Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-29
Mail on the Street Cars.

| At present two street car lines in this
city transport the United States mail. The
Postmaster General has discovered by ex
perience that rapid transit can be utilizsd
for the prompt and expeditions handling OF
local mail in a large city. That fact was
clearly demonstrated about three years ago,
when the first experiment was tried on the
st. Louis and Suburban Railway in this
city. Since then mail cars have been placed
in commission in many Of the leading cities.
The Unicn Depot Railway system is now a
United States mail route, and two cars are
running, with more to be added later on.
The two cars in question are tina largest AID
finest in the world The Southern Electric
is tho next line to have mail cars. 1t will be
a star route, as it runs to Jefferson Bar
racks, and those cars will also carry the
mail for half a score of post offices in st.
Louis and jefferson Counties. Without
doubt other liues will follow suit in the i'm
the Post Office railway cars said: Garry
ing the mail is not a profitable business, for
the simple reason that Congress has fixed
the compensation we are to receive at what
may be termed nominal figures. However,
there are some benefits to be derived IN
having a few cars on which floats the
United States mail flag. We can run
the mail cars at lively rate Of
speed, and all kinds Of vehicles will
clear the track in jiffy when
they see what is coming, for 1T will not do
for drivers to interfere with the passage
of the mail cars. Should any obstinate
teamster or driver persist in remaining on
the track or take his time in getting off he
can be hauled up before a United States
District Judge and promptly punished.
Then, in case of strike, interference with
the movement of the car by strikers will
bring out either United States regulars or
Deputy Marshals. Lastly, the employees
would hesitate about inaugurating strike
or would not strike at all. To put it
plainly, they would be afraid to strike for
trivial causes In this manner a mail line
would work benefit to the men as well as
to the company ''Should a strike &C.
cur continued the President, 1--WE
would ask the Judge of the United States
District Court for a decision on what con-
stitutes interference with the mail cars.
When strikers or their syspathizers cut the
trolley wire that would actually mean the
entire suspension of the movements of all
the cars, including the mail cars, even if
they are several miles away from the
break. In other words, whenever strikers
open the circuit in such manner that the
entire line is paralyzed, we contend that
they are interfering with the passage of
the mail cars. Should the Judge give us
ruling like that, the main grip of the
strikers on company would be loosened.
If tampering in any manner with the troll
ley wire meant severe punishment to the
offenders, the most reckless strikers or
their sympathizers would not dare to touch
the wire, and in that manner half of the
terrors of strike would be removed. We
do not expect strike, yet there is nothing
like being prepared, especially when Uncle
Sam is begging us, so to speak, to help
make the Post Office Department of greater
convenience to the public.''