made quite
a success OF the system. In time, | have
| no doubt the same system will be very
generally adopted
This is not the first time the plan has
been talked of in this City. Several years
| ago Postmaster Wanamaker sent an in
quiry out here asking for data concerning
| the needs of San Francisco and the prob
able advantages to be derived from using
streetcars as collectors of mail matter. At
that time Mr.. Richardson forwarded the
outlines of plan to utilize the main cable
car lines to collect mail from different
parts of the city and deliver it at the foot
of Market street, from where it could be
| taken in wagons to the main Postofice.
There were to be mail collectors all along
the line. Each collector should empty a
certain number of boxes and take their
contents Immediately to Market, Valencia,
Clay or whatever main line his district
should be located on, and there, at stated
| hours, meet the mailcar and deposit in it
his collection. In this way great deal of
time could be saved. No action was ever
taken by the Washington authorities, and
| there the matter rested.
When the new ferry-house is completed,
| it is quite likely that Postmaster McCoppin
will be able to secure some such system
that will contemplate scheme of general
collection at the foot of Market street for
this City.
Meanwhile, the laboring people will be
considering that proposition about extend
| ing the protection of the Federal Govern
ment over the streetcar lines of San Fran
cisco. In case of future strike on the
Market-street Railway, for instance, the
bluecoats from the Preside may be called
out to ensure the free passage of the cable
and electric cars.