The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-20
MORE THAN A SURPRISE
A Very Ssrlous Charge Made Against fhe
SeahOard Air Line In Reference 10 Malls.
SWELLING the WEIGHING OF MAILS.
The Alleged Padding of the Mails
Inyesstgated BY the Department
AN Editor Induced to Cut Ont nu
Article Headed a Mistake Afraid
II Would Hurt the Rond.

Washington, May 1s-Postmaster-
General Wilson to-day authorized the
publication OF the following statement
In regard to an alleged attempt to
overcharge the Government for convey
ance OF the mafis in 'ceruadn Southern
States. y
Every four years the mails transported
over the various railways In the United
States is weighed for period Of 30
days for one-fourth of the country each
year Upon the average weight OIL
tained during the 80 days the commis-
sion of the road is adjusted and remains
in force four years. The last weighing
was conducted during the month of
March, 1896. One railroad company, the
Seaboard Air Line, whose main line
extends from Portsmouth, Va, to Allan
ia, Ga, attempted ITO take advantage
of this opportunity to swell the weigh
ing of mail carried over their system
during'Ithe Weighing of the mails by very
large shipments of public documents.
About 800 sacks of documents franked
by United States Senator and a mem-
Der of Congress were sent 10 the various
station agents of this company in Vir-
ginia, North and South Carolina and
Georgia. The sacks weighed from 100
to 125 pounds each. Two. three, four
or even five sacks We're sent to one
agent. Some agents were furnished
dresses in North Carolina and Virginia.
The Division Superintendent and road
masters gave oral instructions to the
agents under them as to pasting labels
or,writing addresses on the books which
were not previously addressed; but the
tags of the sacks were addressed "all
Tor -" (namely, a railroad agent at
that point0 The books were then re-
mailed and again transported over the
routes OF this company, To be again
weighed. "A few agents not understand
Ing their instructions gave out the books
for public distribution before the frank
ed labels We're received.
Fihteen sacks were delivered at Ports
mouth. addressed In bulk to the general
superintendent. That night the books
were re-addressed In the railroad buhd-
ing and te-ma!led the following morning
TO various persons along the route A
newspaper ait Ellenboro, N. c., learning
OF the transac ction, published a, short
article headed "a Mistake" stating In
substance that United States Senat or
IN mailing documents to hts constituents
had by mistake addressed them to sta
tion agents along the Seaboard Air Line.
"A divisions superintendent learning of
Inc article proceeded to the town and
induced Ithe editor to curt the Item out of
every copy Of his paper on the ground
that It would hurt the road.
'Fhe padding of the mails by this
company was investigated by the Post
ONCE Department, and to prevent this
practice the department. ordered the
weighing to be continued for thirtv q dd,-
t.onal days during April The raIlroa a
company then resorted ITO new scheme
oy contracting with publishers OF news
papers Tor a large number of paners IN
De sent over their line daily to addresses
furnished by the company AT Ports
inouuh. va, hhe general superintendent
erTnAnsed wfta a. Portsmouth paper to
send $500 copies daily for ten days and
after that 2,400 copies daily, in bundles
OF 20 10 each address to parties in South
Carolina and Georgia on the Seahoard
Lime. Al Raleigh an official of the rail-
road arranged to have 5000 COPIES the
first week and 5000 copies week after.
wards. or a weekly paper, sent in bun
oies OF torty-hve over the Seoboard All
Line railroad ITO stations IN Georgia
Soubh Carolina, aad few I'm Month Caro-.
lima.
AT Atlanta the private secretary of tn,
division superintendent arranged witt
an Auanta paper for 1000 copies daily
10 Norfolk and Portsmouth. |. 900 copIe,
Addressed to regular subscribers IN,
other thousand as sample copies. Ar
fangements were also madls with anothe,
Sunday issue. weighing over hair 9
pound each, to addresses in Norfolk anf
Portsmouth, Va. Norfolk and Ports.
mouth city directories We're furnished r.
me newspapers from which to print
labels for mailing papers to parties ~
those cities. Several of these nart,e,
thus addesssd have moved from thos,
cities, or had died. Had this welehins
6een accepted by the department tn,
Seaboard Air Line railroad would hsv,
received for the next four years a mtici
largo compensation than 1t was entIeleI
to.
Some OF the newspaper publisher
were indignant when they found tina
they had h;en made parties to such
Bchetne and the publisher Of the pane
at Raleigh, N. c.. refused to send ou
the fourth shipment OF his paper"
Approve the Duke of OrIeans' I.eate
Paris Nav 10 THE Rnunlis4