The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-29
FREE MATTER IN THE MAILS.
government Carpets. Grirdstones,
Etc. should Go Freight.
WASHINGTON, IT..


Representative Loud. OF California. chair
man man OF the postoffice committee. has intro
duced bill ito regulate the Transmission of
nrst section OF the bill authorizes and d.
reefs the Postmaster-general TO transmit by
Ireighs; express or such other means he
postal cards. stamped envelopes and other
supplies or any and every description as are
~, hom 'Iansmitted free, as In his opinion can
pe so sent without serious injury TO the gov
eminent or the sender or person 10 whom the
matter IS sent-provided that the COST OF
~, TRANSPORTATION s In any case shall not exceed
tne cost oy the regular mail facilities Sec
ton provides that the Postmaster-generaI
may cause reweighing OF all mail matter
transported Dy railroad or other routes where
mails are carried by weight or NAV read
Just on the basis OF weighines already made
me compensation 10 be paid the railroad or
the mail. -'' S''s
In conversation with Tribune correspon-
ae ia. IN regard TO this bill. Chairman Loud
sald: The transmission OF so-called free
matter through the mails costs the govern
n sIH 600 - cents pound CT more. or. about
prises a great number and variety 90 arfi
cles-government documents. mans. hlank
DOCKS and blanks by the hundred tons. office
carpets and furniture, scales. crindstones
tools, camp equpage and scientific instrn.
ments Tor officials and employees of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey. etc. Now. ii is absurd
to pay transportation companies s. n hum
dred pounds. or $3.50 a ton for the trans
portation or these articles. Everybody
knows that those compa MES are now over
paid enormously for the transportation Of
mail matter from which the government de-
rives a revenue on account Of postage and
1t seems TO me that they ought to be con-
tent with that. They can certainly afford 10
carry freight as cheaply for the government
but they are actually receiving many times
Are the railroads and other Transports
ton companies opposed TO the legislation"
asked the correspondent.
Yes. indeed. have reason 20 believe that
of Representatives. have received letters on
the subject from the officers, attorneys and
agents or transportation companies The
representatives OF several railroad companies
which are interested have personally ap-
preached me in regard to IL. / asked one OF
them to give his grounds OF opposition TO the
Dill, and the only argument he could adj
vance was that il the measure should be-
come a law the postal officials would keep
out of the mails at the time OF weighing the
cles back again OF course, that was abb
surd. The idea of the Postmaster-general
and his assistants and subordinates engage
ing in conspiracy of that sort 10 defrard
transportation companies, 1 told him that
was strong reason to believe. even IL there
was no legal proof TO support the belief.
that many of the transportation companies
make preparations for the regular weighings.
and thereby reap a handsome profit. IL
seems to me that the railroad companies
WOULD Detter consult Ine1r own interests by
advocating. or at least not opposing. the
bill They will not suffer materially. IL at
all, by the change, which will be gradual,
but on the other hand. IL they resist and de-
feat the measure ii is by no means improb-
able that The country will demand before
long that the compensation paid TO railroad
companies by the government for the trans
portation of the mails shall be cut down
20 or 25 per cent. and that Congress viii
favorably respond to the demand A re-
duction Of % per cent. would mean 81 900 600
a year TO the railroad companies on the
basis Of present business"